Northwest Indiana could lose a major part of it’s history and economy, if one steel company decides to sell.
US Steel has operated in northwest Indiana for over 120 years, employing 4,500 Hoosiers in Gary at one point in time. The company is entertaining a sale, which would be a seismic impact to Indiana, says Gerry Dick with Inside Indiana Business.
“There’s a lot of, frankly, concern as to what this might bring as the steel industry continues to evolve,” Dick tells WIBC’s Tony Katz. Dick says this is the latest chapter in the region’s downfall. He says much of that, in his opinion, is corruption spreading throughout cities and towns in northwest Indiana, leading to communities refusing to come together for the greater good.
Dick explains, “I think part of the issue is, part of the problem has been, there’s so many constituencies if you will – cities, towns, and others, that just frankly haven’t gotten along. They won’t get their act together.”
Dick says despite this potential loss, several businesses are making investments in northwest Indiana, and throughout the entire state, which could balance things out. There’s billions of dollars being invested in the Hoosier State with electric vehicle battery plants and semiconductor chip manufacturing.
Those are just a few examples says Dick, “like Whiting or Valparaiso, and others making big investments in quality of life. That south shore rail line, they’re getting people to move from Chicago. You may work in downtown Chicago, but come live in Indiana. You get lower taxes and better quality of life.”
As of this writing, US Steel has not finalized a sale.
26 comments
While there is little doubt there is rampant corruption in NW Indiana, it’s worth remembering that the domestic steel industry was making a solid comeback under Trump. It is (allegedly pro-union) Biden’s policies that are killing that domestic manufacturing, obliterating lots of good paying union jobs.
Lie,lie,lie but keep going
Why not just good paying jobs so the Democrat party does not hold there thumb on everything ???
The communist unions continue to make our industries losers in the world market. They drive the price to the highest possible point at any give time then don’t give a damn if the circumstances change. They support the most unsupportable employees and say they are supporting all when that is clearly untrue.
Look at what unions did to SB and chart your future.
Union economics need a captive audience, that’s why they are so prevalent among governments. Unlike the private sector companies, you HAVE to deal with the government.
Communist Unions? Without the union, steel mill employees would be making minimum wage with no benefits. Good paying jobs means good money infused into the regions economy.
And where does this author get the idea that the sale of US Steel , which the offer was flatly turned down btw, means the place would be shut down?
Mittal is still running as far as I know And the company isn’t “entertaining the idea”. Dude doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about, so let’s make some shit up.
And as far as people moving from Illinois to indiana?, they can keep em! All they bring is more congestion, idiot drivers, and the problems they are trying to get away from.
Without Unions we’d all still be working for Hearst and Rockerfeller 16 hours a day for minumum wage. Unfortunately The Unions are also rife with corruption and take things to far. No one want to meet in the middle where all the best solutions exist. We’d rather bicker amonst ourselves for attention and take it to the extreme. Thank God I’m close to (and prepared for) retirement so I can continue not to give a shit.
“Proud Hoosier” doesn’t know what he’s talking about either. Mitral no longer owns steel mills in NW Indiana! We are now Cleveland Cliffs for over 2 years.
True on that….. And cliffs offered to buy USS
No one can compete with slave labor. I am not a fan of Biden nor his policies but facts are facts.
Lol McDonald’s employees are making 15 to 20 $$/ hour. I wonder what’s your position in the union and democrat party??
Local corruption has nothing to do with the sale of US steel. As for all the anti union rhetoric, get a clue. You are anti American worker, and anti middle class working people
The pollution in northwest Indiana by the steal mills is some of the worst in the entire country.
I see 4 people who don’t know anything about the steel industry or the unions that support that industry. Or even the region in general. All reading an article that’s misleading and on top of that the picture is not of a US steel plant. That’s a picture of cliffs burns harbor.
US steel sold their SOUL to China, back in the 80, as for North west INDIANA it survived for quite a few years.. and yes union jobs were needed. And former president TRUMP kept the wheels well greased ALONG CAME BIDEN and Democrats political influence and derailed the rest of the MUCH NEEDED STEEL industry. So remember when it’s time to vote do the right thing and put the Man who had the whole Country on the the RIGHT ECONOMY Track.
1st off can we stop the rampead cheating? The intire world knows the Globalist Democrat FASCIST stole 2020. It’s just a few idiot guliable idiots here in the states who believe
obiden won.
Trump and steel? Trump will be behind steel bars soon enough. Without unions, the rich would own everything, the rest of us would be slaves. Keep getting your news from fox. Ya know, the channel that was the loser in a $787 million dollar lawsuit for lying.
Ha that is a picture of cleavage cliffs if you think the pollution in the area is only from the mills have you ever noticed the thousands of vehicles on the interstate they don’t run on sprinkles. When we are away from our families around the clock it takes a toll on all of us it’s dangerous work the union bargains for the beter benefits for all of us. I don’t see President Burden with us remember …. Stand up for steel
Hi, A major part of this issue is “globaliastion” which peaked during the 90’s. American corporations have reaped the benefits of cheaper labor over seas, and American labor can’t possibly compete with that. Being from the UK I do feel globalization has been ignored in this country, or at least not examined.
Let me clearify it for you,the Globalist are a pack of Fascist left wing NAZI,s
The industry is going through major changes.
Upgrade in the technology of raw material production that changes the preliminary stages of manufacturing slabs. It reduces the Coke usage. There’s always going to be a need to produce steel.
The issue is: Are the politicians and environmental gate keepers willing to work with the industry to provide incentives to upgrade the existing facilities. They have a lot of vacant land at USX Gary. We desperately need more hot roll bar, strip and shape production in America. The price has tripled for hot roll products since 2018. It’s not coming down anytime soon.
The Mills they demolished in the 90’s need to be replaced with modern rolling mills. That would insure the future of the facility at Gary
And justify the necessary upgrades in the raw material production on the cooking side.
Anything less than that is futility.
We need some Smart money and good Civic leadership to get this done or the facility is a goner in the next decade.
As of April, spending on manufacturing construction — new factories — is tracking at a $189 billion annual rate, triple the average rate in the 2010s ($63 billion)
That’s good news. Most likely not as much as 2010 if you factor in inflation
If US Steel sells, they’ll just change the name. Big wigs and Wall St. make money. NWI with the lake and rail will continue to move steel. Don’t worry.
VALPARAISO (Vale of Paradise) has become the VEIL of Paradise. Everything is UPSCALE. Historic buildings are being torn down for apartments and condos the average person cannot begin to afford. Former mayor (now running again) began efforts to turn a nice middle class community into a COUNTY CLUB city. Acres of land have been purchased by the city for more parks,removing them from tax roles. This increases tax burden for average home owners. This is only the tip to the ICEBERG. Constant ROUND A BOUT of the RIGHT people with the RIGHT connections.
US Steel is run and owned in Pittsburgh…..wtf you guys talking about the regions corruption for???
It has nothing to do with the sale if it happens….and left vs right has no bearing on it.
Drumpf is an idiot though and a lying racist criminal traitor who cheats and has 6 bankruptcies…..let that sink in to you who think he is some kind of wonderkind….😅🤣🤣🤣