SUCCESS STORY: former mill worker finds training for next job

For nearly three decades, Marlene Minnix’s days began and ended at the local paper mill, a long-standing focal point of the Chillicothe community and economy. The mill’s closure in August 2025 left Minnix and many others facing difficult decisions about their next steps after losing their jobs.

Minnix worked at Austin Powder in McArthur before joining the team at the paper mill in Chillicothe. She held several different roles at the mill, most recently working in quality control, ensuring paper products met standards before being shipped out.

“It’s been a big transition for everyone,” she said, noting that retirement was the next step for some of her former co-workers. Others sought new jobs or the opportunity to retrain and skill up for new careers in different fields.

Minnix turned to the Scioto Valley Forward Workforce Hub, which was established temporarily at the Chillicothe Public Library through a partnership between the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and other local agencies and organizations. There she explored opportunities, attended meetings, and decided to pursue a college degree. She took the next step of applying to Ohio University Chillicothe after speaking with Regional Recruiter Morgan Taylor at a job fair held on campus.

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