JAY — The Maine Forest Products Council recognized Verso Paper Corp. on Monday with a Manufacturer of the Year Award, according to a Verso press release.

With mills in Jay and Bucksport, Verso is proud to be recognized for excellence in manufacturing, according to the release.

“Verso was chosen for this award because of their outstanding progress in manufacturing innovation, their fantastic record of corporate citizenship, and their dedication to a stronger, more robust forest products industry here in Maine,” said James Cote of the Maine Forest Products Council.

Verso employs a total of more than 1,500 people at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay and the Bucksport Mill, the release stated.

The company also supports four to five times that many workers indirectly through contracted jobs and other community efforts.  

“We are thrilled to be recognized for the work we are doing because it means others are now noticing what we have known all along,” Androscoggin Mill Manager Marc Connor said in the release.

“We are proud of our ability to survive in this difficult economy,” Connor said. “We believe it is a testament to our commitment to Maine and to being responsible pulp and paper makers. Only using wood from sustainable forests, being environmentally responsible and committed to our communities has been key for us.”

Verso is committed to investing capital for upgrades and improvements, especially in the wood-processing areas of both mills, according to the release. Once completed, the upgrades should result in significant water conservation and ever-increasing environmental improvements. Verso has also invested in energy production, resulting in its two mills generating for Maine about 20 percent of the electricity the state uses.