MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (From news reports) -- A Swiss manufacturing company plans to invest $150 million to renovate and expand a historic former paper mill in Middletown, creating 56 full-time jobs by the end of 2028.
Weidmann, a family-owned company that manufactures paper insulation materials for the electric transformer industry, plans to build at the former Graphic Packaging International facility at 407 Charles St. Graphic Packaging closed in April 2025, affecting 130 employees.
The project includes an estimated $50 million in improvements to existing buildings and $100 million for machinery and equipment at the 350,000-square-foot site.
The expansion is expected to generate an annual payroll of about $5 million by Dec. 31, 2028.
"This reinvestment in a historic manufacturing facility strengthens our growing, business-focused ecosystem while solidifying our industrial legacy across the region," City Manager Ashley Combs said.
Combs said the Butler County Land Bank and JobsOhio played a "crucial" role in helping the company choose Middletown for the project.
Incentives approved
Middletown City Council unanimously approved both an Enterprise Zone agreement and a Job Creation Incentive Grant agreement for the company during its Tuesday, July 7, meeting.
The property is located within the city's established Enterprise Zone.
Under the agreement, Weidmann will receive a 15-year, 100% tax exemption on the increase in assessed property value resulting from the project. The property's pre-remediation value also will be taxed at 50% for 15 years.
The company will pay the city an annual fee equal to 1% of the incentives received, with a minimum payment of $500. If the incentives exceed $250,000 in value, the annual fee will be capped at $2,500.
According to an application submitted to the Ohio Department of Development, the existing facility is valued at approximately $4 million. Weidmann has already invested about $1.5 million in due diligence, earnest money and legal expenses.
As part of the agreements, payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs, will be distributed to Middletown City School District and Butler Tech in an amount equal to 33% of the tax revenue forgone through the incentives.
A separate job creation incentive grant agreement will return 50% of income tax revenue to the company for five years after the facility has met job and payroll commitments.
Redeveloping a brownfield site
Weidmann is partnering with the Butler County Land Bank to remediate the property and complete selective demolition.
The company also has applied for funding through the Ohio Department of Development's Brownfield Remediation Program to help complete a Phase II environmental assessment through the state's Voluntary Action Program.
After remediation, the company plans to renovate the facility and install new manufacturing equipment.
Francis Fisher, Weidmann's head of group marketing and communications, said the former Graphic Packaging site already has industrial infrastructure that can be adapted to support the company's operations.
"Redeveloping this 350,000-square-foot brownfield site allows us to invest in advanced manufacturing while giving new purpose to an established industrial location," Fisher said.
Chris Burtscher, Weidmann vice president, said in an application to ODOD: "This reshoring of a critical supply chain material requires an investment more than double of what a similar project would cost in China."
Given the size of the investment, incentives from the city and county were important in helping justify the project in Middletown, company officials said.
Strategic location
Fisher said Middletown offers access to one of the Midwest's largest manufacturing corridors as well as a regional labor pool of more than 3 million workers.
Construction and redevelopment work are expected to begin as soon as possible, with the project scheduled for completion by March 31, 2028.
Founded in 1877, Weidmann is headquartered in Switzerland and operates another Ohio facility in Urbana, where it employs about 215 workers.
