Dozens of residents are gathered at Rosehead Park in Perry for a community prayer meeting.
Wednesday's event follows not one, but two disasters—first Hurricane Idalia and now weeks later the announcement that Georgia Pacific plans to shut down the Foley Cellulose papermill.
“It’s just so many people hurting and trying to figure out what they’re going to do in the future,” said local pastor James Taylor.
Georgia Pacific says its decision to close had nothing to do with the storm. In a press release, the company stated that it “no longer can competitively serve its customers.”
GP bought the plant in 2013 from another manufacturing company, Procter & Gamble. But the plant has been a pillar in the city of Perry since the 1950s.
Perry resident Christian DeRocco says that long history has touched many of the area’s families.
“My grandfather and my grandmother both worked there. They had a high school diploma level education and were able to get really good jobs working at the plant," said DeRocco. "I have a lot of classmates that’s around my age that decided not to go to college, and they were able to get really good jobs. They were able to support their entire family.”
Recovery from just one disaster can be a daunting task for any community. That’s especially true for a small rural town like Perry where the population doesn’t top 7,000 people. That’s why government officials are calling on Georgia Pacific to help with the task.
Taylor County Commissioners called for a meeting less than 24 hours after news of the mill's closure broke. They're hoping to find ways to help soften the blow to the community. And they're not alone.
Statement from Governor DeSantis on the closure of the Georgia-Pacific Foley Mill in Perry: pic.twitter.com/pIclkBMpoa
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 20, 2023
Governor Ron DeSantis and Congressman Neal Dunn are calling for Georgia Pacific to help with the transition by extending health benefits and providing job training. Dunn posted a video on Facebook talking about his concerns.
“Georgia-Pacific claims the facility was struggling and yet they never reached out to federal, state, or local officials for guidance or help," Dunn stated. "We might have been able to help. I want all of you to know that I will be watching Koch Industries and Georgia Pacific closely.”
Georgia-Pacific did not respond to requests for comment, but in a statement on its website the company said production will continue for “a limited time” and that GP will help its 500 employees find jobs within the company during the transition.