Moreno Out Front, Brown Absent on Chillicothe Mill

An historic paper mill in Ohio that was facing closure at the end of the year is instead facing a bright future producing medical supplies.

Earlier this month, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, announced that U.S. Medical Glove Co. would be purchasing the Pixelle Paper Mill in Chillicothe.

“For over 200 years, the Pixelle Paper Mill has been a cornerstone of the community, employing generations of Ohioans,” said Moreno. “U.S. Medical Glove Co.’s investment in Chillicothe will revitalize Ohio manufacturing and bring high-paying wages to families in Ross County that allow them to live with dignity. I am honored to fight for some of the hardest working people I have met!”

As Signal reported, the U.S. Medical Glove Co. “was formed in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic to be a domestic supplier of gloves and other personal protective equipment. It recently opened a plant in Cincinnati and is a federal contractor, having provided PPE to the U.S. military and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.”

Ohio’s fellow Republican senator, Jon Husted, praised Moreno’s role. “Senator Bernie Moreno deserves credit for leading the tough and thoughtful negotiations that made this day possible,” he said on X, also posting how he’s “hopeful the region will see a real economic boost.”

National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons also released a statement on how “Chillicothe Again Proves It Is A Powerhouse of Prosperity.” That statement mentioned Moreno by name, dedicating an entire paragraph to the senator’s efforts.

“To Sen. Moreno—who wrote letters, held rallies and shaped negotiations to find a new owner to keep the mill open—you in particular have reminded us that our nation’s prosperity does not guarantee itself. Leaders do,” Timmons wrote to conclude his statement. “And you have led, like all of the manufacturing champions in our nation have led, to make sure that manufacturing in this country, in Chillicothe and so many communities like it, beats on as a powerhouse of prosperity.”

The praise from Husted and Timmons is not for nothing. A press release from Moreno’s office laid out the work he’s done for months to save the mill, highlighting how “Senator Moreno Has Fought for Chillicothe Workers Since Day One”:

• When HIG Capital announced the closure of the paper mill, Senator Moreno issued a blistering statement calling out the private equity company.
• Two days after the announcement of the planned closure of the mill, Senator Moreno sent a letter to HIG and called for the closure to be delayed.
• On Friday, April 18^th, Senator Moreno held a press conference and convened state and local leaders in Chillicothe. On the same day, HIG informed Senator Moreno they would delay the closing of the paper mill until the end of the year to give federal, state, and local leaders time to find a potential buyer for the paper mill.
• Senator Moreno fought to ensure the community-maintained control over the future of the property.
• Senator Moreno worked daily with federal, state, and local leaders, including Governor DeWine, Senator Husted, and Congressman Taylor, to identify potential buyers, facilitating numerous tours.
• Senator Moreno met with local union leaders to discuss new WARN notice and next steps to ensure that impacted workers and families have the resources they need.

Former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is not as publicly excited about the news. He has yet to post on the fate of the mill. That silence is curious given that many of Brown’s posts since he announced in August that he was running once more, have had a focus on fighting for workers.

The Daily Signal reached out to Brown’s campaign for comment but did not hear back.

Brown lost to Moreno last November and is running against Husted, who was appointed in January by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to fill now Vice President JD Vance’s seat. That appointment triggered a special election for 2026.

The mill had employed hundreds of people and operated for nearly 200 years. Reporting from The Ohio Newsroom in August also highlighted concerns for Ohio’s logging industry.

Signal similarly discussed concerns about the mill’s closure, noting how the closure “deal[t] an economic and psychological blow to Chillicothe.”

The closure has been portrayed as a symbol of the economic struggles of manufacturing cities in the Midwest, including in a short documentary by a left-leaning political advocacy group.

The mill employed 750 people when its closure was first announced in April, making it one of the area’s largest employers. The closure also has negatively affected Ohio’s timber industry, which had long supplied the plant.

But again, there’s still signs of hope in Ohio on economic opportunity. In addition to the mill in Chillicothe, Moreno has celebrated investments in Ohio from Whirlpool.

Progress has also been made with the delayed Intel project, with the Trump administration signing a deal in August and Moreno receiving assurances from the company of commitment in Ohio.

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