CHILLICOTHE (News release) -- U.S. Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) today joined Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Senator Jon Husted (R-OH), Governor Mike DeWine, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost in a press conference to voice his support for the employees impacted by the closure of the Pixelle Specialty Solutions Paper Mill. Today's press conference follows this morning's announcement that the closure of the Chillicothe paper mill has been delayed from June of 2025 to the end of the calendar year.

"The closure of Pixelle Specialty Paper Mill will be a great loss to the Chillicothe community, with over 800 skilled employees losing their jobs and means of providing for their families," said Congressman Taylor. "I'd like to congratulate my colleague, Senator Moreno, for his work to delay this closure, allowing hardworking Ohio families more time to transition to new jobs."

"My office has been and will continue working to direct impacted employees to all available resources, making their transition to new employment as seamless as possible," continued Congressman Taylor. "I'm proud to serve alongside Senator Moreno, Senator Husted, and local leaders to ensure Ohioans have access to local and well-paying jobs."

On April 15, 2025, the Pixelle Specialty Solutions Paper Mill in Chillicothe announced its plan to close down the paper mill, which has operated in the region for the past 100 years. Paper production has been an economic staple in Chillicothe since the 19th century, providing sizable contributions to the local economy.

Senator Moreno sent a letter to the private equity firm responsible for the mill's closure on April 17th, 2025, demanding answers and advocating for the impacted 826 employees. Senator Moreno announced this morning that the closure initially set for June 13th, 2025 has been delayed until the end of the 2025 calendar year. Congressman Taylor applauded Senator Moreno's advocacy and the resulting delay in the mill's closure.

Governor Mike DeWine voiced his support for separated employees, directing the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to provide immediate assistance to impacted workers.

"We are going to ensure that the workers who are impacted are aware of all the benefits, resources, and opportunities available to them in Ohio - including opportunities for new employment," Governor DeWine said in a previous statement.

Governor DeWine detailed the state of Ohio's initial response to news of the closure in an announcement published on his official website, sharing action steps being taken by the state.

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Matt Damschroder shared the organization's prompt response to the situation. "At the direction of Governor DeWine, we are getting to work right away - helping employees understand how they can apply for employment once they are separated, as well as the variety of reemployment services options available to them," said Director Damschroder. "Our goal is to ensure employees have the benefits they need and are able to find new employment as quickly as possible."

Below are resources available to impacted employees:

Ohio Means Jobs
American Jobs Center (DOL)
COBRA (Healthcare)
Dislocated Worker Program (DOL)
National Dislocated Worker Grants (DWG, DOL).

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Press Release from Pixelle

Chillicothe, OH -- Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC ("Pixelle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, based on a framework agreed upon today among the Company, H.I.G. Capital, and government officials, Pixelle will delay the closure of the Chillicothe, Ohio, paper mill until the end of the year. This decision follows productive discussions with leaders at the federal, state, and local levels and reflects a shared commitment to exploring sustainable, long-term solutions for the facility and its workforce.

"Pausing the closure provides us additional time to evaluate what's possible," said Ross Bushnell, President and CEO of Pixelle Specialty Solutions. "This decision reflects a public-private partnership rooted in our shared belief that this facility, and the people who power it, deserve every opportunity to be part of something sustainable and strong moving forward."

Among the key leaders engaged in this process is Senator Bernie Moreno, who today announced plans to establish a permanent Senate office in Chillicothe to support the mill's future and monitor progress.

"This is a moment of optimism," Bushnell said. "We are grateful to leaders at the city, county, state, and federal levels who came together to help us explore sustainable options for our team, this facility, and the Chillicothe community. Our commitment now is to our employees, our customers, and to doing the hard work that comes with turning this opportunity into a positive outcome."

Pixelle will continue coordinating with its ownership group, government partners, and community leadership to define next steps and work towards a mutually agreeable solution. The Company will provide regular updates to employees, customers, and partners throughout this process.