Prineville city officials were blindsided with news that one of their biggest employers, Owens Corning, would be closing its doors
Tracee Tuesday
PRINEVILLE, Ore. [KTVZ] — One of the biggest employers in Prineville is shutting down—without giving city leaders a heads-up – leaving 184 employees, jobless.
The Owens Corning plant, located on Main Street in Prineville, which produces extruded polystyrene foam boards, commonly known under the trademark foamular®, which are used for insulating residential and commercial buildings, has announced it will close its manufacturing facility, resulting in 184 employees losing their jobs.
KTVZ News obtained the manufacturing facility’s “Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification” or “Warn Notice” announcing that layoffs would begin August 25, 2025.
But what’s drawing added frustration is how the city of Prineville found out.
Prineville mayor Jason Beebe says Owens Corning never informed him or the City Council before making the decision public, and of the company’s three locations in Oregon, only Prineville is on the chopping block.
“I don’t know why they picked Prineville. I really don’t know why, and it’s sad because that mill’s been in operation in some aspects. I’m 51 years old, and they’ve been there my entire life.”
Mayor Beebe said, this week, he will request a special meeting with the City Council and City Manager, because he says he would like to see the facility restored to what it’s known for lumber milling.
“We need a place for it to go. All the other mill sites… there’s only a couple left. I could see someone coming in and, you know, maybe revamping some of those operations and making a mill site again.”
After a request for comment, Owens Corning emailed KTVZ News, a statement about the facility’s closure.
“Owens Corning has made the strategic business decision to close our doors components facility in Prineville, Oregon. This decision was not taken lightly, and leadership’s priority is supporting the team in Prineville through this transition.”
The Prineville plant is one of three facilities the company operates in Oregon.
The other two sites are in Gresham and Portland, which, at this time, will remain open.