Paper Mills Closing: Rural Economies in Crisis | Charleston News

Charleston News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 26, 2026 · 1m

Paper mills across South Carolina and neighboring states are shuttering, sending shockwaves through rural economies that’ve long depended on them. Beyond lost jobs, the closures ripple through logging, trucking, and local businesses—creating deep economic voids. While not new, the trend is accelerating, fueled by shifting markets and rising costs. Now, communities are scrambling to adapt, seeking new industries and economic diversification to build resilience. This crisis underscores how tightly knit rural economies are—and how one factory’s closure can echo far beyond its gates. Listen in…