Canton receives funding to buy part of former mill site for wastewater treatment plant

CANTON, N.C. (WLOS) — A $16 million state-funded Helene relief package allocated in June 2025 is allowing the town of Canton to purchase multiple acres of the former Pactiv-Evergreen paper mill site.

“We want the next chapter of Canton to start off exactly where the last one left off, and that’s with manufacturing jobs,” Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers said.

The purchase includes land that was part of the former chip yard, along with warehouse space. With this funding, town leaders plan to build and operate a town-owned wastewater treatment plant on part of the property.

“Wastewater treatment for the services that need improvements and these warehouses to jump start our economy,” Smathers said.

CANTON SPARKS NEW GROWTH WITH MILL LAND PURCHASE FOR TOWN’S OWN WASTEWATER PLANT

This effort comes nearly three years after the Pactiv-Evergreen mill closed in June 2023, taking many local jobs with it. Canton business owners say the closure had a noticeable impact on the community.

“A lot of jobs were lost when the mill closed, so having jobs come back to the area would be great. It would also be amazing to have more foot traffic. We’re right on Main Street, and getting more customers in the door would be awesome,” Heather Barber, owner of Grateful Table Cafe & Provisions, said.

Some Canton business owners say tourism helps the local economy, but they would also like to see more full-time residents in the area.

“What we’d love to see, at least I can say as a small business owner, are people moving here, having community that lives here that wants to continue to bring more of Canton alive instead of changing what Canton already is,” Kendra Baird, owner of Heavily Mediated Wellness, said.

CANTON PAPER MILL SALE FINALIZED AFTER HURRICANE HELENE DELAYS AND LEGAL HURDLES

Longtime residents say they are looking forward to the new ownership.

“We’re actually really glad that the town purchased it, so now they have ownership, and they’re going to be able to control what gets done,” Canton resident Alison McDowell said.

Mayor Smathers said bringing back manufacturing jobs remains a key goal for the town.

“Obviously, we need tourism, we need service jobs, but manufacturing jobs help build this region just like Canton,” he said. “For America to work, we need to build things, so that’s why we’re pursuing these manufacturing jobs.”

Town leaders say they expect to close on the property later this month.