U.S. Paper Mill plans to have the Chillicothe mill's paper machine 12, also known as "The Chief", fully operational and ready to manufacture new paper by December of this year.
Sept. 25, 2026 - The Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce (the "Chamber") announced that the former Pixelle Specialty Solutions' paper mill in Chillicothe, Ohio, will again be making paper.
According to the Chamber, U.S. Paper Mill LLC, a private manufacturing enterprise that acquired the mill in October 2025, has begun the process of recruiting and hiring new employees for paper production, prioritizing some of those who worked at the mill prior to its closure in August of 2025. Thirteen current employees have been assigned to the task of reviving the plant's 12 Paper Machine, affectionately known as "The Chief." The machine will be fully operational and ready to manufacture new paper by this December.
Since buying the Chillicothe mill, U.S. Paper Mill, a subsidiary of U.S. Medical Gloves Company, has repurposed it as a diverse jobs site for a variety of sectors, with more than 180 employees currently working on-site.
In addition, U.S. Paper Mill is in conversations with multiple companies exploring paper manufacturing opportunities, and estimates that as many as 350 new employees could be added for paper operations within the next year, the Chamber said.
Plant Manager Craig Teeters, said, "We are incredibly proud to return The Chief to action. 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."
SOURCE: The Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce