Georgia-Pacific to invest $400 million in Palatka mill, create 80 new jobs

Georgia-Pacific is investing $400 million in its Palatka plant, a move that is expected to bring 80 new permanent jobs and hundreds of construction-related jobs to the area.

The company announced Friday that the Palatka mill was selected as the location for the company’s investment of more than $400 million in its GP Consumer retail tissue and towel business.

Investments to the Palatka mill will include building a new paper machine and adding associated converting equipment and infrastructure.

Work will begin immediately and startup of the upgraded operation is scheduled for 2019.

The company said 80 jobs will be created to operate the new papermaking complex. The mill currently employs 850 people.

An average of 160 construction and contract-related workers are expected to be onsite at the mill every day during the project with a potential peak of 700 contract workers per day at the height of construction, the company said.

Georgia-Pacific operates three facilities and employs nearly 1,600 people in Florida.

Georgia-Pacific's investment and acquisitions at the Palatka mill have totaled $306 million and statewide investments have totaled $1.5 billion in the last 10 years, the company said.

Cox Media Group