Georgia-Pacific to lay off 300
The Camas-based Georgia-Pacific pulp and paper mill announced a round of lay-offs that will dwindle the company’s local workforce to 500. The shut down of three of five paper machines and a pulp-making machine will cut workers over the next six to 12 months. Workers will be seeking retraining, and may look to state funds. Union negotiations are ongoing.
More stores for the holidays and beyond
Westfield Shoppingtown added eleven new options for the holiday season. Young adult clothing retailer Forever 21 is the newest in that genre, and the mall also welcomed several holiday kiosks. These include remote control toy seller Area 51; Calendar Club; Alaska Smokehouse Smoked Salmon; Go! The Game Store; Glass Gallery, offering hand-blown glass figurines; Hickory Farms specialty foods; GW Portraits, offering personalized portraits drawn by hand in charcoal; and soon to come, Puzzles! This store offers 3D, snap and interlocking puzzles.
IntelliChoice names VW’s pre-owned program best in class
For the third consecutive year, Volkswagen of America’s certified pre-owned program is named as the best nonluxury certified pre-owned program by IntelliChoice, the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis. Hannah Volkswagen is a participating dealer in the CPO program.
ESD awards nearly $2 million to schools and communities
The state Employment Security Department gave more than $1.9 million in grants to provide education, human and public-improvement services in communities across Washington in the coming year. Educational Service District 112 received $92,000.
The funding comes from the federal AmeriCorps and Volunteers in Service to America programs. ESD distributes the money to local communities to cover operating costs and provide stipends to Washington Service Corps members, who spend more than 10 months tutoring students, building affordable housing, improving emergency readiness and rehabilitating streams and trails. Washington Service Corps grants this year will support 23 projects organized by school districts, counties, learning centers, housing authorities and nonprofit groups in 22 of Washington’s 39 counties.
Symposium focuses on Washington in global economy
The state Employment Security Department will present its 12th annual economic symposium from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the Worthington Center at St. Martin’s University in Lacey.
The theme is Washington State in a Global Economy. Speakers will focus on labor-market information and economic issues that shape the way Washington does business.
Registration is $35 and includes breakfast and lunch. Online registration is available at www.workforceexplorer.com.
