FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2007
Contact: Jim Darling
Port of Bellingham
(360) 676-2500
Georgia Pacific Announces Closure of
Bellingham Plant
[Bellingham, Wash.] Georgia Pacific announced today that it will cease operations at its Bellingham facility in December 2007.
For the past seven years, the Port has worked with Georgia Pacific to encourage their continued operation, even while the Port planned for the redevelopment of the waterfront district. From the beginning of this relationship, the Port Commission was committed to encouraging the continued operation of the plant and dedicated to not taking any steps that caused an earlier closure of the plant.
"Although this is not entirely unexpected, the Port regrets the loss of jobs at Georgia Pacific," said Port Executive Director Jim Darling. "We hope the entire community will work together to help the current Georgia Pacific employees find new opportunities in Whatcom County."
Georgia Pacific has been a major employer in Whatcom County for many years and historically was one of our community's key economic engines for the local community. Georgia Pacific also was a contributor to many of the charities and projects in our community and their community involvement will be missed.
The Port has been very focused on the redevelopment of this property and the creation of new family-wage jobs on the waterfront. Today's news underscores the importance of moving ahead on the waterfront redevelopment and working together as a community to make sure that this land is put back into productive use.
To date, Georgia Pacific has met all of its obligations in the original purchase and sale agreement and officials at Georgia Pacific have made it clear to the Port that they intend to honor all of its future commitments regarding leases, waste water, demolition, and other specified items. The lease at the tissue warehouse will expire in March, 2008. It is valued at $350,000 per year.
The Port acquired the Georgia Pacific property in January, 2005 in exchange for the Port agreeing to conduct specific environmental cleanups on the property and in the Whatcom Waterway. GP still has ongoing liability for the site clean up and purchased an environmental cost cap insurance policy.
