LP Building Solutions Newberry is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Luce County mill this week, with live music, mill tours, free food, carnival games, and more family friendly fun for the entire community.
What’s happening: From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 18, the community of Newberry is invited to visit 7299 North County Road, the site of one of the village’s largest and longest employers, manufacturer of LP® SmartSide® Siding and the exclusive supplier of several specialty LP shed panels. Activities at the free event include guided tours of the mill (closed-toed shoes required), free food and refreshments, carnival-style games and live music and entertainment.
The back story: More than 120 people work at Louisiana Pacific’s Newberry mill, where the first LP® SmartSide® lap and groove
engineered wood products were made; the company ranks as one of the top five employers in the area. Back in 1985, Newberry was chosen as the location for this mill because of its strategic location -- proximity to abundant, sustainably managed aspen wood -- highly skilled workforce, and closeness to major new home construction and repair and remodel markets.
Friday’s celebration is a rare opportunity for friends and family members to see where so many people in their community work. While LP does offer private tours for schools, government officials, and industry partners, the company rarely opens its doors to the general public — which makes this event especially unique.
During Friday’s tour, the mill will be fully operational — a rare opportunity to see the facility in action. The mill spans approximately 143,000 square feet – contained in two buildings – and has an annual production capacity of 165 million square feet. Guided tours of the facility will last about 20 minutes, offering an up-close look at company processes, machinery, and the people behind the engineered wood products.
Because the facility will be running during the event, safety is a top priority. All visitors will be provided with personal protective equipment, including hard hats, earplugs, and safety glasses. Closed-toe shoes are required, and visitors will have a safety briefing before the tour begins.
Part of the community: LP Newberry directly employs about 9 percent of the local population and roughly 22 percent of the local civilian workforce, underscoring the company’s significant role in the community’s economy and employment landscape. But the mill is more than an employer. Over the past few years, LP Newberry has donated nearly $50,000 to area schools and nonprofits.
Through the LP Foundation, grants have been awarded to several area schools to enhance hands-on learning and skilled trades programs.
Tahquamenon Area Schools’ building trades program received funding to purchase tools that allow students to gain real-world construction experience by building projects for the local community.
Engadine Consolidated Schools upgraded equipment in its woodworking program, and
Manistique Area Schools expanded its offerings in woodworking, welding, and automotive technology.
“That commitment to students was especially evident following the recent unexpected passing of the building trades teacher at a local high school,” says Jen Bowman, senior corporate communications specialist for LP Building Solutions in Nashville, Tennessee. “The teacher had developed a strong partnership with LP, bringing students to the mill each year for tours and preparing them for the annual Construction and Welding Skills Challenge. In the wake of his loss, team members from the mill stepped in to support the students during a difficult time — providing materials, mentorship, and encouragement. Their efforts helped the students win first place in the competition.”
LP team members continue to mentor students, share their own career paths, and emphasize opportunities in skilled trades—honoring the teacher’s legacy and reinforcing LP’s long-term commitment to education. In addition to educational support, LP also funded new equipment for the Newberry Fire Department through LP Foundation’s Community Grants Program, which supports nonprofit organizations and public schools within a 60-mile radius of an LP facility.
What’s next: Recently, the company completed four major capital investment projects at LP Newberry totaling $35 million, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the facility and local team members. These upgrades included a press-area expansion, enhancements to pollution controls for the press and dryer, and improvements to log transfer and flaking systems. “Looking ahead, we’re continuing to invest in the future of the mill,” Bowman says.
Planned updates include modernizing the log debarker and flake dryer systems to ensure LP Newberry remains a state-of-the-art operation. “These projects,” she says, “reflect our ongoing focus on operational excellence, environmental responsibility, and supporting the long-term growth of the region.”
Rosemary Parker has worked as a writer and editor for more than 40 years. She is a regular contributor to Rural Innovation Exchange, UPword, and other Issue Media Group publications.