Lawmaker “optimistic” about acquisition, calls for “full reopening” of Wisconsin Rapids mill
MINOCQUA, WI – U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) responded today to news that the Verso Corporation is entering into a multimillion-dollar merger agreement with the Swedish pulp and paper manufacturer BillerudKorsnäs.
“I look forward to working with BillerudKorsnäs to make sure the new company fully reopens the Wisconsin Rapids mill – something that would benefit the state’s economy and improve the environment,” Tiffany said.
“Reopening the Wisconsin Rapids facility is a win-win proposition,” Tiffany added. “It will create and sustain good family-wage jobs at the mill, support indirect jobs in the trucking and logging sectors that feed the mill and promote better forest health and land management to boot,” said Tiffany.
The Wisconsin Rapids mill’s closure had a crushing ripple effect across the forest products industry.
“I am optimistic about the future, and hope that we can avoid a repeat of what happened two decades ago when Stora Enso Oyj left the mill in worse shape than when they purchased it,” Tiffany concluded. “This is a golden opportunity for Wisconsin and for BillerudKorsnäs – one we cannot afford to squander.”
