City and county boards back improvements to secure sawmill lease at Forks Industrial Park; project could bring dozens of jobs

Committee members updated the advisory group that a Canadian company, Riverside, is negotiating to lease space in the Forks Industrial Park to relocate a sawmill. The city of Forks applied to the county opportunity fund and the Clallam County Opportunity Fund Board recommended funding site improvements to enable the lease, members said.

Officials described a phased jobs projection: 30–50 positions when operations begin, with a potential build-out closer to 100 jobs if fully developed. City and county staff and the Opportunity Fund Board have worked to secure a mix of public support, including a small governor’s strategic economic reserve contribution used for road repairs and other infrastructure support.

Speakers said the industrial park has been largely vacant and that the sawmill would represent a meaningful boost for Forks area employment. "...this is a big deal," a committee member said, noting the city and local partners had pursued multiple funding sources to close remaining gaps before a final lease is signed. Committee members reported ongoing negotiations and said several details remain unresolved; the update was informational and no committee vote occurred.

If the lease and required improvements are completed, community leaders said they expect immediate job creation during initial operations and additional employment if the facility scales up. Committee members urged continued coordination between the city, county economic development staff and the Opportunity Fund Board to finalize terms and to track next steps.