Georgetown leaders react to paper mill closure

GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCSC) – International Paper’s Georgetown mill will close by the end of the year, leaving nearly 700 people out of work.

Leaders past and present look back on their time in the city and work to secure employees’ futures.

Mayor Carol Jairo says she learned of the paper mill’s closure shortly after her employees. She said she spent the day talking with business representatives, the state Department of Employment and Workforce and friends who work there.

“The situation is fluid right now, so there’s not a lot I know that you don’t know,” Jayro says.

Jairo says she has already spoken with State Representative Lee Hewitt about the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce services that could be provided in the area. She emphasizes that this was a financial decision by International Paper and the company alone. International Paper says it will offer severance packages and outplacement services.

Beyond her work assessing economic impact, Jairo says she has only ever known a town with a mill as its main part.

“I’ve lived here all my life. You know, my father and grandfather worked there at International Paper. So yes, it was an integral part of my life,” Jayro says.

After 88 years of opening, locals know its closure will have serious consequences. The plant employs 526 hourly employees and 148 full-time employees who will soon be out of work. Former mayor and councilman Jack Scoville calls the news devastating.

“There are people in the pulpwood industry and in the auto industry who depend on this plant, so this will have a direct impact on many more people than just the 700 or so who will lose their jobs. It’s just terrible,” Scoville says.

The plant is one of the last remaining businesses in the city after the closure of the steel mill and the closure of the port. The city plans to build a new city hall on the site of an old steel mill. The paper mill is located on the territory of the district. Mayor Jayro says she’s open to any future, which could include annexing it into the city, but it’s too early to say what will happen with that.

Scoville has some ideas: Front Street in Georgetown would be transformed into a tourist hub with increased access to the waterfront. He adds that the paper mill premises could attract other businesses or be converted.

“So maybe the silver lining here, or whatever the story is, where lemons are made into lemonade, is that between the port authority property, the steel mill property, and the paper mill property, there could be big opportunities,” Scoville says. “But in the near future, in the next two or three years, it will have dire economic consequences for the entire city.”

While acknowledging the significant loss of business and income in the area, Scoville hopes this means something better is on the horizon.

“Perhaps developers should start looking at George Town because maybe in 3, 4, 5 years we will look back and say, well, new jobs have come because this area is available for development. So all we can do for now is keep our fingers crossed. I hope for the best. Love our neighbors, help them when we can, and move forward,” Scoville says.

Jayro says although she was close to tears all day, these things happen and it’s time for the people, city, county and state to offer the resources they have in place to shut down industry.

“We are very fortunate that several organizations have come together to help us get through these times and our hearts go out to everyone affected by this closure. We have had a partner in International Paper for almost 90 years, and today is a different day in Georgetown,” says Jairo.