Governor Janet T. Mills, at the Groundbreaking of the International Cold Storage Faciity on the Portland Waterfront Recently.

Pixelle Speciality Solutions LLC (“Pixelle’), a leading manufacturer of speciality papers in North America announced today the Jay mill will close in the first quarter of 2023.  The mill employs approximately 230 people who will be affectd by the closure.  The mill produces speciality labels and release papers, as well as industrial and packaging solutions for eCommerce and food service.  Its two paper machines have a capacity of 230,000 tons annually.

“….Economic forces beyond our control have combined to make profitable operations in the mill unsustainable,” said Timothy R. Hess, President and CEO of Pixelle.  “They have produced products of the highest quality and maintained a safe work environment.  We are grateful for the efforts of the employees and are committed to assisting them with offers of continued employmnet at other Pixelle locations or outplacement locations,.”

“The CEO of Pixelle, Tim Hess, called me earlier today to share the sad news of the mill’s closure.  Since the digester explosion, my Administration has been communicating frequently with mill officials to offer our support,” according to a press release issued by the Governor’s office this afternoon. ” And during our conversation today, I asked Mr. Hess if there is anything the state can do to prevent the closure of the mill and he said that, unfortunately, there is not.  He said that if there had been, he would have asked and I told him that I would have done everything within my power to help.

“I am deeply disappointed, but more importantly, I am deeply concerned for the livelihoods and wellbeing of those who work at the mill.  I was glad to hear that Pixelle will offer all employees health care benefits and severance pay following the end of their employment in 2023, but I am also directing Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman to send a Rapid Response Team to help support the mill workers and provide all available resources to them and their families.

“My Administration will continue to do all we can to support Maine’s forest products industry and the thousands of jobs it provides to people across Maine.”