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West Virginia announces $450M steel plant in Berkeley County

Barbara Smith, chief executive officer of Commercial Metals Co., on Thursday announced the $450 million micro mill planned for Berkeley County at a ceremony at the Culture Center in Charleston. The state-of-the-art mill will recycle steel to make rebar starting in late 2025. (Photo Provided)

CHARLESTON — A $450 million plant to recycle steel and make rebar for the construction industry is locating in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, state and company officials announced Thursday.

Commercial Metals Co. of Irving, Texas, will build its fourth micro mill in Berkeley County where the plant is projected to begin operations in late 2025, CEO Barbara Smith said. About 230 people will be employed there, not including the jobs created through its construction or from support businesses, she said.

Sites were studied in a multitude of states and regions to locate the plant to serve the Eastern United States, Smith said.

“It became clear to us that you truly understand the importance of a pro business environment and how it benefits communities,” Smith said.

The 107-year-old company kept returning to Berkeley County and West Virginia, she said.

“It’s important for us to find a community partner that shares the same values that we do,” Smith said.

West Virginia provided Commercial Metals several advantages in addition to the business climate and available skilled labor force, Smith said.

The site planned for the facility is near Martinsburg, she said. Capacity is about 500,000 tons a year.

“The people of West Virginia will make the steel that builds America,” she said.

The state-of-the-art plant will use the latest green technology and the ability to directly connect to renewable energy sources, making it among the most efficient and environmentally conscious steel-making facilities in the world, Smith said.

Electric arc furnaces will melt the steel, she said. CMC operates eight mills in the U.S.

The announcement was made at a ceremony at the Culture Center with Gov. Jim Justice, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw and Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael.

“Today is an incredible day,” Justice said.

West Virginia will pledge $75 million to the project from the Economic Development Project Fund, according to the agenda of the West Virginia Economic Development Authority that met Thursday morning. The agenda called it Project Kent in Berkeley County.

“All the industries that have made West Virginia what it is today are renewing and reviving themselves here in our state,” Hanshaw said.

The governor is leading the resurgence in West Virginia where almost monthly “we are making these incredible announcements,” Carmichael said. Commercial Metals is a Fortune 500 company, 326 on the list with $8 billion in revenue, he said.

“They did a nationwide search, for the best location, the most friendly environment, the most hospitable place to construct their newest, most modern technologically advanced steel mill,” Carmichael said. “And they picked West Virginia.”

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.

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