Construction Progress Observed by Speaker of House Phillip Gunn

Posted by Winston Plywood & Veneer on
Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, Philip Gunn (second from the right) tours the construction site.
Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, Philip Gunn (second from the right) tours the construction site.

As you can see from the photos on our site, construction progress continues at the Winston Plywood & Veneer site. We’re working hard with our construction teams and local officials to keep this project on schedule. A significant part of our success to date has been a direct result of the partnership with our elected and appointed officials, both here in Winston County and in Jackson. To that end, we were honored recently to host Speaker of the House Philip Gunn for a visit to our site. We updated the Speaker on the project, including its wide-ranging benefit to the state, and thanked him and his colleagues in the legislature for their steadfast support of WPV and our community.

Dick Baldwin

 

Good things come in threes

Posted by Winston Plywood & Veneer on

chamber banquet checkRecently, I was privileged to be part of an extraordinary day of reflection on all that was lost one year ago. The events, put together so ably by our Mayor, Will Hill, were a credit to the City of Louisville, in every respect. I was inspired not only by the strength of those who were impacted most severely but also by all those who were so enthusiastically looking forward. Three events stood out for me, and I wanted to share them with you.

First, I was honored to present to the Mayor a check in the amount of $20,000 from Winston Plywood & Veneer to support the construction of the memorial marker and remembrance park as a tribute to those who were lost. That $20,000 wasn’t just a corporate donation; those dollars represent the proceeds of the sale of scrap from the destruction of our plywood facility. We could think of no better use of those funds than to support this community’s everlasting memorial. Second, the employees of WPV donated food to a local pantry, in partnership with the Methodist Church. Third, we saw the first beam be erected on site last week, a clear sign that our rebuild is now fully underway.

I look forward to seeing those of you who live in Winston County in the days ahead. Thanks for your support.

Thank you,
Dick Baldwin

The new Winston Plywood & Veneer website

Posted by Winston Plywood & Veneer on with 0 Comment

One year ago, the City of Louisville and all of Winston County were struck by a devastating tornado that claimed ten precious lives. It also caused enormous damage to homes, businesses, the local hospital, and other key pillars of the community. The storm also completely destroyed the plywood mill that had been purchased by New Wood Resources LLC, an Atlas Holdings company, literally just thirty days earlier. Our collective resolve was tested to be sure; many communities would have buckled, and many businesses surely would have left. You did not buckle, and we did not leave.

Today, I am very pleased to welcome you to the new Winston Plywood & Veneer website. I hope the message this site conveys is unambiguous. We remain Winston Strong, and we’re rebuilding stronger and better than before.

In over four decades of working in the plywood industry, I am not sure I have ever been as excited about a project than I am about Winston Plywood & Veneer. We are building the finest plywood mill in North America, right here in Louisville, Mississippi. We are going to create hundreds of new jobs and deliver tens of millions in new economic activity to Winston County and the surrounding region. This website is one way in which we hope to connect you to our rebuild and, ultimately, to the wonderful company we’re creating. It is here that you will find photos of the ongoing construction work, follow recent news, read about the superior products we’ll make and the dedicated members of our team. It is also, in the weeks ahead, where you can learn about employment opportunities and other ways to partner with us.

Speaking of partnership, I wish to thank those whose work and dedication have made this project a reality.

We simply would not be here –in just one year’s time—without the steady hand and extraordinary leadership skills of Mayor Will Hill. Governor Phil Bryant and his administration, including those at the Mississippi Development Authority, have answered the call of this community at every turn, showing us how government ought to work. Gerald Mills has been there each and every day since last April 28th, ensuring we had the County’s unwavering support to get this construction started on schedule. Our unique and steadfast colleagues at Atlas have done what they said they would do, never letting us forget that this investment is really an investment in families, hundreds of them, whose quality of life will be greatly enhanced by the presence of this facility. Our local officials here in Winston, and those serving as our voice in Jackson, have embraced our work and made our cause their own.

We are off to a great start. In late January, we held an inspiring groundbreaking ceremony attended by hundreds of friends from across the State of Mississippi. We’ve also begun the rebuild, in earnest, with much activity planned for the coming days.

I appreciate you making me and all of us at Winston Plywood & Veneer feel such a part of this community. While the tragic events of last April profoundly impacted all of us, it did not define this community. You were then, and you are today, Winston Strong. Today, we signal yet again that the future is indeed bright, and our best is yet to come.

Thank you,

Dick Baldwin