Osceola steel mill sets groundbreaking

OSCEOLA — Gov. Mike Beebe is expected to attend an invitation-only groundbreaking for an Osceola steel mill that's been sued by a competing company.

The Blytheville Courier News reported that the groundbreaking for the Big River Steel mill will be held Sept. 22. Construction on the $1.3 billion project is scheduled to past two years. The mill is expected to employ more than 500 workers when complete.

The project is commencing despite efforts by Nucor Steel to block it. Nucor filed a lawsuit last month in federal court accusing the company of violating the Clean Air Act. That case is unresolved.

The Big River project received $125 million in state bonds and $14.5 million from Mississippi County's economic development sales tax.

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