WEIRTON, WV (WOWK) – A company is planning to redevelop its facility in Weirton, West Virginia, after closing the steel processing plant earlier this year.

According to U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV), Cleveland-Cliffs is planning to turn its facility into a manufacturing site for distribution transformers. They plan to use building assets and infrastructure already in place.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice’s office says the state’s Economic Development Task Force and a Workforce WV Quick Response team set to work to “identify and attract” a new business solution.

Manchin says this redevelopment will help to reinvigorate the United Steelworkers’ workforce after substantial layoffs in recent years. Manchin’s office says Cleveland-Cliffs is expected to invest $150 million into the manufacturing site and to create around 600 jobs for the area. When the plant closed in February, it was employing between 900 to 1,000 workers.

“I am elated at Cleveland Cliffs’ announcement to put our United Steelworkers back to work in Weirton today. With partners at Cleveland Cliffs, the State of West Virginia, local representatives and Senator Manchin, who never stopped fighting for our members, today we have reason to celebrate,” said Mark Glyptis, United Steelworkers Local 2911 President. “I look forward to developing one of the most efficient factories in the country, with United Steelworkers helping to grow this opportunity even beyond the jobs announced today, right here in Weirton, West Virginia.”

According to Manchin’s office, distribution transformers are used to manage electricity flow along power grids by changing the high-voltage electricity from distribution lines into low-voltage electricity before it gets to customers. The senator says there is an “unprecedented supply chain shortage” of these transformers in the United States right now, which he says is a threat to energy accessibility.

“Today’s announcement is incredible news for Cleveland-Cliffs, the United Steelworkers, the people of Weirton, and all of West Virginia,” said Manchin. “Distribution transformers are absolutely critical components of our nation’s power grid and this project is a great opportunity to position our state as a global leader in their production while reemploying hardworking West Virginians who lost their jobs earlier this year. I’m grateful to everyone who worked tirelessly to find a solution for this site and I am excited to see West Virginia continue to play an essential role in our energy and manufacturing industries.”

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“The acute shortage of transformers in the United States is hampering economic development and threatening energy security nationwide. This investment by Cleveland-Cliffs to produce distribution transformers in Weirton will address the shortage. Time and again, I have heard from transformer manufacturers about an apparent lack of skilled workers necessary to expand production. By sharp contrast, in Weirton, we have 600 highly skilled Steelworkers of USW Local 2911 ready to deploy in support of the development and operation of this new transformer manufacturing hub. Senator Manchin has long maintained a special relationship with the workforce in Weirton and the Senator has been an indispensable partner to Cleveland-Cliffs in our effort to make this new investment a reality,” said Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President, and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.

According to the governor’s office, an additional $50 million is being granted by the State of West Virginia for the project. The West Virginia Economic Development Authority approved the funding Monday morning.

“Today is a monumental day for Weirton and the Northern Panhandle. We were never going to sit on the sidelines and watch these jobs disappear. After we announced the closure of the facility in February, we immediately mobilized an Economic Development Task Force and a Workforce WV Quick Response Team to support those affected. Now, just a few months later, we’ve forged a new deal that positions West Virginia at the forefront of strengthening our nation’s grid,” Justice said. “I extend my deepest appreciation to Lourenco Goncalves and the entire Cleveland-Cliffs team for ensuring the continuation of this operation, which will bring 600 jobs back to the area. We turned a really tough situation into a great outcome, and I’m proud to say this is how we do things in West Virginia.”

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