New steel plant opens in Brandenburg bringing hundreds of high-paying jobs

BRANDENBURG, Ky. (WDRB) -- Hundreds of jobs are coming to Kentucky as leaders open a brand new steel mill in Brandenburg.

State, business and local leaders applauded Friday morning, as they celebrated the grand opening of the $1.7 billion Nucor Steel mill. The project for the steel mill started in 2018 before the COVID-19 pandemic and was built from the ground up.

Located in the Buttermilk Falls Industrial Park along the Ohio River, the 1.5 million-square-foot plant will create about 700 new jobs for Kentuckians. The average worker will be paid more than $72,000 per year for positions including equipment operators, production specialists, safety and environmental technicians, engineers and office support staff.

Gov. Andy Beshear said this is one of the largest capital investments in the state's history and will create new opportunities.

"This steel plate manufacturing mill provides opportunities for Kentucky workers, their families and the community in Meade County," Beshear said in a news release Friday. "I want to thank Nucor’s leadership for their continued commitment to the commonwealth."

Company leaders said they're also focusing on using green energy at the plant to recycle scrap metal to produce steel.

"To be able to offer high-paying skilled careers to many of our citizens is a dream come true," David Pace, chairman of the Meade County-Brandenburg Industrial Development Authority, said in a news release Friday. "We would like to thank all the Nucor management for choosing Meade County and Brandenburg as the new home for the latest plate mill. Congratulations and welcome as you host your grand opening."