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4/25/2018
The Port of Brownsville has signed an optional lease agreement with Big River Steel LLC that could lead to the development of a $1.6 billion steel mill.
Yesterday, the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners (BND) — the governing body for the Port of Brownsville — signed an option agreement covering up to 800 acres of property with Big River Steel. The pact enables the steelmaker to pursue the development of a LEED-certified steel manufacturing plant, storage and distribution facility, BND announced in a press release.
“This is good news for Brownsville and the result of hard work by many individuals and organizations over a long period of time. Our rail partner OmniTRAX played an important role in introducing this opportunity to the port,” said BND Chairman John Wood. “We are excited about this step forward and remain confident the venture will be beneficial for all parties, for Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley."
OmniTRAX Inc. owns the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway LLC, which operates within the BND and serves the port.
Up to 1,500 construction workers would be needed to build the specialized steel plant, Wood said, adding that the plant, when completed, would provide 500 new full-time jobs.