Baltimore Business Journal reported that Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz officially declared steelmaking at Sparrows Point dead on Thursday and said the plant would be dismantled. Gov Martin O'Malley released the following statement on after Kamenetz announced that Hilco Trading had sold the Sparrows Point cold mill to Nucor Corp which plans to sell it for parts to be used at other mills.
He said that “The news that Hilco has sold Sparrows Point is disappointing. Steelmaking at Sparrows Point has been a major part of Maryland’s economy for more than a century, providing and supporting well-paying jobs for generations. We were hopeful that the plant would remain a viable steelmaking operation.”
“Maryland’s Departments of Business and Economic Development and Labor, Licensing and Regulation engaged both the plant owners and employees in an effort to continue that tradition at Sparrows Point. As we move forward, we will continue to work with Baltimore County and United Steelworkers Local 9477 to ensure that Sparrows Point remains a viable employment center for the County and the State of Maryland. We stand ready to provide additional assistance to USW members during this transition and have dedicated resources to Sparrows Point workers.”
“Maryland’s workforce stands among the nation’s best. We are confident that the dedicated steelworkers of Sparrows Point will transition to new jobs and continue to play an important role in our economy.”
