Officials pledge support after Minn. mill closed

August 3, 2012 | Modified: August 3, 2012 at 10:01 pm
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Sartell Mayor Joe Perske, center, speaks during a news conference with Governor Dayton and Senator Amy Klobuchar. Friday, August 3, 2012. in Sartell, Minn. Verso Paper Corp. won't reopen the Sartell paper mill that was heavily damaged by a Memorial Day explosion and fire, putting nearly 260 people out of work, the company said. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Glen Stubbe) MANDATORY CREDIT; ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; TWIN CITIES TV OUT

SARTELL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton and other officials are pledging support for Sartell after a fire-damaged paper mill was permanently closed.

Dayton, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, state lawmakers and others met Friday at Sartell City Hall, the day after Verso Paper Corp. announced it would not reopen the plant.

The St. Cloud Times reports Dayton vowed to use his clout to bring jobs back to the Verso site. The governor says he's open to a range of possible tenants for the plant or site.

Klobuchar says federal funds may be available to retrain workers. Nearly 260 people worked at the plant.

The mill has been a presence in Sartell for more than a century. The plant has been idle since a Memorial Day explosion and fire killed one worker and injured four.

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Information from: St. Cloud Times, http://www.sctimes.com