WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – New York state is highlighting its manufacturing facilities from Albany to the North Country. On Tuesday, the stop was at the oldest, most continuously operating paper mill in the country: Knowlton Technologies in Watertown.
To understand the state’s manufacturing sector and how to help it grow, members of the New York State Business Council made a stop on Factory Street in Watertown.
“When you do the tour, you get a sense of how complicated and important each, basically, piece of the supply chain is,” said Heather Mulligan, council president and CEO.
At Knowlton Technologies, council members saw different stages of the production process, including storage and preparation of raw materials, the manufacturing process, the testing of products, and getting ready for distribution.
Factory General Manager William Hardin appreciates being highlighted on the state tour.
“Get the broader community to know what they have here so they can continue to invest in the company. People want to come work here because, ‘Hey, you know, I make stuff that goes into Chevy Corvettes or whatever.’ You know, it’s that proud factor,” he said.
Knowlton isn’t the typical paper mill. It’s making filters and friction paper for cars and ballistic shields for the U.S. military. It’s a mill that started up 200 years ago, but has changed with the times.
“We’re working very hard to try and create an environment where manufacturing can grow and thrive in New York,” said Mulligan.
Copyright 2025 WWNY. All rights reserved.
