DeSantis to ‘leverage’ executive resources for workers affected by Georgia-Pacific facility closure

TAYLOR COUNTY, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will “leverage every executive resource” to help workers who lost their job at Georgia-Pacific Foley Cellulose Facility in Taylor County following the facility’s abrupt announcement that it would close.

“I’ll leverage every executive resource I have to facilitate their quick and seamless transition to new, well-paying jobs,” DeSantis said.

State leaders including Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson responded to the closure earlier this week.

The governor directed the Florida Department of Commerce to set up a local job fair to connect affected residents with hiring employers and job training opportunities.

DeSantis said Taylor County is recovering from Hurricane Idalia and “this adds to the disaster recovery resources already on the ground.”

“We will not leave them behind,” the governor said.

DeSantis urged the Georgia-Pacific facility to “do what’s right” and called on them to pay severance and insurance that will “bridge the gap and allow these hardworking Floridians to get back on their feet – especially after a hurricane.”

Florida’s Voice reached out to the Georgia-Pacific Foley cellulose facility and did not receive an immediate response.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson called the announcement of the facilities’ decision to close “devastating.”

“While there is never a good time to lose a major employer, particularly in a rural county, this news could not come at a worse time for families devastated by Hurricane Idalia,” Simpson said in a statement.

“The decision is final and cannot be reversed,” he added. “We were not informed in advance, but I can confirm that there were no state laws, regulations, or economic conditions within state control that contributed to the shutdown.”

Simpson said while Georgia-Pacific “cannot make the numbers work for their corporation, they are willing sellers.” He urged another investor or company to take over the operations of the facility.

“There are many economic incentives available, and Florida has an excellent climate for business,” Simpson said. “I challenge anyone to find harder working people than those in Taylor and surrounding counties.”

The agriculture commissioner asked Georgia-Pacific to do “all they can to assist with finding jobs for the hundreds that are displaced.”

“This will not only impact the direct employees, but the many industries that are a part of the complex network supporting the operation such as loggers, truckers, and other essential workers,” Simpson said.

Simpson said he would ask Georgia-Pacific to look for ways to “go above and beyond” on severance pay and insurance assistance.

“The people of Taylor and surrounding counties are hurting and need a glidepath,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., posted on social media that he attempted to call the cellulose operation, resulting in a “vague, callous and unhelpful” conversation.

“It baffles me how this company could be so heartless to a community that welcomed them with open arms,” he said.

Following the call, the representative sent Georgia-Pacific a list of demands based on constituent feedback.

The demands include extended health benefits, pay and severance for at least six months, as well as access to food banks, paid leave for job fairs, pay for access to job training resources and for Georgia-Pacific to give the facility to Taylor County so that the local government can handle the infrastructure.