Georgia-Pacific to close Emporia mill, cutting 550+ jobs

Southern Virginia is getting hit again. Employees at Georgia-Pacific‘s Emporia plywood mill were told Friday that the company plans to permanently close the mill, with more than 550 workers losing their jobs, according to an announcement by the Georgia-based company that is one of the world’s top manufacturers and marketers of tissue, pulp, paper and related products.

In a Friday statement, U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Petersburg, put the number of workers who lost their jobs in Emporia at 554.

It’s a major blow to a region that last year lost 600 jobs after Boar’s Head shut down its Jarratt plant following a listeria outbreak that killed at least 10 people and sickened dozens more.

In a news release, Georgia-Pacific stated that housing affordability and a 30-year low in existing home sales are impacting its plywood business.

“Many of our plywood products are used in repair-and-remodel projects, which often occur when homes change ownership,” the release stated. “To align with current demand, we are reducing our production capacity.”

Normal operations will cease at the Emporia mill today and the site will permanently close July 1. Georgia-Pacific will give employees at least 60 days of pay and benefits in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

Georgia-Pacific stated it would make a decision on the Emporia facility and property at a later date.

“My heart goes out to every family who now faces increased anxiety and potential hardship because of these layoffs, and I encourage impacted families to reach out to my office for help navigating resources they may need during this time,” McClellan said in a statement about the layoffs. “My office remains in contact with Georgia-Pacific and local officials to ensure the impacted employees receive access to job placement resources and support agencies.”

Georgia-Pacific will work with the laid-off employees in Emporia, the company said, “to provide access to local support agencies and job placement resources, including available opportunities within Georgia-Pacific or other Koch companies.”