May 5--Facing a probable legislative mandate, Ainsworth Lumber Co. has agreed to keep its three closed Minnesota plants operationally ready, two lawmakers said Tuesday.

Because of a the unprecedented downturn in the U.S. economy, Ainsworth closed wood products plants in Cook, Grand Rapids and Bemidji. The most recent closure was last fall in Bemidji, when 150 employees were given severance pay and the plant closed.

Ainsworth stopped production of its oriented-strand board product in Grand Rapids in 2006. On Jan. 27, Ainsworth announced it was permanently closing its Bemidji and Cook plants.

Legislation proposed by Rep. John Persell, DFL-Bemidji, and Sen. Mary Olson, DFL-Bemidji, to require Ainsworth to maintain its facilities in a salable condition for at least two years led to an agreement with Ainsworth that could help the city of Bemidji find another user for the closed Ainsworth OSB plant in Bemidji.

Persell says he authored the legislation based on a suggestion from Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, who has authored similar legislation when Iron Range taconite plants closed.

Rukavina is co-author of Persell's bill, as well as Reps. Brita Sailer, DFL-Park Rapids, and Loren Solberg, DFL-Grand Rapids. The bill passed one committee hurdle in the House and had its second reading.

Because of the legislation, Ainsworth has made a commitment to maintain, help determine alternative uses and enhance the marketing of the closed Ainsworth OSB facilities, including the one in Bemidji, Persell and Sailer said Tuesday in a joint statement.

"An empty building that has been stripped of its assets is a difficult business to sell," said Persell. "We need to make every effort possible to find another use for this facility and replace the badly needed jobs in our region."

According to the new agreement, Ainsworth will provide $150,000 to be split among the three sites for the purpose of determining feasible alternative uses for the facilities. After the feasibility study, Ainsworth has agreed to work with the state of Minnesota, the Iron Range Re-sources Board and legislators to enhance the solicitation of buyers for the three sites, Persell and Sailer said.

"The Ainsworth plant in one of the region's largest employers," said Sailer. "In this economic environment, when it comes to creating and keeping jobs, we'll leave no log unturned."

Ainsworth announced in early April that it was investigating alternative uses for its 223-acre industrial site in Grand Rapids, working with the IRRB and the Itasca Economic Development Corp.