Final Closure Date Set for Chillicothe Paper Mill: August 10th

Pixelle Specialty Solutions announced that its Chillicothe paper mill will cease operations on August 10th, in a news release on Tuesday.

The company updated its Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, confirming the revised closure date after efforts to extend operations fell short. They said the decision follows challenges with increasing staffing shortages and declining order volumes, which have rendered continued operation unfeasible despite previous extensions.

Pixelle said they had hoped that collaboration with state and local leaders would sustain the mill through the year, but those efforts have proven unsuccessful. “This was not an easy decision,” the company stated, acknowledging the impact on employees and their families.

780 people will be displaced in this closure - the number apparently reduced by those who have left in the face of closure, from the official 830 on April 15th.

Governor Mike DeWine expressed his disappointment, noting, “the paper mill in Chillicothe has been in operation for more than 100 years, providing good jobs for the community for generations.”

Pixelle is offering support to affected workers through career transition services, job placement assistance, and other resources during this transition period. While unemployment benefits cannot be filed until positions are officially terminated, workers are urged to access free job search and retraining services immediately via OhioMeansJobs.com or their local OhioMeansJobs Center.

In a parallel effort, JobsOhio and its regional partner, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), are evaluating the 460-acre Chillicothe site for potential redevelopment. The teams will also assist Pixelle’s suppliers and business partners in identifying new markets and sales opportunities across the state, aiming to mitigate the economic ripple effects of the closure.

Pixelle expressed gratitude to the Chillicothe team for their dedication over the years, as the community braces for the loss of a longstanding industrial cornerstone. Further updates on the closure and redevelopment plans are expected as the date approaches.

Only Monday, the local paper mill response team unveiled its “Scioto Valley Forward,” an online microsite and workforce hub to assist the workforce in the face of the closure.

Find the article on the Scioto Post by Jeremy Newman.

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.