JAY – Town officials are working with state and local government representatives to try to keep jobs in town.

Town Manager Ruth Marden has had several calls about Wausau Paper’s Otis Mill, she said Monday.

The company plans to cease operations by May 31, close the mill and try to sell it, company spokesman Perry Grueber previously said.

Since that announcement, people have been working to find a solution to keep the mill open.

“I want people to rest assured state and local government is working diligently on the Wausau situation,” Marden said. “We don’t want to see all of those jobs going away. We are working a great many hours to avoid this.”

Marden said she was grateful for the work of state Rep. Paul Gilbert, D-Jay. He has been staying on top of things on Jay’s behalf acting as a kind of liaison with the governor’s office, and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.

“My goal is to get a business in there, and get a business in there that provides quality employment that will be here for a long time,” Marden said.

In addition, she said, she knows of two small, quality businesses planning to start up in town but couldn’t release more information now.