Georgia-Pacific announces closure of Early County’s paper mill

Published in the Early County News on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

In a catastrophic and stunning blow to Early County and the entire tri-state area, Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific has announced the permanent closure of their Cedar Springs containerboard mill in Southwest Early County. Company leadership broke the news to the employees who were present at work last Wednesday. The effective date is August 1, 2025, for the elimination of about 535 jobs.

Officials from Georgia Pacific said, “Various factors influenced this difficult decision. Ultimately, we do not believe that the mill can competitively serve our customers in the long term.”

In response to the news, Early County Commission Chairman Hank Jester said, “The Early County Board of Commissioners and the Development Authority of Early County are actively collaborating with state leadership. Our hearts go out to those who are directly affected. As we navigate this challenging time, Early County’s strength and resiliency will lead us towards a more unified and prosperous future.”

This marks GP’s second mill closing in a month with the recent announcement of a July 1 closing of the Emporia Plywood mill in Virginia.

The company has said they intend to help employees at the plants find jobs within their company or in other businesses owned by the parent company, Koch Industries.

The impact of this will reach far beyond the 500+ employees who will lose jobs at the mill. Forestry, timber, rail and other associated industries will likely see a significant impact.

As soon as the announcement was made, local, state and federal leaders began working to replace the lost jobs with the hope of getting a new tenant into the 5000-acre property on the Chattahoochee River. All involved are making connections and seeking input from economic development entities around the world. They are hopeful that the property will become available to either be used by another company as a paper mill or for a different industry. Before that can happen, GP and Koch Industries will have to agree to part with the property.

If they do, it will likely be the largest industrial tracts of its kind in Georgia and in the Southeastern United States. Few locations available for use or development have such easy access to a ready workforce, water, power, natural gas, an active railway and near unlimited timber.

Susanne Reynolds, executive director of the Development Authority of Early County said, “Since the early 60s, the paper mill has been a cornerstone of our community, providing jobs to hundreds of families and contributing to the economic stability of Early County. We understand the anxiety and uncertainty this creates for our workforce and the families who rely on these jobs. The Development Authority is committed to supporting all affected individuals during this transition, while working with local and state leadership to blaze a new path forward for a better tomorrow in Early County.”

Waking Up Early is published weekly in the Early County News.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!