Job fair set for WestRock workers, their families and businesses affected by mill closure

Samantha Neely, The News Herald
·2 min read

BAY COUNTY — CareerSource Gulf Coast will host a "Job and Community Resources Fair" this week for WestRock paper mill employees and families affected by the mill's closure.

The job fair is set for Friday and Saturday at Gulf Coast State College's Eastern Student Union beginning at 10 a.m., with veterans receiving priority access starting at 9 a.m. CareerSource officials said they expect representatives of more than 50 employers, educational institutions and agencies will be in attendance, including Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Haney Technical College, Hensel Phelps, veterans services, United Way and the Small Business Development Center.

WestRock officials announced on April 7 that the mill will cease operations after June 6, leaving about 450 employees without a job.

WestRock officials announced on April 7 that the Panama City paper mill will cease operations after June 6, leaving about 450 employees without a job.
WestRock officials announced on April 7 that the Panama City paper mill will cease operations after June 6, leaving about 450 employees without a job.

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There's no pre-registration for job seekers. Officials will be on site for re-employment assistance and help with layoff paperwork.

As part of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's Rapid Response Team, CareerSource Gulf Coast has been working to provide resources to the hundreds of employees being laid off.

"When that announcement was made that very day our executive was already in touch with WestRock and coordinating services right away, so this isn't necessarily something that just popped up," Samarripa said. "From day one, we knew we were going to have a job fair. We were trying to find the right time to do it."

CareerSource Gulf Coast has parked its mobile Career Center outside WestRock for mill employees losing their jobs.
CareerSource Gulf Coast has parked its mobile Career Center outside WestRock for mill employees losing their jobs.

CareerSource has been working with employees, their families and affected businesses on their next steps, deploying a mobile Career Center outside the mill.

Along with working with the employees on-site within their schedules, the organization also has set up a priority text and call hotline at 850-866-3726 to contact CareerSource specialists 24/7.

Employers coming:

  • Eastern Shipbuilding Group

  • Alexander Air Conditioning

  • Allied Universal Security

  • Bay County Board of Commissioners

  • Berg Pipe

  • Buffalo Rock-Pepsi

  • Burger King

  • City of Panama City

  • CWR Contracting, Inc.

  • Detect, Inc.

  • Eastern Industries

  • Eastern Shipbuilding Group

  • First Service Residential

  • Florida Department of Corrections – Gulf Correctional

  • Florida Department of Corrections – Northwest Florida Reception Center

  • Fortiline Waterworks

  • Gulf Coast State College

  • Hensel Phelps

  • Hilton Sun

  • International Paper

  • Merrick Industries

  • MTC – Bay Correctional Facility

  • RC Hospitality Solutions (Edgewater)

  • Rex Lumber

  • Sheraton PCB

  • Smith Industrial Services

  • Teleperformance

  • Trane Technologies

  • Waffle House

Others coming with information, resources:

  • Gulf Coast State College

  • Tom P. Haney Technical College

  • Small Business Development Center

  • United Way

  • Bay County Veterans Service Office

For businesses and agencies interested in participating in the job fair, CareerSource Gulf Coast advises to sign up online or contact Amy Miller at 850-872-4340 ext. 8109. For further information, visit its website.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City WestRock paper mill: CareerSource hosting job fair