Although it was not clear when they first closed the Flagstaff plant, Bellcourt said, the company soon realized it would be more efficient to roll in the production done by the Bellemont factory with larger facilities in the United States.

Bellcourt welcomed those working at the factory to apply for any open jobs at other Essity facilities in the U.S. According to a press release, layoffs will begin in stages starting in as few as 53 days and continuing until the factory's final closure.

The change is projected to save the company about $17,046,900.

Director of the Coconino County Career Center Carol Curtis said they received notice of the closure late last week. Curtis said the county is in contact with both the company and the union representative and will likely organize a job fair for the factory’s employees similar to the one held after the Flagstaff plant closed.

Curtis said in her experience, such workers are highly sought after, with paper manufacturers sending representatives to the fair from as far away as Georgia, although she said the county generally prefers to keep people in the area.

The factory represented one of the last paper product manufacturers in the Flagstaff area, which once had as many as five paper-related factories, Curtis said.