CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — It is not a rumor.
U.S. Paper Mill has announced plans to redevelop the former Pixelle Specialty Solutions paper mill in Chillicothe into a multi-industry campus that includes advanced manufacturing, aerospace production, medical device manufacturing, research and development, and next-generation computing technologies.
The announcement follows prior reporting on the Chilpaco side of the mill being gutted, scrapped, and sold off, raising questions about the long-term future of the former industrial site.
According to a press release from U.S. Paper Mill, the company is transforming the property into what it describes as a regional hub for innovation, production, and advanced manufacturing.
A central component of the plan is a high-performance computing campus to be developed by Aligned through a collaboration focused on deploying advanced AMD hardware and technology at the site.
The company said the project represents an anticipated $1.5 billion investment and would establish the campus as a strategic hub for artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced computing, and next-generation technology jobs.
The redevelopment plan also includes multiple additional projects across the site.
Amphibian Aerospace Industries has reached an agreement with U.S. Paper Mill to establish a transport category amphibious aircraft fuselage and component manufacturing facility in Chillicothe. The company said the project could create between 150 and 200 direct jobs, more than 500 indirect jobs, and generate over $400 million in annual revenue, with a phase one investment of up to $50 million.
U.S. Paper Mill also said it will expand fabrication operations to manufacture modular AI computing pods designed to support enterprise artificial intelligence computing and data processing.
In addition, U.S. Box Company is collaborating with U.S. Paper Mill on a research and development initiative that could create a pathway for the return of large-scale manufacturing in Chillicothe.
Former U.S. Ambassador Robin Bernstein, a partner at U.S. Paper Mill, said the goal is to transform the former mill into a regional hub of innovation, production, and opportunity.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said he supports the project and emphasized continued efforts to create job opportunities for former paper mill workers.
