In recognition of National Manufacturing Day, Governor Tom Corbett joined officials from the United States Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel) to announce that the company will keep its headquarters in Pennsylvania, invest $187 million to expand its Mon Valley Works operations, and support 4,300 employees throughout Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvania is the keystone of American manufacturing,” said Gov. Corbett. “By addressing all 15 recommendations of the Governor’s Manufacturing Advisory Council, we’ve worked with the private sector to leverage more than $4.9 billion in total investment to create more than 22,000 manufacturing and related jobs, and retained more than 58,000 manufacturing and related jobs. The backbone of U. S. Steel is its workers, and, today, we're investing in the proud Pennsylvania men and women who forge this iron and who can compete and win against any global competitor. When we ‘Make it In PA’, you know it's done right."
In addition to retaining its headquarters facilities in Pennsylvania, the company will reline one of its Mon Valley Work blast furnaces at its Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock and make improvements and repairs to its railroad transportation infrastructure.
“Today, steelmaking is one of the most highly advanced types of manufacturing, and our industry creates real and substantial economic value,” said Mario Longhi, President and CEO of US Steel. “We’re proud to make a material that is vital to building and maintaining a modern society. And we’re proud that so much of that work happens right here in Pennsylvania.”
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the Governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania. The commonwealth has committed to providing up to $30.7 million in grants to be disbursed over multiple years to support the $187 million project.
In addition to Mr. Longhi, Gov. Corbett was joined today by Allegheny Conference Chairman Dennis Yablonsky, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny).
“As one of the largest manufacturers in the Commonwealth, employing more than 4,600 Pennsylvanians, U.S. Steel’s number one asset is its people,” said Leader Turzai. “That’s why I am proud of the work House Republicans have done in collaboration with the Governor and the Senate that directly helped Pennsylvanians get back to work though commonsense reforms and fiscally responsible legislation that opened the doors for critical capital investments like U.S. Steel $187 commitment in just the next three years.”
Gov. Corbett’s visit to U. S. Steel was part of a statewide effort to promote Pennsylvania manufacturing and highlight the Corbett administration initiatives to address or make progress in addressing all of the 15 recommendations of the Governor’s Manufacturing Advisory Council (GMAC), which was commissioned by the governor in 2011 to identify and prioritize top issues to influence, sustain and advance the manufacturing sector in the commonwealth.
The 24-member Council sent its report to Gov. Corbett and the General Assembly in August 2012 and outlined 15 key recommendations to help Pennsylvania remain competitive in today’s global economy. Administration efforts to address all 15 recommendations include strategic investments in workforce development and education, creating a state energy policy, investing in infrastructure improvements via Act 89, opening new domestic and international markets, implementing tax and regulatory reform, improving access to capital and making government work better by encouraging innovation. Projects supported by the Corbett administration are expected to leverage more than $4.9 billion in private investment and create more than 22,000 manufacturing and related jobs and retain more than 58,000 manufacturing and related jobs.
For more information, visit www.governor.pa.gov/makeitinpa.
In addition to Gov. Corbett, Lt. Governor Jim Cawley, Agriculture Secretary George Grieg, Labor and Industry Secretary Julia Hearthway, Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker, Health Secretary Michael Wolf, Revenue Secretary Dan Meuser, and PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch also participated in manufacturing-related events throughout the state in recognition of National Manufacturing Day.