Paper mill workers to get career help

FRANKLIN, Va. - Help is on the way for employees affected by the paper mill plant closing in Franklin. Last month WAVY.com learned that International Paper will shut down in the spring, putting some 1,100 people out of work.

Opportunity Inc. and the Virginia Employment Commission have opened an on-site Transition Center where career counselors will be on hand every day to  help employees with unemployment benefits, job searching, resume writing and even financial counseling.

Those affected by the layoffs will be provided information on how to access these and other services through the OppInc One Stop workforce Centers, Virginia Employment Commission and the  Transition Center.

Mill employee Danny Daniel said, "I'm looking for something so I can move forward with my life.  The mill is closing so we have to do what we have to do to get to the next level."

Employee Mike Phillips said, "I think it's going to be tough to find jobs of comparable compensation to what people here are used to.  This is a very good living people make here."

The Transition Center is located in Training Center Room No. 1 in the Human Resource building and will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The OppInc One Stop workforce Centers are located at:

OppInc. One-Stop Workforce Center
Paul D. Camp Community College
100 N. College Drive
Franklin, VA 23851
Phone: 757-569-6082

Regional Workforce Development Center
Circle East Office Building
861 Glenrock Road, Suite 223

Norfolk, VA 23502
Phone: 757-461-7537
Fax: 757-461-6117

Suffolk Workforce Development Center
157 North Main Street
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: 757-514-7737

Additional information can be found at www.ipclosure.com or www.opp-inc.org.