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New Facility Celebrated
BY KIM ACHILLES, Staff Writer
Monday February 17, 2003
ISLAND POND VT - After almost two years, Island Pond is showing the rest of
the Northeast Kingdom how to roll with the punches.
In a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday afternoon, the Island Pond
Woodworkers celebrated the opening of a new facility and a new beginning.
There to join in the celebration were local, state and U.S. lawmakers, as
well as financial backers and local well-wishers.
"When Ethan Allen went down, who would have thought (this could happen),"
said Town Administrator Joel Cope. "This means a lot to people and the
town. It's very important for the morale of the town."
In July 2001, the Island Pond Ethan Allen plant closed, leaving 120 to 130
people out of work. The international furniture manufacturer sent the plant
to China.
Instead of despairing, four former Ethan Allen employees stuck together and
formed Island Pond Woodworkers Inc., an employee-owned cooperative.
One of those, Bruce Wilkie, vice president of sales and marketing, said
the opening of the new plant is proof of what dedicated people can
accomplish by pulling together. "This shows what a community can do to bring
jobs back," he said.
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., was on hand to support the cooperative and
said he would continue to help in any way.
"I think this is a fabulous example of true Vermont spirit," he said.
"These are good people."
After forming the cooperative, the Island Pond Woodworkers unsuccessfully
attempted to purchase the Ethan Allen plant. That's when they found Bob
Miller, a contractor and real estate developer from Chittenden County.
Miller built the woodworkers a new factory, on Meadow Street in Island
Pond, with room for expansion. He is leasing the factory to the woodworkers.
Miller said he took a chance on the Island Pond Woodworkers because it was
obvious there was a pool of talent and a group of people willing to work
hard.
"It was obvious they weren't looking for a handout," he said.
According to Island Pond Woodworkers President Don Maiolo, the building
came together quickly. On a Wednesday in early October, the Woodworkers
secured $700,000 in Vermont Community Development Program funds, secured
all the appropriate building permits and began preliminary construction.
This week, the plant will begin full-scale operations.
The furniture plant secured a $509,000 contract with Middlebury College in
January to build media stations, study carrels and book-stack end panels
for the college's new library.
Employee Terry Grondin of Morgan said that in addition to being
worker-owned and -operated, the plant will also be environmentally friendly.
"We're trying not to waste anything," he said.
The plant will use sustainable forest products and water-based finishes
whenever possible.
Grondin, who had put in nine years at Ethan Allen, said the plant has a
state-of-the-art ventilation system which releases fewer contaminants into
the air. In addition, each piece of new machinery has an individual vacuum
system to collect the sawdust. All of the sawdust is collected into bags
and is being given to a local kennel.
Being an owner as well as an employee is important, he said.
"I think it's nice to have a say," Grondin said. "You get to put your input
into it."
Grondin said often the people in charge don't know how to use the floor
equipment, meaning that it's rarely up to date and running smoothly. That
won't be the case at the new plant, he said.
"It's hard to keep up (productivity) with old equipment," he said.
During his remarks, Gov. Jim Douglas said he was proud of the employees
for being socially and environmentally responsible.
"By doing so, you're setting a high standard," he told the gathering.
Douglas also said the group sets a high standard for keeping jobs within
Vermont borders. Employee ownership, he said, means jobs stay in Vermont.
Douglas also praised the group for its commitment and hard work."I know you
serve as inspiration," he said. "You've given great hope not only to all of
Island Pond
but to the Northeast Kingdom and the entire state of Vermont.
Congratulations for making it work."
Congressman Bernie Sanders, I-VT, said the opening of the plant sends a
strong message that furniture can be manufactured in the Northeast Kingdom
and in the United States rather than being imported. In the past two years,
he said, 2 million manufacturing jobs have been lost to China.
"To force American workers to compete against desperate people who earn 20
cents less an hour is wrong," Sanders said.
At the end of the ceremony, several local hero awards were awarded. Four
of the awards, engraved rounds of wood hung from ribbon, were given to the
four former Ethan Allen employees who stuck together to create a new
beginning for the Island Pond Woodworkers.
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