ROARING SPRING/BLAIR COUNTY, Pa — Close to three hundred employees will lose their jobs when the Appvion Paper Mill in Roaring Spring closes its doors within the next two months. After serving as a community cash cow for several generations, the Roaring Spring Paper Mill told employees yesterday that they would no longer have a job soon.
The mill has been a staple in the area for over a century, and becomes yet another factory in the area to fold. One employee was not happy with how the news was delivered.
“I had actually just gotten off of work and I was working third shift that day and I got a message from a coworker that a mass email had been sent out that they were closing the mill," said Laura Loar, who had been working there since August. "No one from the mill has actually reached out to me. I had to go into work to actually read the email.”
While around three hundred people will be out of work, the closing will also be a problem for the surrounding community.
“It seems like Blair County don’t try to keep good jobs in here. They think we’re some kind of shopping mecca and just want to get restaurants and stores but people have to have jobs that give you money, and they’ve just let all of the factory jobs leave the area," said Ruby Harr, who had been worked at the mill for over twenty years. "So, this is going to hurt a lot of people and a lot of businesses around that deal with the people who work there.”
Harr expressed sorrow for everyone at the mill who has to figure out what to do next.
“My heart’s breaking for everybody over there and all I can say is trust in God, he has a plan, we may not know what it’s about but trust in God and ask for his help," she said. "Hopefully we’ll all be able to pick up jobs if you have to get a job and be okay.”
Both women added that this was a long time coming and that next steps will be challenging while the pandemic goes on.
WJAC has also tried to reach Appvion officials both in Roaring Spring and at its parent location in Wisconsin for the past 2 days for comment on the situation. We have not received a response.
ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfmrqxuM6ynJ6rXZu%2FsLmMnKOoq5mjtG6tz6mtoqeeYr2ivMSrZKahnKF6tLzEmqJmp6Wp