ELMA, Wash. -- The first time we went to the NewWood Plant near Elma, it was a hectic scene: 1,200 hopefuls applying for 150 jobs.
"There's a lot more people here than I thought were going to be here," said Adam Blodgett as he weaved his way through the crowd to grab an application.
Seven months later, the NewWood Plant is sending out its first shipment and Adam Blodgett, who beat the long odds last November, is on the job, making a living in a different kind of mill.
NewWood is a building product made of 100 percent recycled wood and plastic. When properly blended together, the waste that ends up in our landfills can end up on someone's house. The company says the material stands up to intense heat and cold and Northwest rain and dampness.
It can be used for exterior siding or as a replacement for plywood, particle board, or other products that depend on a steady supply of logs.
Elma and other nearby towns in timber country are all too familiar with how unsteady that supply can be. Unemployment in Grays Harbor County is among the highest in the state.
NewWood President and CEO John Bowser said the workforce here was perfect for his process. He said they have a lot of knowledge about mills and are encouraged to share it.
Adam Blodgett and 149 others are hoping they have finally found a steady job in one of the hardest places in the state to find one.
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