Local and state leaders, who had worked tirelessly to find a new tenant for the sprawling site, hailed the move as a major victory for the region’s economy and a symbol of resilience.
New Future for a Historic Site
The Chillicothe paper mill, which had operated in some form for roughly 175 years, ceased paper manufacturing in August, dealing a significant economic and psychological blow to the city. Its most recent owner, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, cited declining demand for specialty paper as the reason for relocating operations out of state.
However, the site’s new owner, USMGC, an Illinois-based company formed after the COVID-19 pandemic to bolster domestic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supply, plans to repurpose the facility. The site is slated to become a production center for nitrile gloves and masks, with long-term plans to potentially manufacture the associated packaging boxes on-site as well.
The swift transition is already underway. Just days after the sale closed, USMGC had reportedly hired dozens of employees, with plans to hire hundreds more as the manufacturing lines are brought up to full capacity. Some estimates suggest the company could eventually create up to 500 jobs, a crucial injection of employment into the community that saw a major chunk of its workforce displaced.
Job Creation and Economic Hope
The new venture represents a fundamental shift for the local workforce. Unlike Pixelle, the U.S. Medical Glove Company is non-union. Despite this change in structure, many former Pixelle employees are expressing hope for the chance to return to their workplace, having spent decades of their careers at the mill.
Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, who was involved in the transition process, attended an announcement event at the site and emphasized the company’s commitment to revitalizing manufacturing in Ohio. He indicated that the new jobs would offer competitive wages and benefits, a key factor for workers recovering from the mill’s closure. USMGC, which already has government contracts, including with the U.S. military and Department of Health and Human Services, expects the Chillicothe plant to be operational within a month.
The acquisition ensures that the 400-acre industrial site, which has valuable utility capacity and infrastructure, will continue to serve as a hub for American manufacturing, transforming a story of economic struggle into one of revival for Chillicothe.