Forty students sat in their chairs, some nervous, some excited, some calm, but all of them there because they had been hand‑picked out of 160 applicants who underwent a series of tests to gain placement in the new St. Croix Tissue training program at Washington County Community College (WCCC). The students gathered on the afternoon of October 2 to attend the official kick‑off of the event, but really what they were waiting for was class to start. And start it did, right after the last speech and explanation of how the program got started.
     The new program is a cooperative venture between WCCC, Kennebec Valley Community College and St. Croix Tissue Inc., based in Baileyville. "This will be a world-class opportunity at a world-class place," said WCCC President Joseph Cassidy. He congratulated the 40 students, stating, "This was pretty competitive. We feel really confident in you as a group of people."
     The program provides advanced training in paper-making technology for those who are interested in working for St. Croix Tissue. The program is free to students through funding provided by the Maine Community College System, the Maine Quality Centers, Coastal Enterprises Inc. and the Maine Department of Education "Work Ready" program. St. Croix Tissue expects to begin operations in mid‑2015. Cassidy told the students, "We all know how wonderful a career that paper-making career can be."
     St. Croix Tissue Manager Richard Martin welcomed the students and told those gathered that on the heels of bad news about paper mills closing in the state, "tissue is one of the very few growing industries" in paper-making. He added that the commitment to tissue-making by the plant owner and the community means that there is a "huge opportunity to do something different" with a training program. The biggest concern is where they are going to find the 60 to 80 employees needed for the operation. He told the students, "The work will be demanding. The jobs will be demanding, but very rewarding," and well compensated. He echoed what Cassidy, WCCC Academic Dean David Sousa and others told the students: Work hard in the tissue-training program and they will be well prepared for the interview process at the Baileyville plant next year.
     Paul Scalzone, director of CEI Workforce Solutions, told the students, "I know how important this is. There's an opportunity here that doesn't exist elsewhere." He explained that the hybrid training program is highly competency based and includes hard skills and the soft skills that develop communication abilities and critical thinking. "Starting today you'll be part of a team that is here and ready to work." Martin told the students that come interview time, "You will be at the front of the line; you will have skills that will far exceed what most other applicants will have."
     St. Croix Tissue Inc. is a subsidiary of International Grand Investment Corp., the owner of the Woodland Pulp mill. The tissue company will purchase, own and run two tissue machines at the mill. Tissue machines create a product that is used to make paper towels, napkins, bathroom tissue and more. The two tissue machines represent a $120 million investment. Along with the 60 to 80 direct jobs, the company expects that another 200 to 300 indirect jobs will be created.