With the closing of the Verso Paper Mill at Bucksport and all of the anxiety that former workers of that facility are feeling, we should pause to consider the remaining facility that is in our own backyard of Jay and the 800-plus direct jobs that keep that facility operating and successful.

The facility that I refer to, of course, is the Verso Androscoggin Mill, still remaining as one of the most sophisticated operating paper mills in the world.

The parent company of the Androscoggin Mill continues to invest capital to the tune of several million dollars a year in that facility in order to maintain its competitiveness in the global marketplace. The company pays its workers high wages, continues to provide annual raises with good benefits and is a generous supporter of the Tri-Valley United Way.

Considering those factors, we are grateful to have the Androscoggin Mill and its dedicated workforce as an integral part of our communities.

The Greater Franklin Development Corp. remains committed to encouraging new business ventures and associated job creation to settle in our service area. At the same time, it is undoubtedly even more critical to retain existing businesses and to do everything that we can to assure their continued success.

With the Androscoggin Mill, we need to recognize the importance of having the facility in our area and to hold it up as an example of a good corporate citizen.

Darryl Brown, Livermore Falls, chairman, Greater Franklin Development Corp.