Paper mill response task force wins award
The Chillicothe paper mill operation and surrounding neighborhoods as seen from the air. (Photo credit: Chamber)
Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) held its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd, in Chillicothe, Ohio, sharing the impact made across Southeast Ohio in 2025 and celebrating the accomplishments of local economic development partners and regional businesses.
The event welcomed over 200 guests at the Bell Manor in Chillicothe. Honored guest speakers included JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio Energy and Chemicals Managing Director Matt Cybulski, Centrus Energy Corporation Enrichment Operations Plant Manager Matt Snider, and OKLO Corporate Chief John Hanson.
Among the winners was the combined response from Chillicothe and Ross County that went into the aftermath of the April 15 by Pixelle Specialty Solutions to close the Chillicothe Mill. The Paper Mill Response Task Force won Best Partner from OhioSE.
The Task Force was honored for mobilizing an extraordinary public-private partnership to respond to the Chillicothe Mill closure, support displaced workers, and position the site for future redevelopment.
The event kicked off with a welcome from Tammy Eallonardo, Economic Development Director of the Greater Chillicothe & Ross County Development, and Eric Braun, President of Shawnee State University and member of the OhioSE Board of Directors. “We are in a position to attack economic development from a position of strength,” said Braun to the crowd.
OhioSE President and CEO Matt Abbott then shared an overview of the organization’s impact over the past year. OhioSE experienced growth again in 2025, adding new team members, programs, and initiatives to better serve the Southeast Ohio region. Last year, OhioSE in partnership with JobsOhio and local economic development partners, assisted 25 company expansions and new locations, creating 822 jobs and leveraging $1.6 billion in fixed asset investment.
“Those jobs represent $64.5 million in annual payroll flowing into the communities of southern and eastern Ohio,” said Abbott. “These are strong wages that support families and strengthen local economies.”
Jason Kester, Regional Development Director for Agracel, Inc., then took to the stage to announce the winners of the 2025 OhioSE Annual Awards, recognizing outstanding economic development efforts within the region.
Other winners included:
For Project of the Year, Centrus Energy Corporation was honored for expanding advanced uranium enrichment operations in Piketon, positioning Southern Ohio as a critical hub for domestic nuclear fuel production and energy security. Finalists Fox Tank Company and U.S. Bridge Corporation were recognized.
For Small Business Project of the Year, Midwest Air LLC was honored for expanding agricultural drone sales and application services from Peebles, helping farmers adopt precision agriculture technology across the region. Finalists Good Boy Bakery and Milo’s Whole World Gourmet were recognized.
For Community Development Project of the Year, The Coshocton Collaborative was honored for redeveloping a historic downtown building into a hub for coworking, entrepreneurship, and maker space that supports innovation and local businesses. Finalists Athens Armory and Midtown Market were recognized.
For Building Development Project of the Year, the Jackson-Grandview Builders was honored for constructing a new speculative industrial building in Jackson that expands modern space options for growing manufacturers. Finalists the ACPA Manufacturing Spec Building at Bill Theisen Industrial Park and the Marker Spec Building at National Road Business Park were recognized.
For Best Workforce Culture, Kraft Foods Group Inc. and Intermountain Electronics were recognized for fostering workplace cultures that focus on growth and opportunity and give employees a voice. Finalist EZ Grout Manufacturing was recognized.
For Local Economic Developer of the Year, Mollie Fitzgerald of Athens County was honored for leading strategic initiatives that align infrastructure, workforce development, and business attraction to support long-term growth in Athens County. Bill Arnett of Guernsey County and Tiffany Swigert of Coshocton County were recognized.
Three local economic developers were recognized for their efforts to conduct Business Retention and Expansion visits in their counties: Bill Arnett, Executive Director of the Cambridge-Guernsey County CIC, Gwynn Stewart, Community Development Director for Noble County, and Sam Brady, President and CEO of the Jackson County Economic Development Partnership.