College Accomodates Local Woodworkers and Environment with $509,000 Library Contract

Author: Nicolas Emery

Middlebury College recently signed a $509,000 contract with Island Pond Woodworkers, a Vermont employee-owned co-operative that will provide custom-built items for the College's new library.

The woodworkers will provide the new study carrels, book stack end panels and media stations, delivering the first items in July 2003. The library is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2004.

The Island Pond Woodworkers are located in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. The co-op was formed by former Ethan Allen employees who decided to start their own operation in Island Pond after Ethan Allen closed its plant there in July 2001.

At least 75 to 80 percent of the wood used for the Island Pond products will be green certified, meaning that it meets standards that conform to sustainable forest management practices. The remaining 20 to 25 percent will also come from managed woodlands. All of the wood will come from Vermont forests. In addition, the wood will be processed in Pittsford, Vt., and the boards will be dried in St. Johnsbury, making full use of local services. Most of the wood will come from Addison County, with the sugar maple coming directly from College-owned land at the Bread Loaf campus in Ripton.

According to Don Maiolo, president of the company, the Woodworkers currently employ 12 people. He hopes to raise this number to 19 as a result of the Middlebury College project. In a press release issued by the College, Maiolo commented that "the College's contract for millwork has been instrumental in supporting the resurrection of the Island Pond Operation."

This contract and the cooperation between the College and Island Pond Woodworkers is an example of the College's commitment to environmentally sound practices and the use of local products and labor wherever possible. According to Sustainable Campus Coordinator Connie Bisson, the College decided to award the contract to Island Pond with the intention of salvaging the company and providing local jobs. "It's more about the jobs than the wood," Bisson said. "We are looking for ways to stimulate the local economy with our purchasing power whenever feasible."

The College makes such environmental and economic efforts as a member of the Montpelier-based Cornerstone Project, which focuses on promoting the use of green certified wood from Vermont forests.

Other members include the State of Vermont, University of Vermont, St. Michael's College, Vermont State Colleges, Fletcher Allen Hospital and Sen. Patrick Leahy's Office.

The new library will be the fourth College building to use Vermont green certified wood, along with Bicentennial Hall, LaForce Hall-Ross Commons and the Recycling Center.