CHILLICOTHE, OH — U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno announced Friday that H.I.G. Capital has agreed to pause the closure of the historic Pixelle paper mill in Chillicothe until the end of 2025. The update comes just a day after Moreno issued a blistering public letter demanding accountability from the private equity firm behind the mill’s sudden shutdown.
“I just got off the phone with H.I.G. Capital and am thrilled to announce they have agreed to pause the closure of the Chillicothe paper mill until the end of the year,” Moreno wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The move offers temporary relief for nearly 1,000 workers impacted by the closure announcement, which had stirred outrage across southern Ohio. The mill, a staple of Chillicothe’s economy since 1812, has long been a symbol of resilience—surviving world wars, economic crises, and technological shifts.
Political Pressure Mounts
Moreno’s initial letter, sent Thursday, accused H.I.G. Capital of prioritizing profit over people and using the acquisition of Pixelle Specialty Solutions to line executive pockets at the expense of Ohio workers. He warned the company to provide key financial documents and a timeline for the closure decision within six business days—or face federal scrutiny.
He also threatened to issue subpoenas and call on the Department of Justice and the Department of Treasury to launch investigations into H.I.G.’s portfolio companies if the firm failed to comply.
“This paper mill survived the Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, 9/11, and a global pandemic—but somehow not a private equity buyout?” Moreno wrote in the letter. “The facts just don’t add up.”
Community Response
The mill’s potential closure had devastated the local workforce and left Chillicothe reeling. Workers, union leaders, and public officials rallied for answers, calling for transparency and a plan to preserve jobs.
Moreno’s intervention, paired with a growing public outcry, appears to have pressured H.I.G. into halting immediate closure plans.
What’s Next
While the pause provides a crucial window, the long-term fate of the mill remains uncertain. Moreno continues to call for H.I.G. to divest from Pixelle and find a capable operator willing to reinvest in the Chillicothe facility.
“This is a win for the community—but it’s not over,” Moreno said. “We’re going to keep the pressure on until there’s a permanent solution that protects these jobs and this historic business.”
Pixelle has yet to release a public statement regarding the pause or the future of its Chillicothe operations.
