190 To Be Laid Off At Verso Mill In Jay

Verso Paper will lay off 190 people as it idles one of its paper machines.

The company is temporarily ceasing operation of the Number 3 paper machine, which will result in the layoffs, beginning in the first quarter of 2017. The move will reduce the annual coated paper production capacity by about 200,000 tons.

Company officials say the layoffs are due a decrease in demand. If that demand doesn't increase, the machine will not be restarted and the employees' positions will be eliminated.