Prineville Retains Jobs and Reignites Manufacturing with Lexington Expansion

Prineville Retains Jobs and Reignites Manufacturing with Lexington Expansion

For decades, Owens Corning ranked among the top five employers in Crook County. When the company announced it would exit in 2025, 184 living wage jobs were suddenly at risk. This represented not only individual workers, but families and long-standing community stability. In rural Oregon, when a facility of this scale closes, the outcome is often long-term vacancy, loss of workforce and lasting economic decline.

In response, Economic Development for Central Oregon, as a key partner in the Central Oregon Business Response Network, helped rapidly mobilize a coordinated effort to support impacted workers. Working alongside Owens Corning and WorkSource Oregon, EDCO played a leading role in organizing and hosting a regional job fair on August 1 in Prineville. More than 20 employers from across Central Oregon participated, representing industries such as advanced manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and technology.

The event was designed to go beyond basic outreach. Employers conducted interviews on site, connected directly with displaced workers and demonstrated the region’s ability to respond quickly and collaboratively. As a result, more than 40 individuals secured new employment with local companies, helping retain talent within the region and reduce immediate economic disruption.

At the same time, efforts were underway to address a larger challenge. Without intervention, the facility and its equipment faced liquidation, leaving one of Prineville’s most significant industrial assets vacant. In similar situations across the western United States, facilities of this size can remain unused for years, leading to long term economic erosion.

Lexington Manufacturing, an advanced manufacturer of high-performance wood components for door and window applications, initially entered the conversation with plans to purchase equipment from the site. As discussions progressed, the opportunity evolved into something more significant. Lexington began evaluating Prineville as a potential West Coast location for operations.

Economic Development for Central Oregon played a critical role in supporting this decision. EDCO compiled and provided detailed wage data, labor market information and regional economic profiles to Business Oregon, which were ultimately presented to Lexington’s holding company board of directors. This data helped inform the financial and operational feasibility of establishing a presence in Prineville and was a key factor in determining that the project aligned with the company’s long-term strategy.

Following this analysis, Lexington moved forward with taking over the facility’s ten-year lease in November. The company is now operating in Prineville and has already reemployed 53 workers from the previous operation. At full capacity, Lexington projects more than 150 jobs within five years.

This project represents more than a new business locating to Central Oregon. It is a successful transition that preserved a highly skilled workforce, maintained a critical piece of industrial infrastructure and reinforced Prineville’s long-standing identity in wood products manufacturing. Without this outcome, the region risked losing both jobs and specialized expertise as workers relocated and opportunities diminished. Lexington has also demonstrated a commitment to being part of the local community. The company has expressed interest in supporting local charitable organizations and youth programs, creating internship opportunities for students and encouraging employee involvement in community service.

This effort reflects the strength of coordinated regional partnerships and the importance of timely, data driven decision making. By supporting both workforce retention and business recruitment, Economic Development for Central Oregon helped turn a potential economic loss into an opportunity for stability and future growth.

‍