NC Workers Get $2M Lifeline, Not Handout

The U.S. Department of Labor just dropped a $2 million lifeline to North Carolina workers battered by the Pactiv Evergreen paper mill closure in Canton and cuts at its Waynesville plant. This cash injection, announced on April 2, 2025, boosts the total aid to $4.5 million for retraining and job placement across 11 rural counties. It’s a gritty, practical move to get folks back on their feet after a gut punch to the local economy. Factory closures don’t just shutter buildings; they rip the soul out of communities that built America’s industrial backbone.

This isn’t charity—it’s a calculated strike to rebuild. The funding, tied to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, targets real skills for real jobs. Think welding, healthcare, maybe even clean energy gigs. Washington State’s retraining efforts prove this can work—74% of participants land jobs within a year, pulling in nearly $50,000 annually. North Carolina’s workers aren’t looking for pity; they want a paycheck. And with this move, the feds are betting on their grit to deliver.

When a factory like Pactiv Evergreen’s goes dark, the damage spreads fast. Rural economies, where manufacturing jobs make up 12.4% of employment, get hit hardest. Tax revenues tank, schools lose funding, and empty homes turn into ghost towns. Look at the 2018 General Motors closure in Lordstown, Ohio—8,000 jobs vanished, and the town’s still reeling. North Carolina’s paper mill losses echo that pain, with over 1,400 jobs axed in 2023 alone between Pactiv and Sonoco Hutchinson. Local diners, hardware stores, you name it—they all feel the squeeze when workers’ wallets empty out.

Some argue we ought to let these towns fade, that market forces dictate winners and losers. Nonsense. These are the same voices pushing endless welfare over work, ignoring how retraining can flip the script. The Department of Labor’s $4.5 million isn’t a bailout—it’s a battle plan. Historical data backs this up; retraining during recoveries has pushed 73% of displaced workers back into jobs within a year. Compare that to the do-nothing approach, where earnings losses linger at 25% for years. The choice is clear: invest in people, not pity.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act isn’t some dusty relic—it’s a living, breathing tool that’s been hammering away at unemployment since 2014. This law doesn’t mess around; it connects workers to employers, cuts red tape, and zeroes in on high-demand fields. For North Carolina, that means training for jobs that won’t vanish with the next tech shift—think healthcare or advanced manufacturing. The feds are pumping $3.6 billion into WIOA state grants for 2025, a sign they’re doubling down on what works.

Contrast that with the naysayers who’d rather throw cash at feel-good programs with no results. WIOA’s track record isn’t perfect, but it’s solid—86% of retrained workers stick with their new gigs two years later. And in a state like North Carolina, where nearly nine million job openings scream for skilled hands nationwide, this isn’t optional. It’s economic survival. The bipartisan push to reauthorize WIOA with the ‘A Stronger Workforce for America Act’ shows even Congress gets it—well, most of them.

The paper industry’s taking a beating, no question. Digitalization’s gutted graphic paper demand, and mills like Canton are collateral damage. But don’t write off the sector yet—packaging’s booming thanks to e-commerce, and smart firms are pivoting to biodegradable materials. The U.S. paper industry still employs over 404,000 workers and rakes in $401 billion a year. Automation’s trimming jobs, sure, but it’s also opening doors to tech-savvy roles that retraining can fill.

Here’s where the doubters trip up—they see a dying industry and shrug. Wrong move. History shows resilience pays off; after the Industrial Revolution, paper adapted with mass production. Today’s shift is no different. North Carolina’s workers can ride this wave, not drown in it. The $2 million boost proves the government’s not abandoning them—it’s arming them for the fight.

North Carolina’s dislocated workers aren’t asking for a golden parachute. They’re tough, resourceful, and ready to work. The Department of Labor’s latest funding isn’t about coddling—it’s about results. Pair this with the $10.3 billion proposed for 2025 workforce programs, including $8 billion for a new Career Training Fund, and you’ve got a recipe for revival. Community colleges, apprenticeships, targeted grants—these aren’t handouts; they’re hand-ups that deliver $307 million in economic impact over a decade, per Washington State’s playbook.

Let’s not kid ourselves: factory closures sting, and retraining isn’t a magic wand. Some will still struggle with skill mismatches or lag in wages. But the alternative—doing nothing—guarantees failure. America’s rural heartland built this nation, and it’s worth fighting for. This $4.5 million investment, rooted in WIOA’s proven framework, is a loud, clear message: we’re not giving up on our workers. Neither should you.