Nucor receives West Virginia funding assist

The West Virginia Economic Development Authority and Jim Justice, the state’s governor, have announced the approval of $75 million in spending allocated to support the construction of a steel sheet mill being built by Nucor Corp. in Mason County, West Virginia.

According to the state, North Carolina-based Nucor has committed $3.5 billion to the construction of the recycled-content electric arc furnace (EAF) mill along the Ohio River, making it the largest economic development investment in both state and company history. The Mason County mill has been designed to produce up to 3 million tons of sheet steel annually.

The newly announced funding from the state will support several infrastructure upgrades, including port enhancements and water treatment systems that the state says will benefit the Nucor project and companies looking to locate near the mill.

“I’m proud to continue building on our record-breaking investment with Nucor, because they’ve been rock stars in my book,” says Justice. “Nucor has been everything you could want in an economic development partner, and this additional funding shows the confidence we have in them and the confidence they have in West Virginia.”

Continues the governor, “It’s not just about building a new facility—it’s about creating hope, opportunity, and a bright future for our people. We’re no longer the diamond in the rough. These kinds of announcements weren’t possible just a few years ago, but today, it has become the norm. This is another great day for our state and our people.”

Since announcing its decision to come to West Virginia in early 2022 Nucor has hired 300 people and currently there are some 1,000 workers on site building the mill, according to the state.

“We could not be more thrilled about the progress we’ve made on building our new state-of-the-art sheet steel mill and our 300 teammates currently working in Mason County,” says Johnny Jacobs, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel West Virginia. “Furthermore, we are incredibly grateful for the state’s continued support and excited about the impact this project will have for generations to come.”

Adds Jacobs, “When we begin operations in the second half of 2026, Nucor Steel West Virginia will produce some of the cleanest and most advanced steels required to build out our modern economy, from automotive to construction, data centers, and all industrial applications.”