New steel mill may be built in Pueblo

Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel is the number one steel rail producer in North America and already has three mills in Pueblo. Now, the company is looking to invest at least $200 million into building another mill or replacing one of the existing mills in the Steel City.

Evraz announced plans to build a 21st century rail mill bringing in hundreds of well-paying jobs with it. The Pueblo Economic Development Corp says it would bring in 1,000 jobs that pay between $60,000 to $65,000. However, the company is still deciding where to build the mill. Colorado is competing against other states.

Jeff Shaw the president and CEO of PEDCO says the new steel mill would be unlike any other, “if they move forward on it, to our understanding, it would be the most technologically advanced long rail system in the world,” says Shaw.

To try and get Evraz to build the mill in Pueblo, the city council approved a $15 million incentive package for the company. The largest incentive in more than 20 years says Shaw.

As for the location of the possible new mill, Shaw says it will be built next to where the current Evraz steel mills are. More specifically, the Coke building.

Pueblo City council member Ray Aguilera, who represents the district next to the steel mill says from talks with Evraz representatives, it sounds like they have chosen Pueblo and already started construction. “They are tearing down those buildings down by where the Coke plant was,” says Aguilera, “they’re coming here and you can feel it from them that they want to be here.”

In a statement released by Evraz President and CEO Conrad Winkler, he says, “Today marks a major milestone in our journey to build a 21st century steel mill here in Pueblo.”

Evraz has until December 2019 to make a final decision.