pLOWVILLE — With no real sale prospects for the Climax Packaging plant here, Lewis County economic development officials are shifting their focus to potential reuses of the huge building./ppLewis County Economic Development Director Eric J. Virkler on Monday told members of his county legislative committee that his role now will likely be to assist in marketing the 150,000-square-foot structure on Route 26 just north of the village./ppMr. Virkler, also executive director of the Lewis County Industrial Development Agency, said he has had some contact with the company and intends to continue reaching out to see what its plans are for the facility and how the county and IDA may be able to help./ppThe building, given its size, could be either marketed for a single business or several smaller ones and a study to “look at different reuse possibilities” may be in order, he said./ppLegislator Craig R. Brennan, R-Deer River, said he doesn’t think taxpayers should fund such a study./pp“I wouldn’t support spending money to find out,” he said. “We seem to spend a lot of money on what-ifs.”/ppEquipment at the mill, which displaced 158 workers when it was abruptly shuttered April 1, is set to be auctioned off June 15./ppOn the employment front, County Planner Frank J. Pace reported that Kraft Heinz, which is undergoing an expansion project expected to add well over 100 workers over the next several years, and the Lewis County One-Stop Career Center have implemented a screening process for potential candidates. Around 120 people have gone through the process so far, he said./ppKraft Heinz and many other area employers will also be participating in a job fair here from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Lowville fire hall, Mr. Pace noted./ppMr. Virkler also reported that the IDA is continuing its analysis on a proposed business park adjacent to the Climax plant. However, he plans to seek grant funding before undertaking any more detailed engineering study./p
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