Georgia-Pacific to expand Palatka mill, add 80 jobs
Georgia-Pacific is going to spend $400 million expanding its paper and pulp mill in Palatka, adding an additional 80 jobs to a county with the highest unemployment in Northeast Florida.
About 850 people work at the mill now.
Georgia-Pacific had announced in March that it would make the $400 million investment in one of its locations, but didn’t say which one. Locations were considered in at least three other states, said Terry Hadaway, public affairs manager for the plant.
At a Friday news conference in Palatka, the company made it official. It will add a new papermaking complex to make tissue and paper towels at its plant on County Road 216, a few miles northwest of Palatka.
Brian Bergen, vice president of economic development for the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce said:
“Any job is significant. But the real significance is that secures the future of the mill. As equipment ages, mills become less efficient. This was not considered a first-quartile mill, but this brings it further back up the rankings.”