Ground Level Blog

Shutdown slows International Falls response to layoffs
When layoffs were announced at the paper mill that is the economic mainstay of International Falls, residents established an economic response team focused in three areas. But the initial step of seeking $550,000 in federal money to help has been stymied by the federal government shutdown.
Can International Falls reinvent itself?
We asked International Falls residents how they might reinvent the community in the wake of a declining paper industry. We heard everything from using the great-tasting water for beer to hoping an entrepreneurial graduate comes back with a big idea.
Boise to sell to PCA, impact on International Falls plant uncertain
Boise Inc. is expected to sell to Illinois-based Packaging Corporation of America by the end of the year, potentially affecting the paper mill in International Falls. The city’s mayor Bob Anderson said this could be a positive turn for the plant, which is in the midst of significant layoffs.