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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2021)
6 Wednesday,June16,2021 Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com Window manufacturer expanding in Odell Housing highest bar to meeting worker needs made it worse, and my advis- ers suggest there is going to be a tight market” as the state reopens. Brown added that be- By Mark Gibson Columbia Gorge News ginning June 19, Oregon workers on unemployment would again be required to Cardinal Glass Industries document their efforts to find in Odell is growing. The large industrial facility, work. “That might change the dynamic a little bit,” she said. built on the site of a former lumber mill, specializes in insulated glass windows that incorporate two panes of tempered glass sealed with “The[job]marketwas an air space between them. tightevenbeforethe In early June, Oregon Gov. pandemic.Thepandemic Kate Brown toured the fa- hasmadeitworse,andmy cility, which is growing both physically with a planned advisorssuggestthereis 145,000 square foot plant goingtobeatight expansion and internally, market”asthestate with 370 employees currently reopens. working multiple shifts — the facility runs 24 hours a day, Kate Brown six days a week. Currently, an Governor of Oregon additional 30 employees are needed and when the expan- Supply and demand sion is complete an addition- al 50 jobs will be created. Reppen told Brown the Plant Superintendent Sorn company, like many in Reppen told the governor the Oregon, has been having company has been working supply issues during the pan- with high schools and com- demic. “We are having some munity colleges in the Gorge issues. No show stoppers yet, but it has been very touch area to train and find work- and go.” ers. “We want local people,” Maintenance Manager he explained, noting worker Shane Thoms said “on time, housing is a major issue in complete deliveries is our recruitment. The company pays well, he added, starting buiness model, and that’s been a real challenge.” workers at $18 an hour with On a tour of the facility, benefits. Many of the avail- Thoms pointed out large able jobs are open to high stacks of windows packaged school graduates with no and ready to ship. “This will college training. Promotion all be going out on tonight's within the company is done internally, so there are oppor- truck,” he said. “There is nothing built up, it's all going tunities for advancement. out.” “The number one hurdle ••• is housing,” he said of the Thoms noted Cardinal struggle to find workers. IG in Odell is just one of A lot of local employers the company’s glass manu- are competing for the same workers, he added. Some facturing plants. “We have employees remain unavail- invested heavily in research and development,” he said. able due to the pandemic, The company has one site he added, because they are dedicated to robotics and staying home to take care of automation. their families. Thoms noted the company Gov. Brown noted the plans a long future in Odell. tight job market was not The plant was developed likely to change soon. “The market was tight even before with support from the state’s Brownsfield program, an on- the pandemic,” agreed Gov. Brown. “The pandemic has going program which helps ■ Oregon Governor Kate Brown, seated at left, meets with leaders at Cardinal IG in Odell. The company manufactures insulated windows and is planning to expand their local facility. Pictured left to right are Brown, Maintenance Manager Shane Thoms and Plant Superintendent Sorn Reppen. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown pauses by racks of window separators with Plant Superintendent Sorn Reppen during a tour of Cardinal IG in Odell. The company manu- factures insulated windows and is planning to expand their local facility. At right, Brown speaks with a worker during the tour. landowners evaluate and cleanup former industrial sites, and is a perfect location for manufacturing sealed, insulated glass. “We are 700 feet above sea level, and that is perfect,” Thoms said. Once sealed, the windows shrink and expand with elevation. Sealed in Odell, they can be shipped almost anywhere without imploding or ex- ploding do to changes in air pressure between the panes of glass. “The glass swells and shrinks with altitude,” he explained. The expansive, well-lit plant operates 24/7, six days a week. Mark B. Gibson photos Breathe Healthier Live Better ' What s your reason to quit smoking ? TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE TEAM A TOBACCO CESSATION SPECIALIST IS READY TO HELP! ONE COMMUNITY HEALTH: HR 541-386-6380 ONE COMMUNITY HEALTH: TD 541-296-4610 MCMC: 541-506-5819 Father’s Day Special! Join the GAC Fitness Family in June with 50% Off Enrollment, 10% Off Membership Dues through2021. Offer for New Members for Fitness Only Memberships through June 20, 2021. Gorge Athletic Clubs Hood River | 541.386.3230 The Dalles | 541.298.8508 www.GorgeAthleticClubs.com email info@gorgeathleticclubs.com