By Gwen Albers
The Tidewater News

International Paper will reopen its application process on Monday for operators and maintenance for Franklin’s fluff mill plant, which is expected to begin operating in June.

After the first round of applications two months ago, 20 former International Paper mill employees were hired, company spokeswoman Donna Wadsworth said Friday. Those folks will begin working in early October. Wadsworth did not know how many applied for the jobs.

The Memphis company, which closed its Franklin paper mill in June 2010, eliminating 1,100 jobs, will take applications online. Jobs will pay $13.53 to $27.05 an hour.

“Ultimately, we expect the mill to be staffed at 225,” Wadsworth said. “We’ll be hiring those folks in waves as needed, so we continue to advertise for people. You’ll see other ads in the future. Right now the positions we are advertising for are operators and maintenance positions.”

Applications and resumes will be accepted at www.internationalpaper.com through Oct. 3. An electronic version of a resume must be included with the online application. Anyone who needs assistance can go to the Regional Workforce Development Center at Paul D. Camp Community College.

In a related matter, IP has hired Allison Magness as its fluff plant mill manager. Magness began her career with International Paper in 2000 as a process engineer at the mill in Courtland, Ala., according to an IP news release.

She and her husband, Brett, and daughter, Ava, will move to the Franklin area.

Ted Lewellyn will continue as repurposing manager for the Franklin site.

With an investment of $83 million, the Franklin Mill will have the capability of annually producing up to 270,000 metric tons of high-quality fluff pulp for the global market.