Chillicothe, Ohio, is dealing with the fallout of the Pixelle Paper Mill's closure, which has rendered nearly 800 workers jobless. The shutdown, which concluded yesterday, has been described as "a kick in the gut" by Mike Throne, as detailed by WBNS, president and CEO of the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce.
Known for its longstanding tradition in paper production, the closure has hit the local economy hard. Employees like Paul Harris, who nearly reached retirement after 45 years of service, faced their final day with job searches ahead, which they haven't done "since 1980," Harris told Spectrum News. The plant's shuttering follows an April announcement that sent ripples of concern through Chillicothe, as captured in the silent observance of workers finishing their last shifts.
The void left by Pixelle extends beyond the immediate families to impact local shops, restaurants, and even the attendance of Friday night football games, signifying a reduction in community spending. Throne expressed concern that the trend of families selling their homes to seek employment elsewhere could exacerbate the population decline, according to a statement obtained by WBNS.
With the iconic plant now dormant, the presence of its smokestacks has been immortalized through a downtown mural, a project which was planned "in the wintertime" without knowledge of the impending closure, as Michael Throne remarked during an interview with ABC6.
While the future of the 400-acre facility remains uncertain, there is some hope, as Throne also mentioned that the mill’s parent company has received several bids. The outcome for Chillicothe will hinge on how swiftly a buyer takes over, or if the site languishes without purpose. "I'm very confident that two or three years from now, we'll look back at this and say this was the start of something better," Throne optimistically stated in his interview with Spectrum News. Despite the closure, Chillicothe’s response to this adversity will shape its trajectory in the years to come.
