EARLY COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - The Cedar Springs Containerboard mill in Early County is set to close today affecting more than 500 jobs.

Employees were notified of this closure on May 14.

According to Georgia-Pacific, approximately 535 jobs will be impacted.

Georgia-Pacific plans to offer those impacted access to local job placement resources and support agencies.

State officials have also vowed to support those impacted by activating a task force to help connect the former employees with new employment opportunities. Georgia Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes and State Representative Gerald Greene said they will be in the area working with Georgia-Pacific to aid those impacted.

Local businesses are also feeling the impacts of this closure. Odom’s Country Cafe, a business in the community for more than a decade, closed it’s doors in May following the mill closure announcement.

Early County leaders have approved freezes on non-required purchases, hiring, positions, and pay in an effort to minimize costs in preparation for the mill’s closure.

Some residents tell WALB they are concerned about property tax increases and having the funds to help their family during back to school time.

Georgia-Pacific Cedar Springs has released this statement:

Production at the Georgia-Pacific Cedar Springs mill has ended, and most positions have been eliminated. All jobs at the mill will eventually be impacted. A small number of employees will remain on site to support the closure and decommissioning process.

Various factors influenced this decision, and we do not believe that the mill could continue to competitively operate. This decision had nothing to do with the quality of work of our Cedar Springs employees.  

We are committed to treating all Cedar Springs employees with dignity and respect and will continue to work with them to provide access to local support agencies and job placement resources, including available opportunities within Georgia-Pacific or other Koch companies.

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