One of the biggest manufacturing plants in Kimball, Tennessee will shut down in May, eliminating the last 61 jobs at the 24-year-old facility.
WestRock, the Atlanta-based pulp and paper product company, said Thursday it will permanently close its digital printing operations in Kimball in May and consolidate such production at a similar plant in Chattanooga.
“There is extra capacity in Chattanooga and, in order to remain competitive, the company is moving production to that facility,” said John Pensec, director of corporate communications for WestRock. “As a company, we balance our commitment to delivering value to our customers with the need to maximize the efficiency of our manufacturing operations. We are pleased that there will be opportunities for some employees to transfer to the Chattanooga facility.”
WestRock, which was formed in July 2015 after the merger of MeadWestvaco and RockTenn, gave a WARN notice of the plant closing to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development last week. The Southeast Tennessee Development District will work to help find other jobs for the dislocated workers.
Marion County Mayor David Jackson said he has already begun trying to recruit a new business to move into the 235,000-square-foot WestRock facility in Kimball after it is closed.