In a recent development that has impacted the community of Campti, Louisiana, International Paper has announced the closure of its Red River Mill slated for the end of April. This news, released last Thursday, has spurred the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) and Louisiana Economic Development (LED) into action to mitigate the fallout.
Susana Schowen, LWC Secretary, acknowledged the trepidation felt by the workers, offering Rapid Response services to assist in their employment transition. Scheduled orientation sessions are around the corner, aimed at providing a gamut of support from job market trends to resume writing and career counseling, as reported by Louisiana Economic Development. The workers, dealing with the shock of suddenly finding themselves out of work, have been reassured by Schowen, "Please be assured that help is on its way."
On the other side of the equation, the LED, led by Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois, is looking to offset the impact by cultivating potential growth projects. Over 175 projects with a collective potential investment of $107.5 billion are being explored by LED's Business Development team. Reports from Louisiana Economic Development indicate that more than 2,100 new jobs could emerge from these projects, specifically within the wood products sector, targeting sites in North and Central Louisiana.
Amid these developments, the region has not been left without potential silver linings. LED's efforts have recently culminated in 12 major economic development projects set to create over 5,600 new jobs in North Louisiana. As Bourgeois stated, "The closure of IP’s Red River Mill is a reminder that change is a constant, even for legacy companies like International Paper." Despite the current setback, these projects, as detailed by Louisiana Economic Development, symbolize a pledge by the state to ensure regional prosperity through new investments, poised to foster community growth despite the changing tides of individual corporate fortunes.
