Monday will be the third meeting of the ‘paper mill response team’ with the Ross County Commissioners. Before I write up my notes on the first two meetings, here is a review of the timeline and major responses to the threatened closure of Chillicothe’s historic major industry and Ross County’s onetime largest employer.
On Tuesday, April 15th, the morning announcement by mill owner Pixelle shocked leaders of the mill town into action. Rumors were that the paper mill would be shut down in 45 to 60 days.
But a planned roundtable / news conference with state and national officials three days later on April 18th – Good Friday – turned into a rally, with the announcement by U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno that he had gotten a ‘reprieve’ until the end of the year from Pixelle owner H.I.G. Capital.
This aerial view of the paper mill is from a 2020 video tour on YouTube by Pixelle.
Ross County Commissioner David Glass has been leading the commissioners in the paper mill response team. Glass said the Good Friday April 18th reprieve statement from Pixelle was hard to find on their website, but he shared it with me:
“Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC…is pleased to announce that, based on a framework agreed today among the Company, H.I.G. Capital, and government officials, Pixelle will delay the closure of the Chillicothe, Ohio paper mill until the end of the year.
“This decision follows productive discussions with leaders at the federal, state, and local levels and reflects a shared commitment to exploring sustainable, long-term solutions for the facility and its workforce…”
“Among the key leaders engaged in this process is Senator Bernie Moreno, who today announced plans to establish a permanent Senate office in Chillicothe to support the mill’s future and monitor progress.”
See the original ‘reprieve’ news release below.
On April 17th, “HANK FM” local radio station WXIZ 100.9 FM posted on Facebook a copy of the scathing and footnoted letter that Senator Moreno had send to the private equity owner of Pixelle.
Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney gave his first major response to the situation in his briefing to council on April 28th. Learn abut that in my “Mayor’s Caution to Chillicothe Council on Paper Mill Situation.“
Also see and hear my compilation of action statements from local, state, and national officeholders and leaders in “A Review of Action Plans for Chillicothe Paper Mill.“
And yet, with the April 18th official announcement of a delay of the plant closure…as best as I can tell, the “WARN Notice” of the mill’s closure by June 13th – after 60 days – has not been rescinded.
The U.S. Department of Labor: “‘Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification’ (WARN) Act helps ensure advance notice in cases of qualified plant closings and mass layoffs.” From the WARN Notice from Pixelle, filed with the State of Ohio on April 15th:
“Please be advised that, on April 15, 2025, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, LLC…announced that they will be permanently closing manufacturing operations at the Chillicothe Ohio Mill located at 232 E 8th Street, Chillicothe OH 45601.
“Separation of the affected employees is expected to be permanent, and the expected date of the first separation is anticipated to be on June 13, 2025.”
Pixelle’s news release about their closure of Chillicothe’s paper mill.Photo: Gavin Adv
The Friday, April 18th reprieve statement from Pixelle. Photo: Gavin Adv
Find more in the article on the Scioto Post, including the two other documents.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.