Governor Bobby Jindal Statement on IP Bastrop Announcement

Statement

Governor Bobby Jindal Statement on IP Bastrop Announcement

Governor Bobby Jindal released the following statement today regarding International Paper's announcement that it will be indefinitely closing its Louisiana Mill in Bastrop due to a dramatic downturn in demand, spurred by the declining national and global economy:

"I spoke to IP Plant Manager Greg Van Voorhies this morning and again committed to provide the full assistance of the state to help IP convert the plant to shift its production to new products, due to the changing global market. Over the past several months, we have offered IP workforce training support, tax incentives, direct payments, and every other form of assistance to help them keep the plant open and we will continue to aggressively work with them to convince them to reopen the facility.

"For example, the state has a signed agreement to make three $3 million payments to support IP in converting the plant from paper production to pulp production, and also offered to support an application to exempt them from the state sales tax incurred from their capital investment in converting the facility. We have been discussing with them additional direct financial incentives as well, but they inform us today's decision was driven entirely by changes in the global economy.

"I have sent Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret and Louisiana Workforce Commission Office of Workforce Development Director Stacy Bonnaffons to Bastrop to begin to help workers with assistance programs and skills training opportunities that can connect them with available jobs. I will be visiting Bastrop Monday to personally get an on-the-ground assessment of workforce needs and what assistance, training programs, and job placement initiatives we need to implement."

Source