CHILLICOTHE — Paper will be made in Chillicothe again. U.S. Paper Mill announced this week that it is preparing to resume paper manufacturing at its Chillicothe facility, with the plant’s No. 12 paper machine expected to be running again by December.
The company has begun recruiting for paper-production positions and is prioritizing former mill employees among applicants. U.S. Paper Mill estimates the restarted operation could add up to 350 jobs over the next year. Thirteen current employees have already been assigned to prepare the No. 12 machine, nicknamed “The Chief,” for production.
Once running, it will mark the first paper manufactured at the site since the plant’s closure in August 2025. U.S. Paper Mill acquired the facility in October 2025 after the shutdown of previous operator Pixelle Specialty Solutions, and has since repurposed portions of the site for other industries including data center, aerospace and medical device work.
“We are incredibly proud to return The Chief to action,” Plant Manager Craig Teeters said in a statement. “It has been gratifying to see the joy on our colleagues’ faces, and it will be a pleasure to welcome more workers into the plant as we prepare to resume paper production in Chillicothe.”
More than 180 employees currently work at the site in diversified roles, according to the company. The closure of the Pixelle plant in August 2025 had cost the region more than 800 jobs, making the restart a major development for the local economy.
The company said it is also in discussions with multiple other companies interested in paper manufacturing opportunities at the facility. Papermaking in Chillicothe dates back to the 1800s, and the industry has long been central to the city’s economic identity.
The announcement came just weeks after the company said it hoped to bring papermaking back to Chillicothe, and it pairs with the company’s broader efforts to reinvigorate the former mill site with diverse jobs.