CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Civic leaders and residents of Chillicothe and Ross County have united in a powerful response to the accelerated closure of the Pixelle paper mill, now set for August 10, 2025, delivering a formal letter to H.I.G. Capital backed by over 2,200 signatures from 34 states. The letter, sent through the office of Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, addresses the abrupt shift from the previously agreed-upon closure date of December 2025 and calls for collaboration to mitigate the economic fallout.
“This unified response demonstrates our community’s resilience and commitment to working together through challenges,” said Mike Throne, Chamber President. “We’ve successfully navigated industrial transitions before when businesses and local leaders work as partners. We remain hopeful that H.I.G. Capital will recognize the value in engaging with a community that has been home to this operation for generations.”
The closure threatens significant economic repercussions, including the loss of more than 1,400 jobs and over $687,000 in economic impact in Ross County alone, according to the letter. Statewide, the impact is even larger, with an estimated $1 billion in economic losses and over 2,700 jobs affected. The closure also jeopardizes dozens of local businesses in the supply chain and marks a blow to Chillicothe’s 200-year papermaking heritage.
“We are writing as the collective voice of Chillicothe & Ross County’s business community and local government concerning the Pixelle paper mill closure,” the letter states. “Our community speaks with one voice on this matter.”
Rather than issuing demands, the letter proposes a partnership approach, outlining four key areas for collaboration: open communication, joint planning for the future of the mill site, resource coordination with economic development partners, and worker support initiatives to help employees find new opportunities.
“We propose working together on possibilities for the site that serve both business interests and community needs,” the letter reads, emphasizing a collaborative spirit. “Our community has successfully navigated industrial transitions before when businesses and local leaders work together as partners.”
The letter, signed by Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney, Ross County Economic Development Director Tammy Eallonardo, Chamber President Mike Throne, and Ross County Commissioners Jack Everson, James Lowe, and David Glass, requests a response from H.I.G. Capital by July 17, 2025, to initiate a meaningful dialogue.
Senator Bernie Moreno, who has been in consistent contact with H.I.G. Capital, is facilitating the delivery of the letter, showing the community’s determination to engage constructively with the company. The signatures, spanning communities from Chillicothe to as far as California and North Carolina, reflect widespread support for preserving the region’s economic stability and honoring its industrial legacy.
“This collaborative approach can help H.I.G. Capital manage this transition smoothly while supporting the community that has been home to this operation for generations,” the letter concludes.
As the deadline approaches, Chillicothe’s leaders and residents await H.I.G. Capital’s response, hopeful for a partnership that will soften the impact of the closure and pave the way for a resilient future.