The state is stepping in to help people in Park Falls where the shutdown of pulp and paper mills is costing 300 jobs.

A $100,000 grant is going to the city and the Concentrated Employment Program. It will be used to assess the feasibility of an employee buyout of the company, help Park Falls attract new businesses and get job training for former employees.

The pulp mill is already shut down. The paper mill will close when it runs out of raw materials. Both are owned by Smart Papers.