CHILLICOTHE — Paper is coming back to Chillicothe. U.S. Paper Mill is preparing to resume paper manufacturing at its Chillicothe facility, with the plant’s No. 12 paper machine — nicknamed “The Chief” — expected to be running again by December, the company announced.
The company has begun recruiting for paper-production positions and is prioritizing former mill employees among applicants, according to the release. U.S. Paper Mill estimates the restarted operation could add up to 350 jobs over the next year, though the company stressed that figure is not a firm commitment and would depend on potential partners converting discussions into investments.
Thirteen current employees have already been assigned to prepare the machine for production. Once running, it will mark the first paper manufactured at the site since the plant’s closure in August 2025, when previous operator Pixelle Specialty Solutions shut it down. U.S. Paper Mill acquired the facility in October 2025 and has since repurposed portions of the site for other industries, including data center, aerospace and medical device work. More than 180 employees currently work at the site in those diversified roles.
“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.”
Local leaders previously cited a study estimating the mill closure could have a $1 billion impact on Ohio’s economy. Mike Throne, president and CEO of the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce, said diversification across multiple industries at the site could cushion the community against weaker performance in any single operation.