Community reacts to plans to close Franklin County papermill

Mill set to close early next year

Mill set to close early next year

GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE THEIR LIVING AT THAT MILL. THE NEWS ABOUT THE MILL CLOSING CAME YESTERDAY... AND WHILE SOME IN TOWN SAY THEY WERE HOPEFUL THIS DAY WOULD NEVER COME - OTHERS SAY IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. 11:49:44:11 DAVID DESJARDINS, RETIRED MILL WORKER AFTER SO LONG? AFTER SO LONG. IT'S JUST SAD, YOU KNOW," DAVID DESJARDINS SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE WORKING AT THE PAPER MILL IN JAY... AND IN THE LAST 20 YEARS - HAS SEEN THE WORKFORCE SHRINK FROM MORE THAN A THOUSAND TO JUST A FEW HUNDRED TODAY. NOW - THE FINAL CHAPER FOR THE MILL. PIXELLE - THE FACILITY'S PARENT COMPANY - ANNOUNCING IT WILL CLOSE ITS DOORS ON DECADES OF BUSINESS AND THE 230 PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE. 11:51:39:06 SHILOH LAFRENIERE, JAY TOWN MANAGER "THE LOSS OF THE JOBS IS THE FIRST THING, THE EFFECT IT WILL HAVE ON THE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES." THE MILL MAKES UP ABOUT 22- PERCENT OF THE TOWN'S TAX BASE... AND ITS PRESENSE HAS SUPPORTED OTHER NEARBY BUSINISSES LIKE RESTAURANTS AND GAS TATIONS FOR DECADES. IN THE ANNOUNCMENT - COMPANY LEADERSHIP SAYING THE MILL WAS ALREADY STRUGGLING... ONLY MADE WORSE IN 2020 WHEN THE ON-SITE PULP DIGESTER EXPLODED - LEAVING BEHIND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND HYNDERING THEIR OPERATION. 11:48:41:01 "ONCE THE PULP MILL BLEW UP, I KNEW THEY WEREN'T GOING TO RUN VERY LONG BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MAKE MONEY BUYING PURCHASE PULP." IN A STATEMENT - GOVERNRO JANET MILLS WRITING IN- PART... "I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED, BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR THE LIVELIHOODS AND WELLBEING OF THOSE WHO WORK AT THE MILL. THE GOVERNOR - DISPATCHING A RAPID RESPONSE TEAM TO HELP IMPACTED WORKED ACCESS HELP WITH INSURANCE, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND JOB TRAINING. NEIGHBORS - HOPING THERE CAN BE A POSITIVE FUTURE FOR WHAT WAS ONCE THE CENTER OF THIS MAINE TOWN. 11:49:16:06 "IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF SOMEONE ELSE TRIES TO DO SOMETHING THERE. MAYBE MAKE THE TOWN MANAGER IN JAY TELLS US THEY ARE PLANNING A MEETING WITH THE STATE TOMORORW TO PAY OUT A PLAN FOR SUPPORTING THE WORKERS WHO ARE LOSING THEIR JOB

Community reacts to plans to close Franklin County papermill

Mill set to close early next year

Community members and state agencies are working to get ahead of the expected fallout from the planned closure of the Androscoggin Mill in Jay. The closure was announced Tuesday by Pixelle, the mill's owner. The facility has been a cornerstone of the Jay and Franklin County economies since it was opened in the 1960's. According to Pixelle, 230 employees at the mill will be impacted by its closure at the start of next year. In the announcement, the company sited a 2020 explosion at the mill that destroyed its pulp digester as one of the major factors in their decision. The incident has ultimately hindered the mill's its operations."The mill has been here since the 60s and there have been generations of people who have worked there, people who worked there their entire lives," said Jay town manager Shiloh LaFreniere. LaFreniere said town officials had been hopeful Pixelle would be able to keep operating the mill and that was was surprised to hear it would be closing. The mill makes up about 22% of the town of Jay's tax base, according to LaFreniere. David Desjardins, who had worked at the mill for decades before retiring, said after downsizing in past years and the 2020 explosion, he expected the mill to eventually close. "It will be interesting to see if someone else tries to do something there," Desjardins said hoping the facility could be repurposed into another large job-creator for Jay. Gov. Janet Mills said her office was directing the Labor Commissioner to dispatch a rapid response team to work with the town, the mill workers and Pixelle to provide resources for employees impacted by the closing.

JAY, Maine —

Community members and state agencies are working to get ahead of the expected fallout from the planned closure of the Androscoggin Mill in Jay.

The closure was announced Tuesday by Pixelle, the mill's owner.

The facility has been a cornerstone of the Jay and Franklin County economies since it was opened in the 1960's. According to Pixelle, 230 employees at the mill will be impacted by its closure at the start of next year.

In the announcement, the company sited a 2020 explosion at the mill that destroyed its pulp digester as one of the major factors in their decision. The incident has ultimately hindered the mill's its operations.

"The mill has been here since the 60s and there have been generations of people who have worked there, people who worked there their entire lives," said Jay town manager Shiloh LaFreniere.

LaFreniere said town officials had been hopeful Pixelle would be able to keep operating the mill and that was was surprised to hear it would be closing.

The mill makes up about 22% of the town of Jay's tax base, according to LaFreniere.

David Desjardins, who had worked at the mill for decades before retiring, said after downsizing in past years and the 2020 explosion, he expected the mill to eventually close.

"It will be interesting to see if someone else tries to do something there," Desjardins said hoping the facility could be repurposed into another large job-creator for Jay.

Gov. Janet Mills said her office was directing the Labor Commissioner to dispatch a rapid response team to work with the town, the mill workers and Pixelle to provide resources for employees impacted by the closing.

Community reacts to plans to close Franklin County papermill

Mill set to close early next year

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