» AK Steel:

$36M facility shows AK’s commitment to steelmaking,CEO says.

Friday marked the start of construction on the new $ 36 million research center in M iddletown,

—A K Steel’s MIDDLETOWN plans for building a new R esearch and Innovation Center in M iddletown are about more than just construction of a new building,said James Wainscott,chairman,president and chief executive officer of the B utler County steelmaker.

“It really does underscore A K Steel’s strong commitment to the future of steelmaking in A merica and to our company’s continued industry leadership as a technical innovator,” Wainscott said Friday at a groundbreaking ceremony.

Friday’s ceremony marked the start of construction by M iddletown’s largest employer on the new $ 36 million research center.

A ctual ground will be moved at the site in coming weeks.

T he event was supposed to take place at the construction zone on Union R oad in M iddletown,but was moved next door to A trium M edical Center due to weather.

A K Steel will build the new 135,000-square-foot-facility on a 16-acre site in the city’s R enaissance D istrict,near the intersection of O hio 122 and Interstate 75.

It is the first tenant in developer Schueler G roup’s newest business park,named North Pointe Commerce Park.D rivers will be able to see the center from the highway once construction is complete by the end of next year.

“We love making things in A merica and,in particular,right here in M iddletown, O hio,” Wainscott said.

“It is my own view that when we make things,we manufacture things in A merica,it really is the backbone of the A merican economy,” he said.