New fund aims to address 'ripple effect' of the Canton paper mill closure

The Canton paper mill, at over a century old, has been so important to the lives of residents that some have likened its closure to a death in the family.

There has been no shortage of support offered to former employees of the Pactiv-Evergreen mill, however. One of the most recent supports offered, a charitable fund announced July 28 by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, is available to nonprofits and municipalities affected by the closure.

CFWNC President Elizabeth Brazas told the Citizen Times that unlike many other resources created due to the closure of the mill, the Forward Fund is not just for the town of Canton.

“We don't know where the dollars are going to go yet,” said Brazas. “So it's not it's not saying, ‘dedicated to Canton,’ it's dedicated to capacity building and planning needs that are from the closing of the mill."

The Forward Fund, managed by Senior Program Officer Tara Scholtz, aims to provide grants to allow nonprofits and municipalities to “plan, coordinate and increase capacity for collaborative economic-recovery programs and projects.”

“I am moved by how many people have reached out proactively to help and am struck by the level of partnership,” Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers said in a news release. “The impact of this closure is felt far beyond Canton and Haywood County. This is not a partisan issue; it’s a community issue. The closing has created difficult situations for so many, but it opens the opportunity for us to plan together for a healthy future and shared prosperity. CFWNC’s Forward Fund provides yet another tool for continued collaboration.”

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CFWNC previously awarded $150,000 to the town of Canton in order to hire a Recovery Officer who would be able to assist Canton in procuring and managing assistance available in the wake of the closure.

“It was pretty clear that there was a lot of funding out there, maybe state and federal level, some regional, local,” said Brazas. “But the capacity of the town and the county to write grants, receive the funds, manage them, was lacking.”

Brazas said that Dogwood Health Trust has been studying the "ripple effect" of financial strain that the closure has caused beyond Canton itself. She knows the Forward Fund won't completely alleviate this strain, but CFWNC is dedicated to focusing on a broader scope when it comes to financial assistance.

"As many people have said, including Zeb Smathers, the ripple effects of this are broad," said Brazas. "The fund isn't going to have enough money to handle any and all ripple effects. But Dogwood Health Trust is doing a study on the economic impact that goes beyond the county."

The assistance offered surrounding the mill's closure doesn’t end with funds provided to affected groups and municipalities. In early July, Dogwood Health Trust announced a $1 million grant to the United Way of Haywood County to support the Canton Mill Closure Emergency Response Project, a grant that will provide assistance directly to individuals and families affected by the closure.

Another resource for individuals and families was established early on through a dedicated website at milltownstrong.com. The website has compiled resources for ex-mill workers, with sections for employment and training, health insurance, health and wellness, financial assistance and resource submission.

Brazas echoed Smathers’ sentiment. She said it was clear to her that, from the mill closure to the catastrophic 2021 floods Canton suffered, Western North Carolina knows how to join together in times of crisis.

“It's really heartwarming to see the collaboration amongst local and regional funders, businesses, individuals, nonprofit organizations and state and city folks as well,” said Brazas. “So, if you can find a silver lining, that collaboration, that can-do attitude is definitely there.”

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Iris Seaton is a news intern for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: New fund aims to address 'ripple effect' of the Canton mill closure