GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC (WCIV) — An 87-year-old Georgetown County mainstay will close its doors at the end of the year.

International Paper closes factory and cuts 700 jobs.

On Thursday, city and county leaders held a news conference to discuss efforts to help workers.

“This facility is a pillar of Georgetown County,” said Georgetown County Council Chairman Louis Grant.

READ MORE | “Georgetown is reeling from the closure of the International Paper mill, which will eliminate hundreds of jobs.”

Soon this pillar will be gone.

“We are prioritizing job placement and skills development to help these families stay here, thrive here and continue to be part of our Georgetown County family. We will implement a coordinated support plan to facilitate that transition,” Grant said.

Those plans include sessions to help workers apply for unemployment insurance, as well as a job fair and worker training programs.

“The organizations will also work with employees of displaced employers…To help them understand how their skills can translate to other sectors such as healthcare, education and technology. Our focus now is on providing pathways toward stable employment, ideally in our county,” Grant said. said.

“More than 50 employers have registered to participate in these job fairs. We are absolutely overwhelmed by the response as many businesses and industries from across the state have contacted us to let us know they have job openings,” said Ayla Dyer. , director of workforce development at the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments.

Government leaders say these workers could have other opportunities with the arrival of new companies.

“There are a few solar farms that are currently looking at doing business in Georgetown County. One of them has already been approved. They are in the process of building, well, the beginning of the construction process in particular. I know they’re looking for a skilled workforce. They’re certainly interested in those folks. They’re going to be injected into the workforce and hopefully that’s going to be a great avenue for some people.” Angela Christian, Georgetown County Administrator.

READ MORE | “The Georgetown pulp and paper mill will close by the end of 2024, impacting more than 670 jobs. »

For workers who have been at the factory for decades, efforts are being made to ensure their mental health is also taken care of.

Sheldon Butts/NAACP South Carolina State Conference Political Action Chair

“It’s going to impact not only the person but their family. Psychological and mental health has to be at the forefront,” said Sheldon Butts, state conference NAACP political action chair. from South Carolina.

As the process moves forward, city leaders want city and county officials to keep the public informed.

“As much as you can get in front of that camera and tell people, that’s what we do,” Butts said. “You have to keep people informed about what has been radically taken away from them for so many years. In the absence of silence, people can go to very dark places… You have to make sure that you let individuals know that you are really worried.

For more information:Georgetown County Job Fair Information.