Taylor County seat · US 19 and US 27

Perry After the Mill: Crane Skills for What Comes Next

For decades Perry's economy ran on wood fiber. In September 2023, weeks after Hurricane Idalia, Georgia-Pacific told workers it would permanently close the Foley Cellulose mill, affecting about 525 jobs. Production ended that fall. A University of Florida IFAS analysis estimated the ripple effect at close to 2,000 jobs and about $9.9 million in state and local taxes. For people who rig and run cranes, the question in Perry now is what replaces it.

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A pulp mill site waiting for its next use

Georgia-Pacific said the decision had been made before Idalia and reflected long-term competitiveness, not the storm. In early 2024 the company said the site was for sale and that evaluating it for another business use could take a year or more. A separate site changed course in April 2025, when West Fraser was reported to have found a potential buyer for its old Perry sawmill.

Any reuse of a large industrial site involves heavy lifting at both ends. Decommissioning means removing tanks, digesters, conveyors and roll handling equipment, often from inside tall buildings. A new tenant then brings its own steel and equipment. Experienced mill hands who already know rigging and plant layout have a head start on that work, and a recognized certification makes those skills easier to prove to a contractor who did not know you at the mill.

Storm damage in town, not just on the coast

Perry sits about 20 miles inland, yet Idalia tore the roof off a gas station canopy in town and knocked out power everywhere. A year later Helene came ashore close by as a Category 4. Repairs to commercial roofs, signs, canopies and utility lines have kept boom trucks and small cranes busy. Canopy and sign work is a frequent setting for power-line contact, so know the clearance rules in 1926.1408 and treat every line as energized until the utility says otherwise.

Pick a credential that travels

Perry workers often take jobs in Tallahassee, Valdosta or along the coast, so a credential that is recognized everywhere matters. NCCCO certification is national and lasts five years. Florida has no state license and Perry has no local crane rule, so the federal OSHA requirements are what count.

Study online whenever it fits, on a phone or laptop. Written exams can be taken by online proctoring or at a test center. The hands-on practical is taken at a practical test site.

Questions people ask

Is the Foley mill reopening?

As of the latest reports we found, Georgia-Pacific was still evaluating the site and had not announced a new use. Check local news for current status.

I worked mill maintenance for years. Do I still need certification?

For crane operation on construction work, yes: OSHA requires accredited certification plus an employer evaluation. Your experience will make the material familiar, and practice questions show where to focus.

Where can I read about coastal rebuilding work?

The Taylor County page covers Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee and the coast.

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