MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — The Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) has officially announced the closure of its Middletown packaging plant, which is set to take effect this fall. The plant, located at 1824 Baltimore Street, will terminate operations on December 1, affecting 91 employees.

Details of the Closure

A notification was submitted to the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, outlining the impending layoffs and the rationale behind the closure. In the letter addressed to local officials, PCA stated that the decision is part of a strategy to consolidate operations into “larger and more efficient” facilities.

As part of this consolidation effort, the company has recently inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art plant just outside of Columbus, which represents a significant investment of $275 million.

Support for Affected Employees

PCA has expressed its commitment to assist affected workers during this transition. “PCA will collaborate with you and all other state and local government officials — including the Department of Job & Family Services — to provide dislocated worker assistance to the affected employees,” the letter stated. Additionally, the company will explore opportunities for affected employees to transfer to other PCA locations with available positions.

Context of Job Losses in Ohio

The Middletown plant’s closure is part of a broader trend in Ohio, where the job market has been retracting over the past two years. The recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report indicates a loss of approximately 23,500 jobs since October 2024. This trend has been further underscored by the recent shutdown of a truck manufacturing facility in Springfield, which resulted in nearly 1,400 layoffs.

Despite these closures, Ohio’s unemployment rate has notably decreased to 3.3%. This figure, currently at a historic low, represents a significant decline from the peak of 16.5% experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.