Representatives of Clearwater Paper, formerly known as Potlatch talked about their facility during a meeting of the McGehee Chamber of Commerce recently.
According to the McGehee Dermott Times-News, the mill produces paperboard for packaging nationally known products such as Tylenol and perfume boxes.
The newspaper quoted Malcom Massey as saying the company’s operations are the largest providers of private brand tissue in the country and since 2004, Clearwater has produced “blister packs” which are used to package things like batteries. Clearwater now produces 80 percent of the market share of blister packs.
The plant employs more than 360 people from the McGehee area.
The newspaper also reported that the mill is currently working with the McGehee School District on a pilot program to educate students who could potentially become future employees. The project currently works with 7th and 8th graders and organizations like the school robotics team to help develop young talent. There are plans to expand the project to other schools in the future.
