Idaho Forest Group to close St. Regis sawmill
Idaho Forest Group’s Willy Peck, Montana House District 14 Representative Denley Loge and Montana Attorney General Tim Fox talk about the importance of the timber industry to local people in Northwest Montana during Fox’s recent campaign swing through Northwest Montana. Fox is running for governor. (Courtesy photo)
Idaho Forest Group announced today that it will begin winding down operations at its sawmill in St. Regis, Montana, and plans to suspend operations indefinitely at the mill by late November.
The Idaho-based forest products company has operated the mill for four years, directly employs 99 people and contracts with various loggers and haulers, some of whom may continue delivering logs to other IFG mills in northern Idaho.
“We did not arrive at this decision easily or lightly and we recognize the very real and human consequences for our employees and the community,” said Mike Henley, regional manager in St. Regis. “We sincerely thank each of our employees for their dedication and their stewardship of the forests in western Montana, and we commit to helping them through this transition.”
IFG, based in Coeur d’Alene, acquired the St. Regis mill in 2017. In January 2020, IFG scaled back operations and staff while investing in a facility upgrade.
Despite favorable market conditions last year, the facility has consistently failed to meet production goals.
With lumber prices falling, Henley said the decision has been made to shut down operations in November.
The company’s leadership has notified the Montana Department of Labor and will continue to work to ensure employees have access to resources that can support and assist them in this difficult time, which will include assistance in resume writing, interview coaching, and conducting outreach to prospective employers.