FRANKFORT, Ky. — FRANKFORT, Ky. — 400 jobs are heading to Brandenburg after Nucor Corp. broke ground on its $1.7 billion steel plate manufacturing mill. The Meade County project is expected to employ as many as 1,500 contractors. 

What You Need To Know

  • Nucor Corp. breaks ground on steel plate manufacturing mill

  • 400 full-time jobs with average annual salary of $72,000

  • Nucor has numerous facilities in Kentucky and employs more than 2,000

  • Mill expected to open in 2022

 

Gov. Andy Beshear said, “Nucor already stands as a major employer in the commonwealth, and its continued growth helps build a brighter and better Kentucky for our families. I’m grateful to Nucor and anticipate many years of continued success and partnership between Nucor and Kentucky.”

Nucor Steel Brandenburg will be located in the Buttermilk Falls Industrial Park. The 1.5 million-square-foot operation will allow 1.2 million tons of annual capacity for steel plate production. Nucor says the average annual salary across the 400 full-time jobs will be $72,000. The positions to be filled include equipment operators, production specialists, safety, and environmental technicians, engineers, and office support. 

The mill is expected to open in 2022.

“A core part of our company mission is to support the communities where we live and work. We have been doing business in the state for more than a decade and have found that the people of Kentucky share our company’s values of hard work, determination, and teamwork,” said Leon Topalian, president and CEO of Nucor Corp. 

Nucor is North America's largest recycler and the nation's largest steel and steel products producer. The company is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and operates more than 300 facilities. 

In Kentucky, Nucor and its affiliates employ approximately 2,000 people at numerous facilities, including Nucor Steel Gallatin, Nucor Tubular Products Louisville, Harris Rebar, and a 50% ownership stake in Steel Technologies. 

Brandenburg Mayor Ronnie Joyner said, “Nucor is a tremendous addition to our community and one that will have a long-term impact on our community’s workforce,” Mayor Joyner said. “I want to thank Nucor for its decision to locate in Brandenburg, and I expect great things for the company in the years ahead.”

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) approved a 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program.

The agreement can provide up to $30 million in tax incentives based on the company's $1.36 billion investment and annual targets which include: 

  • Creation and maintenance of 400 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 15 years; and
  • Paying an average hourly wage of $45 including benefits across those jobs.

If the company meets the annual targets over the agreement term, Nucor is eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. Nucor can also claim eligible incentives against its tax liability and/or wage assessments. 

KEDFA also approved Nucor for up to $10 million in tqax incentives thorugh the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales tax and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.