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Heartstrings

(7,349 posts)
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 11:36 AM Jul 2020

A Warning from Wisconsin

Last edited Thu Jul 30, 2020, 12:15 PM - Edit history (1)

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. —


The massive paper mill has churned relentlessly since it began feeding off the energy of the Wisconsin River more than a century ago, forming the cornerstone of a city’s economy and producing glossy paper coveted by publishers during the heyday of U.S. magazines.

But the covid-19 pandemic has sped up a long-term trend — the waning need for the paper used in magazines and printed advertising — and Verso Corp.’s Wisconsin Rapids Mill will finally fall silent at the end of the month. The shutdown, announced June 9, will knock some 900 people out of work and has sent tremors across the region’s economy, reaching from the plant’s gates through town and deep into the Wisconsin forests that supply wood pulp to make paper.




More at link:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/30/wisconsin-paper-mill-shutdown-coronavirus/

*And this is what happens when you vote against your own interests and the “elders” have been doing so for decades, not allowing new businesses to come to this area....Heartstrings

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A Warning from Wisconsin (Original Post) Heartstrings Jul 2020 OP
My grandparents lived in Wisconsin Rapids Jimbo S Jul 2020 #1
couldn't they convert to n95 paper? getagrip_already Jul 2020 #2
Not surprised, Wellstone ruled Jul 2020 #3

Jimbo S

(2,955 posts)
1. My grandparents lived in Wisconsin Rapids
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 11:39 AM
Jul 2020

Yeah, it's been a slow death for central Wisconsin going 40 years.

getagrip_already

(14,250 posts)
2. couldn't they convert to n95 paper?
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 11:54 AM
Jul 2020

Surely there is a market for the paper composites used in n95 masks (they are layers of filter paper and polyester film sandwiched together). There is still a painful shortage of masks.

Sure, it would require retooling and retraining. Doesn't the gov't have funds for that? It may not employ 900 people, but surely some could be kept on.

Seems like a senseless waste of people and plant when a need exists.

Just thinking out loud.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
3. Not surprised,
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 12:04 PM
Jul 2020

this has been in the works for several months as per our Son In law who is a Sales Rep for the company. That makes four Mills closed in the last year plus in that area. BTW,these jobs as well as the Manufacturing has moved to Latin America as well as Korea and China.

Paper packaging as well as Advertising print material has been in a major contraction mode for more than ten years. SIL is one of the few remaining Sales People left and his territory is everything west of the Mississippi River as well as Part of Mexico. And he does all this via Cell phone and Laptop. Twenty five years thus far.

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