Chillicothe & Ross County — What is the perspective of the county commissioners on the presumed “data center” announced for the paper mill site?
The commissioners indulged me with a long interview after their August 6th, 2026 session, and this is the second of four segments. (Read about their mid-year budget and financial thinking in the first story.)
Hear the commissioners in their own words in the below interview.
Officials and citizens alike were surprised by an announcement of a proposed “data center” by the nine-month owner of the 462-acre former paper mill complex. From the news release via Business Wire, Inc.:
“U.S. Paper Mill is transforming the former Pixelle Specialty Solutions plant into a 21st-century regional hub for advanced manufacturing, aerospace innovation, medical device production, research and development, and next-generation computing technologies.”
The news release avoids the term “data center” among the five projects, but explains:
“The site’s long-term vision also includes major investments in advanced technology infrastructure. Through a collaboration focused on deploying advanced AMD hardware and technology at the site, Aligned plans to develop a high-performance computing campus on the property.
“The project represents an anticipated $1.5 billion investment and would establish the campus as a strategic hub for artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced computing and next-generation technology jobs.”
The Ross County Commissioners hosted the weekly “Paper Mill Response Team” after the surprise April 15th announcement last year by Pixelle Specialty Solutions that the historical facility would close in 2025. Since the October purchase of the property by the “US Paper Mill Company” and “U.S. Medical Glove Company,” the meetings have been redirected to a broader economic and development perspective.
Since they have been hosting the meetings, I asked the commissioners for their perspective on the announcement of the presumed data center.
Commissioner Oody Lowe immediately frowned and pointed out that it is not a data center, and that needs to be be recognized. Commissioner Jack Everson said he heard in a meeting that they it would be a manufacturing center to build “pods” for data centers, not be a data center.
But the commissioners said that the plans could easily change, and they were reluctant to give any details that had not been publicly shared – and that questions should be directed to the owner.
Commissioner David Glass said the data center issue has grown in the public mind – but regardless of what you think about data centers, the commissioners’ perspective is of broader economic development strategy.
As for control of a possible data center, Glass pointed out that they have no jurisdiction over the site and it is not their call – it falls under city code, and the city is addressing it. Unless public incentives are involved, the commissioners are not part of the process.
The commissioners said that responding to the paper mill closure and other developments has been a learning process.
Glass said they are working through several projects, many of them residential. They also work with the Ross County Improvement Corporation (CIC), a nonprofit set up to transfer land to and from government ownership, to position properties for future development – which has been their primary focus recently.
He said the economic development meetings have shifted from a triage over the paper mill, to a focus on the best leverage to collaborate with developments, such as those planned near Piketon – to be intentional, more forward-looking.
Commissioner Everson said that it is important that they keep open communication with the city, to not be “siloed” like early in the planning for the Cohen Medical Campus across from Adena Regional Medical Center. They must work in-sync and see the bigger picture.
Everson said they need to upscale the local workforce, especially in the face of the announcement of $80-an-hour jobs at the former paper mill in the aircraft manufacturing project.
Glass also mentioned that they are close to adopting a new county comprehensive plan which will help guide such developments.
The Ross County Commissioners meet most Monday mornings, and live-podcast their official actions on YouTube (find Monday’s video). They also have a Facebook page.
