A public meeting is being held to discuss a study looking for a practical use for Grand Falls-Windsor’s richest resource
Grand Falls-Windsor’s richest resource has been latent since the closure of the pulp and paper mill seven years ago, but thanks to a $50,000 grant from the provincial government and support by the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, Centre for Forest Science and Innovation, a study is now taking place to find new technology, products and market pathways to a sustainable future for the forestry resource.
The Forest Diversification Strategy will identify potential opportunities for the forest industry in Grand Falls-Windsor in place of the mill.
The closure of the mill had a devastating impact on the town of Grand Falls-Windsor but, “Even though the mill was in town it supported the region, not just Grand Falls-Windsor,” said Grand Falls-Windsor Councilor Peggy Bartlett.
The key now is to identify what opportunities there are through looking at what new technologies are out there and the demographics of the workforce in the region compared to what jobs can be provided by tapping into the forestry resource.
“When you do a feasibility study it doesn’t guarantee success, it just says that we’re looking at it,” Bartlett added.
There will be a community input session on the Forest Diversification Strategy happening on Wednesday, June 15 from 7-8:30p.m. at the Grand Falls-Windsor fire hall on Harris Avenue.
There will be a keynote presentation by Peter Milley and the public is invited to come out and learn about the project and the desired outcomes; support from the community is essential to ensuring the projects success.