NATCHEZ &045; Organizers of an effort toward an employee buyout of the International Paper mill are encouraged workers from the now closed plant to come to an informational meeting this week.

The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Natchez Convention Center and will inform workers about the progress of the employee stock option plan, or ESOP.

IP, of course, still holds the assets to the 53-year-old mill, but ESOP organizers are trying to get permission to &uot;mothball&uot; the equipment to ensure a smooth transition if the deal goes through.

&uot;Once the assets are secured, the ESOP will put into action a mothball process &045; a way to jumpstart production once financing is finalized,&uot; said Fred Middleton, chairman of the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce, which has been working with Natchez Fiber Inc. &045; the company formed to back the ESOP.

Natchez Fiber representatives have shown a business plan to IP officials as well as to the governor’s office and to U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering.

The group is asking both the state and Pickering to help secure funding for the mothball process.

Meanwhile, local businesses and banks are also being asked for financial support.

&uot;The chamber has raised $14,000 on behalf of the employees’ effort,&uot; Middleton said. &uot;It’s been raised through the private sector &045; health care, business, banks and media. The businesses in this community are saying to the employees, ‘We’re putting up money to help your cause.’&uot;

Several of the employees leaving the mill last Thursday said they want to see what happens with the ESOP, although they are also looking at other options for education and employment.

&uot;It’s like anything else, sometimes there’s some doubt,&uot; Middleton said, noting that many details of the project have stayed quiet.

&uot;There are things you have to do to be very cautious in negotiating a deal,&uot; Middleton said. &uot;IP in turn is doing the same. But the relationship this community has had (with the company) will play a positive role.&uot;

Employees will learn more about the project at the meeting Wednesday, Middleton said.

&uot;We need to get the word out,&uot; union leader George Robinson said Thursday, the final day International Paper operated the mill with more than 400 workers. &uot;Everybody needs to be able to make an informed decision.&uot;