HOULTON – Gardner Companies of Lincoln announced Thursday that it has purchased the former Georgia-Pacific Corp. wood chip mill in Houlton from Red Shield Environmental.

Gardner Companies has formed the entity Gardner Chip Mills Houlton specifically for the purchase. The mill, which has been idle since July 2006, supplies custom hardwood chips to Maine’s pulp mills. Gardner Companies runs logging, transportation, timberland management, chip mill and sawmill operations.

“The purchase of the Houlton facility will enable us to add to our chip mill capacity to meet the growing needs of the pulp mills throughout the state of Maine,” Randy Bishop, Gardner Companies’ chief financial officer, said in a prepared statement. “Houlton fits strategically into our long-range plan and we are looking forward to becoming a member of the Houlton business community.”

Gardner is in the process of completing extensive maintenance to the plant’s operating systems.

At the height of its operation, the mill employed nearly 25 people. Last September, GP sold the mill to Red Shield Environmental as part of the larger purchase of the former G-P facilities in Old Town, but Red Shield Environmental never operated the mill.

“We are pleased this new operation will create employment opportunities for our citizens,” said Houlton Town Manager Doug Hazlett. “The town of Houlton intends to work very closely with representatives of Gardner Chip Mills Houlton to ensure its operations are efficient and cost-effective, resulting in long-term stability for years to come.”