Planned move by Telemark Corp. to Battle Ground continues factory-based recovery
Alongside the possible relocation and expansion of Andersen Plastics, the recently announced plan to open a new facility for manufacturer Telemark Corp. in Battle Ground Center has established the city's focus on bringing in factory jobs, according to at least one Battle Ground economic development official.
"We are trying to bring as many family-wage jobs here as possible, and it happens that we are very manufacturing friendly," said Robert Maul, community development director for Battle Ground.
That ‘business-friendliness' is a key component in the business plan of Gold Medal Group LLC, the developer of the 108-acre Battle Ground Center and the general contractor for Telemark's new facility.
According to Dennis Pavlina, president of the Gold Medal Group, Battle Ground Center has made sure to stay abreast of current federal, state and local compliance issues – including often – contentious storm water regulations.
"It was fortuitous that the Gold Medal Group kept ahead of regulations, so when opportunities like this pop up, they have shovel-ready dirt," Maul said.
Telemark, currently based in the Bay Area, specializes in coating thin layers of chemicals on products such as protective treatments on glasses, cameras and computer monitors. Maul said they had been looking to move to a Pacific Northwest city with airport access in a state with what he termed a less-restrictive tax code than California.
"They had been looking at Portland, that is, until 66 and 67 passed," Maul said, referring to tax initiatives passed in Oregon last January which raised taxes on corporations and individuals making over $250,000.
According to Maul, the plant will initially bring 15 jobs, but that could expand to 50.
"We want to focus on most jobs-per-acre, which is why we shy away from distribution centers. Telemark is perfect because it only takes up two acres," Pavlina said.
However, the jobs may not all go to Southwest Washington residents. According to Maul, Telemark is giving options to their California employees to relocate, although there is no word on how many will follow the company.
"Moving all the way to Washington will be a big life decision for any family," Maul said. "And they still have a few months to decide."
The company plans to move into a completed Battle Ground facility in September, to coincide with a large order to be completed by the end of the year, according to a source at Telemark. While Maul says the date is set in stone, Pavlina at Gold Medal Group is still working out the details.
"If someone can give me a crystal ball and tell me when the banks are going to begin releasing money, then I will tell you when we can start construction," Pavlina said.
And while this isn't the only Clark County manufacturing win as of late – with Farwest Steel's proposed plant possibly creating as many as 225 jobs at the Port of Vancouver – the industry continues to be a mixed-bag, according to May employment numbers. While 100 factory jobs were added in the county, despite those gains manufacturing employment growth was flat as of last month, according to Washington State Employment Security Dept.
Undaunted by the recent jobs numbers, Maul is confident that the new Telemark plant will continue to help Battle Ground turn the corner from the region's ongoing and persistent economic downturn.
"More jobs are coming in," he said. "We are going from being just that small town, to that small town with all the factories."
