International Paper to close operation in Orange County

There’s bad economic news for Orange County. International Paper Company has announced the closure of their containerboard mill which has been in operation for many years in the northeast portion of the county. The closure will come by the end of this year. Additionally, the company says they are going to cease production on pulp machines in Pensacola, FL and Riegelwood, NC. The company says that approximately 900 employees will be affected, but it was not specified how many of those are at the mill in Orange County. According to the company, the Orange County operation was putting out approximately 800,000 tons of containerboard per year. International Paper is a 125-year-old company that was founded in January of 1898 in New York State, and is now headquartered in Memphis, TN.