The Madison Paper Industries paper mill in Madison is slated to close by the end of May, costing the mill's approximately 214 workers their jobs.

The closure was announced in a March 14 press release from UPM-Kymmene Inc. and Northern SC Paper Corp., the company that owns the mill.

According to the release, the paper business at the mill will end and paper production is expected to conclude by the end of May at the latest. Hydro power assets located at the mill site will be sold, the company's release said.

While all of the mill's employees will be impacted by the closure in May, the release from the company said that some employees will remain beyond May to maintain buildings, operate the hydro generating facilities and support activities related to the closing. All employment related actions will be handled in accordance with federal and state statutory requirements, the release said.

"Despite everyone's best efforts, the difficult decision has been made to cease paper production at Madison. Demand for SC papers declined significantly in 2015 and the decline is expected to continue. The Madison mill is not cost-competitive and has lost a significant amount of sales in the recent past," said Ruud van den Berg, Senior Vice President of UPM Paper Europe and North America.

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