BANGOR – Businesses that transport items for the Georgia-Pacific Corp. mill in Old Town are facing layoffs because of loss of business with the mill.

“I laid off three people,” said Ronald Martin, regional manager of Maine for Currier Trucking Co. of Hermon. “Two worked at the mill and one was an office worker.”

One of the workers hauled items from the mill to Bangor and the other worked in the mill’s yard.

“At [the] present time there are still four workers there. I don’t know how long that will last,” Martin added.

Approximately 40 percent of Currier’s business is directly connected to G-P. The company employs 60 people across the state.

Another Bangor business that transports items for G-P said the future looks dim.

“I have not had to lay off anyone but am I close? Yes,” said Billy Hartt, owner of Hartt Transportation Systems Inc. of Bangor. “It [G-P] accounted for a big percent of my outbound. I was committed to 20 loads a day from there.”

Since G-P stopped producing tissue at its mill April 4, Hartt Transportation has been working to reduce inventory in storage at the facility.

“We haven’t felt the full effect of it,” Hartt said. “They had a lot of inventory in the Bangor market. But when it all happens it’s going to be devastating to the whole economy in the whole area. It’s a traumatic thing.”

Hartt said because Old Town is a classic mill town he’s worried about the community. He stressed a need to keep good jobs.

“It’s tough because we’ve lost Great Northern Paper and now Georgia-Pacific,” he said. “I’m a firm believer we need to save these manufacturing jobs in the state of Maine – they’re good, high-paying jobs.”

The pulp and paper industry is the backbone of the state, Hartt said. He said that is why government needs to step in and help the companies that remain.

“I think it’s time we look at what we have left and say what can we do to help,” Hartt said. “I think our state government needs to be proactive.”

Hartt said he’s watched shoe factories and textile mills leave the state and now is watching the paper mills head in the same direction.

With all the large industries that are closing in central and northern Maine, Hartt said, he might have to move his company to an area with a stronger economy.

“I might potentially have to leave the Bangor area because there isn’t a whole lot up here,” said Hartt. “I don’t want to do that. I love this area and I want to raise my kids here.”

If the company, which has been family owned and managed for more than 50 years, did move, Hartt said it would be to southern Maine or New Hampshire.