Longtime Monticello Factory Announces Closing Plans

By Addison Speck, Reporter

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By Jaime Sharer

Story Created: Feb 8, 2012 at 11:52 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 8, 2012 at 11:52 PM CDT

MONTICELLO, Iowa - A longtime factory in Monticello informed workers Wednesday, they will close their doors. Georgia Pacific is one of the city's major employers. The cardboard box manufacturing plant is located off of North Cedar St. It announced it will start winding down operations over the next several weeks and then officially close. About 45 workers will directly be affected, but chances are, the town of 3,600 will all see some type of impact.

The Atlanta-based Georgia Pacific is a major producer of tissue, packaging, and building products. The Monticello plant makes boxes from cardboard. Georgia Pacific has other Iowa locations in Dubuque and Fort Dodge employing a total of 200 people statewide.

KCRG talked to people in Monticello on Wednesday night and it seemed everyone knows at least one person that was employed by the business. After stopping in a local gas station, workers and customers tell KCRG they expect this will have a big impact on their local economy. One woman said that she thought Monticello was doing alright during the recession, but in the past two years Family Foods grocery store, a Hardee's restaurant, and now this Georgia Pacific plant has closed in the city.

KCRG was told Monticello will try to enlist state workforce development and economic development officials to help get the employees back to work.

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