24K
Posts
16K
Followers
The latest Quad Cities news, weather and sports from Local 4 WHBF on https://OurQuadCities.com.
Largest American steel plant coming to Southeast Iowa
By Sharon Wren,
2 hours agoPlans to bring a new steel plant to Southeast Iowa were announced at a news conference at the White House this afternoon.
President Donald Trump, along with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Sen. Joni Ernst, Rep. Ashley Hinson, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Mesabi Metallics CEO Joe Broking and Chairman Rewant Ruia, announced that Mesabi plans to invest about $15 billion in a new steel plant in Lee County. The project is expected to create about 1,750 full-time jobs.
“We currently have $47 billion in projects announced or underway in the steel sector alone,” Trump said during the press conference. “More than four million tons of new crude steelmaking capacity is expected to become operational in less than two years. We've created nearly 60,000 new manufacturing jobs this year alone, many of them in the steel industry, and today we're adding even more-the largest American steel plant of all time.”
“This is a transformational opportunity for our country, our state, and American families—one that strengthens national security, creates thousands of high-paying jobs, and provides a reliable supply of high-quality, American-made steel for strategic goods and everyday products,” Governor Reynolds said. “Our commitment in Iowa to fiscal responsibility, tax competitiveness, and long-term economic stability has created one of the nation’s strongest environments for business investment. Now, this opportunity will fundamentally change the economic trajectory of our state and the entire region for decades to come.”
"This project would be a gamechanger for southeast Iowa and leave a lasting impact on our state’s manufacturing footprint,” said Speaker of the House Pat Grassley. “This will bring real jobs that mean stable careers for working families, giving more young people a chance to proudly call Iowa home. I’ve made it my mission in the Iowa House to make sure we bring opportunities for growth to all parts of the state and delivering this plant follows through on that promise.”
"For too long, Iowa families have watched their jobs shipped overseas and their communities hollowed out. Not anymore," said Rep. Miller-Meeks. "The largest steel plant in America is coming to Lee County with more than 1,700 permanent, good-paying jobs. I'm proud to have helped make this historic investment a reality. There's no better place than Iowa to make things IN America, BY Americans."
“This is a major moment for U.S. made steel, combining the highest quality direct-reduction grade iron ore pellet from Minnesota’s Iron Range with the most advanced DRI to EAF steelmaking technology in Iowa to supply the high-quality, all-American steel that our national defense, cars and trucks, shipbuilding, household appliances, energy, and infrastructure depend on,” said Joe Broking, CEO of Mesabi Metallics.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Comments
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
CJ Coombs
The Baby Jane Doe, who was abandoned in 1998 in Northeast Washington D.C. is still a mystery
Baby Jane Doe was found abandoned in Washington, D.C., on March 20, 1998. She would now be 28, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). As of today, seven missing children from Washington, D.C. are listed with the NCMEC, and the oldest case dates back to 1961. Notably, not all missing children are reported to the NCMEC, but they should be.
CJ Coombs
Missing since 1973 from Creswell, Oregon: Deborah Lee Tomlinson just turned 16 when she disappeared
Deborah Lee "Debbie" Tomlinson has been missing from Creswell, Oregon (Lane County), since October 15, 1973, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Her photo above (right) is an age-progressed likeness of how she might have looked at 58, though she would now be 68.
CJ Coombs
Missing since 2023 from Redmond, Washington: Noah and Oliver Richard have had little media focus
Noah Henry Richard has been missing from Redmond, Washington, since December 14, 2023, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Noah, pictured above, was two when he went missing, but he would now be five years old. His brother, Oliver Richard (pictured below), was only seven months old when he also went missing on the same date. Oliver would now be three.
CJ Coombs
The latest Quad Cities news, weather and sports from Local 4 WHBF on https://OurQuadCities.com.
23.7K
Posts
15.7K
Followers