President Donald Trump announced Monday afternoon that a $15 billion steel plant will be built in Iowa, saying it will be the largest steel plant in U.S. history.
Prior to the announcement, Republican U.S. Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks posted on social media, saying the plant would be built in her district in southeast Iowa.
“Today, we’re announcing the largest steel mill in America is coming to Lee County with 1,700+ jobs!” Miller-Meeks wrote.
The new mill will be built by Mesabi Metallics, a Minnesota-based company owned by India’s Essar Group, an industrial conglomerate.
Miller-Meeks was in the oval office for the announcement, along with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
“What this does is it changes the economic trajectory for this region,” Reynolds said. “It's one of the most depressed regions of Iowa.”
The White House said the plant aims to start production in 2030, and would produce 10 million tons of steel a year.
The announcement comes when the midterm elections are a little over a month away, and Republicans are facing tight races for Governor and key congressional seats.
This is a developing story.
