Nashwauk breaks ground on new steel plant

State and federal officials will be in Nashwauk today as ground is broken for the new Minnesota Steel Plant.

It is billed as a "mining-through-steelmaking" facility, the first of its kind on the Iron Range. It has a price tag of more $1.5 billion.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said the plant is a large investment in the state.

"With the demand going up for steel worldwide, this is an opening for the Iron Range. And it's been very difficult the last few years and that's why as Senator from Minnesota, and with roots on the Iron Range, it's always been very important for me to encourage those jobs up there," Klobuchar said.

Backers say the Minnesota Steel Plant will generate more than 2,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs.

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