Mutually Beneficial Partnerships Drive Georgia-Pacific's Social Stewardship Initiatives: The Green Bay Metro Fire Department

1. GREEN BAY, Wis., November 19, 2024 /3BL/ - Georgia-Pacific creates stronger communities by supporting first responders in the communities where our employees live and work. From providing funding for essential equipment for fire and police departments, to capital investments, to volunteer efforts, we work to keep our facilities and the communities in which we operate safe.

Georgia-Pacific has a long relationship with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department. Currently, 75 Georgia-Pacific employees serve on the department’s Fire Brigade. This 70-year-old volunteer organization conducts confined space rescues and handles workplace emergencies such as fires and medical incidents in our facility.

The partnership has also evolved into exchanging training opportunities and knowledge. Georgia-Pacific works with the city to provide training for first responders through access to our 5,000 square foot Broadway facility. This allows first responders to train in a critical infrastructure space, which mirrors actual emergency situations they often work in.

“The Green Bay Fire Department values the opportunity to train and work in a controlled industrial space,” said Vaughn Edsall, security manager, Green Bay. “The first responders also provide much needed training to our Fire Brigade. This mutually beneficial partnership provides value not just for Georgia-Pacific and the Green Bay Metro Fire Department, but other local fire departments in nearby communities, as we have offered our facility for training to first responder departments throughout the area.”

Georgia-Pacific and the Green Bay Metro Fire Department have also collaborated to develop a robust “Active Aggressor Response and Recovery” plan (A2R2), which includes specialized training for Georgia-Pacific employees and leadership, as well as first responder organizations in nearby communities. The detailed plan includes how different resources in the community will mobilize and respond to any emergency, during and after the event. Developing the plan led to transformative improvements in emergency response at the Green Bay facility and its surrounding communities. Georgia-Pacific and its partners came together with their own specific knowledge, skills, and resources to ensure that if the worst happens, help will be there immediately supporting people who need it the most.

Battalion Chief Chad Bronkhorst discussed how the partnership impacts the Green Bay fire department. “The Green Bay Metro Fire Department very much values Georgia-Pacific in our community. We appreciate the company’s emergency response team and look forward to continuing training in the future.”

Georgia-Pacific understands the critical role first responders play in protecting its operations and the greater community. We actively support these organizations not only to keep our facilities and employees safe, but to support their professional expertise and the important services they provide the community. Our initiatives with first responder organizations in Green Bay and throughout the country help drive capital improvements, training, and beneficial change in community safety. This is all essential for a thriving community and workplace.

Learn more about Georgia-Pacific's social stewardship efforts by visiting our website.

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