Jobs now available at Florelle Tissue plant

Applications for packaging jobs at Florelle Tissue Corp., Brownville, are now being accepted by The Workplace, 1000 Coffeen St., until Friday this week, where they may be completed on site between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Florelle Tissue, which is in the process of moving into the former Brownville Specialty Paper Products Inc. plant, is expected to hire four to six full-time production workers, offering an hourly wage from $8 to $10.50, based on workers’ experience.

About 55 additional jobs will be announced by The Workplace this year as they become available at the plant, which is now installing converting equipment to make paper products, said President Harry Minas. Those jobs are expected to be gradually filled by the end of the year, he said, when the plant is slated to be fully operational. A total of 75 positions will be available within the next three years, he said, as the plant will eventually be open 24 hours for five or six days a week.

The plant will manufacture kitchen towels and napkins, as well as facial and bathroom tissue.

“It’s taken us over two years to get this project up and going, and so I’m trying to get it moved forward as quickly as possible,” Mr. Minas said.

Mr. Minas, who lives in Canada, added that he’s been impressed by the skilled workforce available in Jefferson County. Applications for positions at The Workplace will be reviewed by Mr. Minas, who will select candidates to be interviewed.

“I’m finding a plethora of qualified employees for every job we’ve put out so far,” he said, adding that additional packaging, warehousing and machinery positions will be announced this summer. Maintenance workers will be paid an hourly wage of $14 to $18, he said, which is based on industry standards.

Launching the business in Jefferson County was by design, Mr. Minas said, pointing out that the area has convenient access to markets in the northeastern U.S. and Canada.

“Our geographic location is perfect to target” those markets, he said. “We have one-third of the U.S. population 500 miles away, as well as about 50 to 60 percent of the Canadian population. In this industry, you can’t ask for more than that.”

Cheryl A. Mayforth, director of The Workplace, added that the opening of the plant will be a boon for the local workforce.

“We’re riding 10 percent unemployment right now, so this is big for us,” she said, adding that about 60 people applied for positions Monday morning. “The jobs pay better than the service sector and are well sought after.”

The Workplace will continue to advertise job openings as they become available and send updates by email to job hunters signed up for the program, she said.

Those with questions about the program may call The Workplace at 782-9252.