The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – On Wednesday, Columbia Pulp CEO John Begley presented an updated timeline for groundbreaking for the firm’s straw processing plant, which it plans to build near Lyons Ferry in northwest Columbia County. He also talked about moving the company’s laboratory from Seneca Foods, Corp., to the former Columbia Cut Stock buildings.

The discussions took place during the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) meeting, held at the Columbia County Fire District #3 station. (See more about the CEDS meeting on Page 6.)

“We are shovel-ready,” Begley said of the Lyons Ferry facility. “We’re enthusiastic. It’s not if, but when.”

Begley said there is one financial piece to be resolved in the first quarter of 2016 and that construction will begin as soon as that is resolved. Some hiring could begin in April, he said, and by October power to the facility and all buildings will be in place, so that operators can be hired.

Begley also said that hiring will be done through a screening and interview process through WorkSource Walla Walla.

Financial issues have delayed the construction timeline for the Lyons Ferry mill by more than a year, since the project was first announced in late 2013. Groundbreaking was originally slated for late 2014, with the facility to be in full production by the end of 2015.

Begley said he now anticipates trial start-up at the mill in January of 2017, with shipping of product to begin in March of 2017. Full production should begin in May of 2017, he said.

“We’ve made lots of progress. It’s going to happen fast,” Begley explained.

Begley said the straw pulp laboratory currently located at Seneca Foods, Corp., will be moved to the former Columbia Cut Stock buildings on Dayton’s west end in January. He said a miniature mill at that location will turn wheat straw into molded fiber for paper products.

Eventually, between one hundred and two hundred jobs will be created at both facilities, Begley said.