GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)-- One week has passed since International Paper (IP) announced plans to close its facility in Georgetown. Community leaders and government officials are working to help the most impacted. Dozens of organizations and agencies gathered at Georgetown County council chambers to discuss resources for workers impacted by the closure, especially with the holidays right around the corner. “The news was devastating for our community. I think a lot of us are still reeling. Still, we have been working hard with many community partners to come together and see what we can do to mitigate this,” said Jackie Broach, Georgetown County Public Information Officer. The paper plant operated business in the waterfront district for 90 years, generating billions of dollars while providing job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of locals.  Nearly 700 jobs will be terminated, creating a massive number of layoffs. To help provide opportunities, local organizations like Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments Workforce Development, the city of Georgetown, and Tidelands Health all came to the conference ready to assist those in need.  “We want to get that information in front of those employees as fast as possible so they may be relieved knowing that we have some excellent paying jobs with transferable skills. I did it coming from manufacturing to healthcare; they can do it too,” said Jeremy Stephens, the executive vice president and human resource officer at Tidelands Health. Officials said the plant is expected to cease all operations by Christmas day, and despite the devastating news, Georgetown County is stepping up to help those impacted by the community. “We know the path forward will be challenging, but we are resilient. You know we’ve weathered a lot of storms. We’re going to come through more robust, and we’re going to look after each other, said Broach.” For more information on how you can get involved, please click the links below Impacted by the International Paper mill closure? News Flash • Businesses that are hiring asked to participate