3 days ago
State Sen. Freddie Powell Sims to join in prayer for Early County workers
ALBANY — State Sen. Freddie Powell-Sims, D-Dawson, and members of the surrounding southwest Georgia community will come together at the First Baptist Church of Blakely to help lift up those impacted by the recent announcement that the Georgia-Pacific Paper Mill Plant in Early County will close permanently.
Georgia-Pacific announced it will close its containerboard mill at Cedar Springs, along the state's southwest border with Alabama. All 535 employees there will be let go, with most positions eliminated by Aug. 1.
The decision to close the mill will undoubtedly have a devastating impact on the town and the surrounding areas, while adding further plight to rural Georgians, state Democratic officials said.
Georgia Senate Democrats believe there is no Georgia without rural Georgia. These communities are the backbone of the state, feeding families, sustaining the economy, and preserving generations of tradition and service, these officials said in a news release. From farm towns to timber country, rural Georgians deserve real investments in health care, education, infrastructure and jobs. Instead, rural communities are facing closures, cuts and broken promises.
