Verso Receives Maine Forest Product Council "Manufacturer of the Year" Award

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The Maine Forest Products Council, Augusta, Maine, USA, this week recognized Verso Paper Corp., Memphis Tenn., with its "Manufacturer of the Year" award. Verso operates mills in Jay and Bucksport, Maine.

James Cote of the Maine Forest Products Council said that "Verso was chosen for this award because of their outstanding progress in manufacturing innovation, their fantastic record of corporate citizenship, and their dedication to a stronger, more robust forest products industry here in Maine."

Verso employs more than 1,500 people at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay and the Bucksport Mill. The company also supports four to five times that many workers indirectly through contracted jobs and other community efforts.

"We are thrilled to be recognized for the work we are doing because it means others are now noticing what we have known all along," Androscoggin Mill Manager Marc Connor said. "We are proud of our ability to survive in this difficult economy," Connor added. "We believe it is a testament to our commitment to Maine and to being responsible pulp and paper makers. Only using wood from sustainable forests, being environmentally responsible, and committed to our communities has been key for us."

Verso is committed to investing capital for upgrades and improvements, especially in the wood-processing areas of both mills, the company noted in a release, adding that "once completed, the upgrades should result in significant water conservation and ever-increasing environmental improvements." Verso also has invested in energy production, resulting in its two mills generating about 20% of the electricity the state uses.