Hampton Mill receives help for added costs from Highway 530 closure

DARRINGTON – Hampton Mill will receive a $300,000 grant to continue operating while Highway 530 is repaired, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday.

The Washington State Department of Commerce and United Way of Snohomish County are each providing $150,000. The money will come in two installments, one immediately and another on June 1.

“We will continue to stand strong with this community through the hard work of recovery and rebuilding. Hampton Mill is the economic heartbeat of Darrington, and the truckers that bring raw materials to the mill and deliver finished products are its lifeline,” Inslee said in a statement. “I commend our team at the Department of Commerce and our partners at the United Way of Snohomish County for their quick, collaborative work to keep the mill running and these truckers on the road.”

The Department of Commerce will use U.S. Forest Service funds managed by the department for a grant program for timber dependent communities.

Hampton Mill is the largest employer in Darrington. The mill will use the funding to purchase fuel cards that will be distributed to truckers serving the mill who need drive farther and pay more for gas since the Oso landslide that shut down the highway. Earlier this month, Hampton Affliates CEO Steve Zika said they hoped to avoid shutting down the mill, but may be forced to do so temporarily because of the added travel costs.

Zika said at the time the highway closure would cost more than $500,000 a month in added fuel cost and pay for truckers.

“Our objective is to keep the mill operating and keep people working. These funds will help us do that for as long as possible by offsetting our increased fuel costs. We are grateful to United Way and the Department of Commerce for making these funds available,” said Tim Johnson, plant manager of Hampton Mill, said in the statement

“We are proud to be working with Governor Inslee to offer this support to the Hampton Mill,” said Dr. Dennis G. Smith, president and CEO of United Way of Snohomish County, in the statement. “The community depends on the mill. Keeping it open will be essential to long-term recovery.”