According to a report yesterday (February 10) by WWNY, Watertown, N.Y, USA, barring a last minute reprieve, production will end February 26 at the Metro Paper (Scarborough, Ont., Canada) mill in Carthage, N.Y., eliminating 20 jobs.

 

Christine Osterhout, administrator of the mill, told the local news station Wednesday that a small number of employees will be kept on even if, as expected, production ends. However, about 20 employees will be laid off permanently. She said the mill would continue to operate only if a new customer was found for its products. She said it was also possible the mill could be used as a warehouse.

Donald Alexander, who is executive director of the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency., told WWNY that Metro has been trying to sell the plant, but there have been no takers so far.

Metro Paper, a tissue manufacturer subsidiary of Kruger Products (Mississauga, Ont., Canada), is reporting significantly lower sales volumes, Alexander explained. Alexander added that there could be an option for employees to buy the plant, but nothing has been decided.

 

The mill employs 25-30 workers. The plant  is located at the site of the former James River Paper plant. Alexander said it's another example of the northern part of the state's declining paper industry, which was once one of the region's major employers.