GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC (WPDE) — Officials at Silicon Ranch solar farms said they are ready to hire and employ International Paper mill workers to cushion the effects of the mill’s closure.

After 87 years, the paper mill will close at the end of the year, leaving approximately 700 people unemployed, leaving the question of where to go next in the air.

Factory worker Brian Howard has been looking for work for several weeks and said he hasn’t had any luck so far.

He said International Paper employees will be taking time off work to go to Silicon Ranch’s upcoming job fair.

READ MORE: Georgetown County to lose 700 jobs with International Paper mill closure

“I don’t know how long it takes these big companies. It takes them a while to hire someone,” Howard said.

After the factory closed, he continued to wait for an offer to provide for his family.

As the city’s historic job creator disappears, a new industry hopes to spring into play.

Silicon Ranch Co-Founder Matt Kisber said he wants people at the plant to be interested in what the solar farm can do for employment.

TREND: Longtime Hartsville fire chief and 2 others released for policy violations, officials say

While there is interest, we expect more interest in the job fair, which will focus on international newspaper employees in a few weeks,” Kisber said.

Silicon Ranch needs help building two solar farm projects called Lambert phases one and two.

Kisber said he wants to provide a guiding light to all workers.

“It will definitely be a valuable addition in this case. The solar project will provide significant tax revenues to the county, so they will have the resources to offset some of the things from the solar farm that they may not be able to do. Kisber will benefit from the intellectual property in the coming years, but will also be able to create a new “It will also create a career path,” he said.

Silicon Ranch said it hopes factory workers, regardless of skill set, will come to them for help searching for work.

After hearing about the job fair, Howard jumped at the opportunity to apply.

ABC15 asked if he thinks more factory workers could follow in his footsteps.

“Yes, I think it will benefit everyone and I hope they continue to do it. There are so many people with so many different skills that not everyone is going to apply for the same job,” Howard said.

Kisber said he also hopes to work with local businesses in Georgetown and fill some of the gaps that will remain vacant when the paper mill closes.

The next job fair for the solar farm will be held Nov. 21 and 22 at Howard Auditorium. This job fair is designed specifically for former international paper workers.