Chillicothe, Ohio — Plans to redevelop the former Pixelle Specialty Solutions paper mill site into a multi-industry campus that includes a high-performance computing facility for artificial intelligence infrastructure have drawn swift public attention in Ross County and across southern Ohio.
The announcement, released July 2, 2026, by U.S. Paper Mill LLC through the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce, outlines partnerships aimed at transforming the long-shuttered industrial property. While the project includes manufacturing and aerospace components, the inclusion of a data center campus operated in collaboration with Aligned has prompted a petition and discussions among local residents about potential impacts on water, energy costs, and quality of life.
Official redevelopment details
U.S. Paper Mill, an affiliate of U.S. Medical Glove Company, acquired the site in October 2025 following the mill’s closure in August 2025. The 215-year-old facility, once a cornerstone of Chillicothe’s economy and historically tied to the Mead paper operations, had employed hundreds before its shutdown.
The new vision positions the campus as a hub for advanced manufacturing, research and development, and next-generation technology. Key elements include:
• Nitrile glove production by U.S. Medical Glove Company, projected to support about 150 onsite jobs.
• Amphibious aircraft component manufacturing through a partnership with Amphibian Aerospace Industries, expected to create 150 to 200 direct manufacturing jobs plus more than 500 indirect jobs, with an initial phase commitment of up to $50 million.
• A high-performance computing campus developed by Aligned, described as a $1.5 billion investment focused on artificial intelligence infrastructure and advanced computing using AMD hardware and technology. The company already operates data center campuses elsewhere in Ohio.
• Additional collaboration with U.S. Box Company for research into large-scale manufacturing and expansion of U.S. Paper Mill’s own fabrication of modular AI computing pods.
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Michael Throne called the effort a reimagining of the site as a “true multi-use hub” supporting diverse high-skilled industries. Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno also expressed support for continued momentum in creating comparable-paying jobs for former mill workers.
Resident concerns and petition
A Change.org petition titled “STOP Paper Mill from turning into a datacenter! KEEP OUR WATER CLEAN & ENERGY AFFORDABLE!” launched around the time of the announcement and has quickly gathered more than 2,500 verified signatures. Petitioners reference the historic “Mead” site and raise issues including potential daily consumption of millions of gallons of water, risks of depletion or contamination, increased noise from equipment, higher electricity demand that could raise local rates, air quality effects, and broader worries about long-term economic and environmental impacts on Chillicothe and surrounding southern Ohio communities.
Many local residents have indicated they plan to take these concerns directly to elected officials. This has left open the question of whether and how such issues will be addressed in a public forum.
Next Chillicothe City Council meeting
Some residents have pledged to be at the next regular meeting of Chillicothe City Council on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 26 S. Paint Street, Chillicothe, Ohio. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the same time and location.
Residents can watch live and archived meetings on the City of Chillicothe’s Facebook page. Agendas and related documents are typically posted in advance on the city’s website (we have not located where this would be a current issued scheduled for the meeting). Public participation procedures follow standard Ohio municipal practices, and the session offers one avenue for community members to share perspectives on local development matters.
Regional context in southern Ohio
Hopewell Heritage Headlines, based in southern Ohio counties, will continue monitoring developments on this story and related local government actions.
For those wishing to review the petition or add their name, it remains active at: https://www.change.org/p/stop-paper-mill-from-turning-into-a-datacenter-keep-our-water-clean-energy-affordable
The July 13 council meeting has been mentioned as an early public opportunity to engage directly with elected leaders on the topic by local community members. City officials and project representatives have not yet issued detailed responses to the specific environmental and infrastructure questions raised in the petition. We have not been able to find any type of scheduled hearing over this at the time of this article.
