CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — U.S. Paper Mill 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 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.
Thirteen current employees have already been assigned to prepare the No. 12 machine, nicknamed “The Chief,” for production, the company said. 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. More than 180 employees currently work at the site in those diversified roles, according to the release.
The company said it is also in discussions with multiple other companies interested in paper manufacturing opportunities at the facility.
“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.”
The information contained in this story was obtained from U.S. Paper Mill.
