Missouri company to purchase Delaware steel mill site

(file/NewsWorks)

(file/NewsWorks)

A Missouri-based company plans to purchase a shuttered Delaware steel mill.

The CEO of St. Louis based Commercial Development Company Inc. made a stop in Delaware earlier this week to announce the purchase of Evraz Claymont Steel, located in New Castle County.

The mill closed at the end of last year, putting about 375 workers out of a job. At the time of the closure, the company blamed poor market conditions.

The announcement on Monday came on the heels of the unveiling New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon’s Comprehensive Economic Development Plan.

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“I am hopeful that the new company will bring more jobs with decent, livable wages,” Gordon said. “That is what our strategic economic development plan is all about. We have identified our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats [a SWOT analysis] so that we can replace the jobs lost with the downsizing of DuPont, the reduction in banking jobs, and the loss of two automobile manufacturing plants. Repurposing the Claymont site should fit it with this plan.”

It could take years to clean and rebuild the 425-acre site and Delaware officials remain cautiously optimistic about the planned purchase.

“This announcement is the beginning of the next chapter for the Claymont Steel site, which has been and needs to remain an economic engine for Claymont and Delaware,” said Gov. Jack Markell. “While the clean-up will take time, I am hopeful the redevelopment will mean a better environment and great jobs for Delawareans in the years to come.”

Officials with Commercial Development have not disclosed what this company intends to use the site for.

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