By Jim Tuttle
Smithfield Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
International Paper is “committed” to working with Isle of Wight to find a new use for its Franklin Mill site after the closure, a county economic development official said.
In a recent meeting, newly hired Mill Manager John Rankin told Isle of Wight officials that, “this is the first time IP has committed to a major reuse project like this,” according to Director of Economic Development Lisa Perry.
“They really made their strongest statement … acknowledging for the first time that IP would reach out and work with the communities,” she said
That is not to say that IP wants the county to start immediately marketing the property. For now, the company needs to focus on the paper business and assisting workers who will be laid off in the coming months, Perry said.
In December, she told the Board of Supervisors that IP wanted the county to “back off” from trying to market the mill to future users. For the time being, that’s still the case, but Perry looks forward to working with IP in the future.
“This is very positive. We want them to have as much time as they need, but they are reaching out and it’s very positive.”
In the meantime, the county will work on attracting new businesses to the Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park, and maintain regular contact with Rankin as the shutdown approaches.
“We communicate with him weekly. It’s a very good indication that IP is serious about working with us,” Perry said.
There are “lots of ideas and lots of prospects” for the site, she said.
Once the mill shuts down, however, there will still be a lot to do before a new user could move in. In fact, it will likely take 18 months “at the very least” to get the facility ready after the shutdown, Perry said.
There will be some environmental remediation to be done, but the latest reports from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality “are very good” and indicated “that things are on track.”
“We’re hoping not to find any surprises,” Perry said.
News editor Diana McFarland contributed to this report.
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