JEFFERSONVILLE, IN—Mill Steel Co. will soonopen a flat-rolled steel plant at the Port ofIndiana-Jeffersonville along the Ohio River. The GrandRapids, MI-based company purchased a 105,000-square-foot facilityat the port and will begin an immediate expansion and add120,000-square-feet. The $16.1 million capital investment willbring 43 new full-time jobs to the town, and company officials saythey will have the facility operational by June.

"We are very excited by the opportunity to locate inJeffersonville, which we feel is an outstanding complement to ourexisting steel service center processing locations” in GrandRapids, MI, suburban Detroit and Birmingham, AL, said DavidSamrick, chief executive officer of Mill Steel Co., in aprepared statement. He was not available for further comment atpress time. "We felt it was absolutely critical to positionourselves at a location that will enable us to continue ourdelivery of outstanding just-in-time services to our growingautomotive, construction, appliance and general manufacturingcustomer base."

This decision by Mill is just the latest sign that heavyindustry in the Midwest is gathering strength. As reported inGlobeSt.com, GM and Ford have expanded plants in Kansas City and St. Louis, and suppliers have started setting up new operations in both areas. Furthermore,a Chinese auto supplier is expected to purchase a large portion offormer GM Moraine Assembly Plant in Dayton,refurbish the property and start production by2015.