LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga () – It has been two weeks since International Paper announced the closing of its Riceboro and Savannah facilities, a move that will impact more than 1,000 workers. 

Now, the Liberty County Development Authority (LCDA) is stepping in to help those without a job.

“It is a dramatic impact,” said Malissa Mackay, LCDA vice president of business development said.

The mills are expected to close by the end of the month. Mackay said about 300 employees from Riceboro’s containerboard, and timber and lumber mills will be affected, with 40% of them living in Liberty County.

“We’ve heard from workers there in Riceboro, and some of their concerns are looking for the next opportunity, especially those who have been at the plant for 20, 30 years,” she said. “It’s difficult to transition to another opportunity.”

To support employees, LCDA is partnering with city and county leaders, WorkSource Coastal Georgia, Savannah Technical College and Regional Industry Support Enterprise (RISE).

“The day of the announcement, we received so many calls, text, and emails of folks in the community who were ready to help,” Mackay said.

At the job fair, job seekers will meet directly with employers, apply for openings, sit for on-site interviews and get help with resumes and job searches. LCDA said it is also working closely with International Paper to make the transition easier.

“They made some great suggestions on how we could structure the fair to better support those employees,” she said. “So even the timing of the fair was there was in part due to them. we wanted to make sure that we covered different shifts.”

She continued, “it’s absolutely it is a win-win-win for job seekers, for employers, for the community.  job seekers will be able to connect with employers who are ready to hire right now.”

The job fair takes place Wednesday from 4- 7:30 p.m. at the Riceboro Youth Center.