First Quality Tissue invests $984M to build tissue manufacturing facility in Ohio
First Quality Tissue has announced plans to build a new towel and tissue production facility in Defiance, Ohio. The company, which is a leading manufacturer of hygiene, paper, and packaging products, will invest $984 million into the project, creating more than 400 new jobs for the surrounding area. The 1.6 million-square-foot facility will be situated on a 1,000-acre site at the Baltimore Avenue Industrial Corridor, a location supported by the All Ohio Future Fund to prime it for future economic development.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, officials from First Quality Tissue said, “We look forward to establishing our new home in Defiance County and becoming a productive member of the community.”
Governor Mike DeWine added, “The All Ohio Future Fund was created to attract and support established companies that are prepared to hit the ground running and make a significant investment in jobs and capital in our state. Ohio's work to proactively prepare this Defiance County site is a win-win for Ohio, Defiance County, and First Quality Tissue.”
Lt. Governor Tressel also said, “Businesses that want to move or expand are looking for sites that are prepped and ready to go, and that's exactly what First Quality Tissue found in Defiance County. With hundreds of new jobs on the way, this project will have far-reaching impacts throughout Northwest Ohio."
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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