Full Breakdown
PCA Middletown Plant Closure Affects 91 Workers
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) announced that its Middletown, Ohio, packaging plant at 1824 Baltimore Street will cease operations this fall. The company’s notice to the city’s mayor and Butler County commissioners states that the final workday for employees will be December 1, after which the building will be vacated by the end of the year. The shutdown is part of a broader consolidation strategy that moves production to “larger and more efficient operations” elsewhere.
Background and Context
PCA’s decision follows the recent opening of a new $275 million facility just outside Columbus, which began operating in the summer. The Middletown closure reflects a trend of plant consolidations in the region, occurring alongside other recent shutdowns such as a truck-manufacturing plant in Springfield that eliminated nearly 1,400 jobs. Despite these closures, Ohio’s overall unemployment rate has fallen to 3.3%, a historic low, even as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the state has shed roughly 23,500 jobs since October 2024.
Official Statements & Response
In the filing, PCA described the move as a “difficult business decision” and emphasized that it does not reflect employee performance. The company pledged to work with state and local officials, including the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, to provide dislocated-worker assistance. PCA also offered to help any affected employee who wishes to transfer to another PCA location with open positions.
Data and Statistics
- 91 workers slated for layoff at the Middletown plant.
- New Columbus-area plant cost: $275 million.
- Ohio job loss since October 2024: ?23,500 positions.
- Current Ohio unemployment rate: 3.3% (all-time low).
Upcoming Timeline
- December 1: Last day of work for Middletown employees (scheduled).
- End of 2024: Complete vacating of the Middletown facility.
The closure underscores PCA’s shift toward centralized, higher-capacity operations while the state continues to balance job losses with a declining unemployment rate.