JAY, Maine (AP) — A paper mill in Jay will lay off 190 employees in the latest blow to Maine's distressed paper industry.
The Verso mill is laying off the workers because the company is idling one of its machines to reduce capacity.
The Portland Press Herald reports the layoffs are scheduled to happen early next year. The company says the Androscoggin Mill is going to temporarily idle the machine to reduce annual coated paper production capacity by about 200,000 tons.
Verso senior vice president Michael Weinhold says the company has more coasted paper capacity in its mill system than it can fill.
Maine's paper industry has declined in the face of digitization and foreign competition. Numerous mills around the state have closed or cut back in recent years.
