NC Gov Cooper Visits Canton, Messge, build "Hometown of Tomorrow"

Canton -- April 7, 2023: During his visit to Canton Thursday, Governor Roy Cooper met with community members and local officials in Canton who have been impacted by the shutdown of the town's century-old paper mill by Illinois packaging giant Pactiv Evergreen.

“This closure will have a devastating impact on the thousands of people who have depended on wages and business from the Canton Paper Mill,” Governor Cooper said. “My administration is fully committed to supporting these communities with state and federal resources to help people recover and we will work to hold this company accountable.”

“On Thursday we are appreciative and thankful to welcome Governor Cooper back to Canton. From zero hour, when it was announced that Evergreen Packaging was closing, the Governor did not just make promises but has kept his word to provide financial support, claw back economic incentives, and support every worker and family affected by this crisis,” Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers said. “We look forward to providing the Governor and his staff with the challenges existing today, while also discussing how we can move forward to build the "Hometown of Tomorrow.’"

Pactiv Evergreen announced intentions to close the Canton, North Carolina, paper mill on March 6. The first layoffs are scheduled for June 9, 2023. Since it began operating more than a century ago, the Canton mill has served as the town's and area's focal point.

Governor Cooper visited  Pisgah High School on his trip and spoke with local leaders and government authorities regarding the school's closing. The Governor also visited with rail workers and suppliers at the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad Depot and mill workers at the United Steelworkers Smoky Mountain Local 507 Union Hall.

The return of state economic incentives provided to the Canton mill was the subject of a letter from Governor Cooper to the CEO of Pactiv Evergreen dated March 16, 2023. The CEO of Pactiv Evergreen is urged by the Governor's letter to consider all possibilities for keeping the mill operational or for finding a buyer. A $12 million economic development deal with the Department of Commerce would be "clearly breached" if the plant were to be shut down, it added. The money that was paid to Pactiv Evergreen between 2015 and 2021 would have to be fully repaid in order to resolve the breach.

The Governor started a page on his website earlier this week to share news about the shutdown, resources for mental health, and other information with residents in western North Carolina who are looking for jobs.

Following Evergreen Packaging's declaration that it intended to close the century-old paper mill that is a significant employer in the community, Governor Cooper's proposed budget includes at least $5 million in funds to support the residents of Canton and western North Carolina.