Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga., USA, is closing its manufacturing plant in Parchment, Mich. by the end of 2015, eliminating 57 jobs, the company announced earlier this week. The plant, part of G-P's Dixie Division, makes food wraps and other items for the food industry. That work will be moved to plants in Green Bay, Wis., and Hattiesburg, Miss., said a G-P spokeswoman.

"This is a strategic decision based on our business needs and ability to be competitive long-term and has nothing to do with the quality of work from G-P's employees at the plant," the company said in a press release. "The employees have operated the facility safely and effectively for many years."

KVP (Kalamazoo Parchment Vegetable Co.) has dominated parchment for more than a century, dating back to 1909. The firm made paper and printed numerous products out of parchment paper, including kitchen parchment, paper packaging and paper plates, and cups. In its later years, the plant was owned at various times by Brown Co., James River Corp., and Crown Vantage Paper Co. Crown Vantage declared bankruptcy and shuttered most of the complex in 2000.

 

 

The current plant is in a newer part of the complex and was purchased by G-P from Fort James Corp. in 2000. At that time, it had 217 employees. The plant now has 46 hourly and 11 salaried employees, according to G-P.

This closure officially marks the end of the paper industry in Parchment.