Hogan Administration Delegation Visits Allegany County In Support of Paper Mill Workers, Families
ANNAPOLIS, MD—On Tuesday, a delegation of Hogan administration officials visited Allegany County to meet with local leaders regarding the closure of the Verso Paper Mill in Luke, Md. Governor Hogan has directed that all state agencies provide support and resources to help workers and families affected by the closure of the mill.
As part of their visit, the delegation met with local leaders at the Allegany County Complex to discuss both immediate and longer-term impacts and needs associated with the closing of the mill. They then visited with employee union representatives to ensure they were fully informed of the support the state can provide. State agencies will have a presence in the region throughout the remainder of this week with future visits planned.
- “Governor Hogan’s administration seeks support for Luke Paper Mill families. ‘We want you to know that we have your community’s back.’ Maryland Governor Larry Hogan had his administration visit Luke on Tuesday to continue providing support to families and workers affected by the Verso Paper Mill closure. … Secretary of Maryland Department of Commerce, Kelly Schulz, said they’ve been talking with future buyers of the paper mill site and they have close to 12 buyers lined up.” (WDVM, 5/28/19)
- “Governor Larry Hogan sent cabinet members to Luke to make good on a promise made when the plant announced its closing in April. ‘The governor jumped on this,’ State Senator George Edwards said.‘He made calls to the CEO and other people at Verso and he said he’s going to pull out all the stops to make sure we do the best we can for the State of Maryland.’” (WJZ, 5/28/19)
- “Tuesday’s visit here by Maryland’s Cabinet secretaries was Gov. Larry Hogan’s latest show of support for nearly 700 Luke mill workers who will lose their jobs when the paper making factory closes at the end of next month. … Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz said the governor ‘has made this his top priority for the whole administration.’ She said the administration is working on the Luke mill issue non-stop and ‘on an hourly basis.’” (Cumberland Times-News, 5/28/19)
- “By mid-May, the state and local governments convened a job fair for the workers who were about to be displaced. About 70 companies sent recruiters, and another will take place in mid-June. Schulz, the state Commerce secretary, said government officials are trying to help the company find a buyer to take over the plant; the company, she said, has hired a consultant to identify and talk to potential buyers.” (Maryland Matters, 5/29/19)
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