Georgia-Pacific announced on November 1 that it is closing two sawmills in the southeast, one in Monticello, Ga. and one in Marion County, Miss.

The closing of the Monticello mill, a stud plant, will affect about 50 employees and the Marion County mill will put about 65 out of work, according to company spokesperson Melody Ruse.

According to Ruse, the closing of both mills is due to a drastic decrease in demand and a dwindling housing market. “Our business is directly related to the housing industry,” Ruse commented, “And when you compare the 500,000 or so homes built this year to the 2.5 million built in 2005, you have to make some tough choices.”

Ruse also said that if market conditions improve in the future, the sawmills could possibly be reopened.