Georgia-Pacific Closing Wash. Gypsum Plant

Georgia-Pacific employees at its gypsum plant in Tacoma, Washington, were informed this week that the company plans to permanently close the facility. According to a WARN notice filed with Washington state, affected employees are expected to be laid off effective October 30.

The decision, per GP, is due to "several challenging market conditions" that have affected the gypsum industry. Since 2022, GP says there has been an ongoing decline in consumer repair and remodel activity, which is the primary driver of demand for GP's products—"especially gypsum."

The company notes that repair and remodel activity is primarily driven by the sales of existing homes or home turnover, which is currently at a 30-year low, which GP says "is not showing signs of improvement." 

All 125 full-time employees at the plant will be affected by the closure. Normal operations will cease in approximately 45 days, and the site will be permanently closed toward the end of the year.

Georgia-Pacific says its "focus in the coming weeks and months is to continue to safely operate while supporting affected employees during the transition and will work with them to provide access to local support agencies and job placement resources, including available opportunities within Georgia-Pacific or other Koch companies."