V&M Star Steel expansion decision delayed

YOUNGSTOWN — V&M Star Steel is laying off about 50 of its local workers and has delayed a decision on its nearly $1 billion expansion proposal.

But the company’s decision on expansion isn’t delayed indefinitely, said Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and Girard Mayor James Melfi.

The two say they remain optimistic that the major expansion project will happen and will do whatever it takes to make it a reality.

The mayors said today that they spoke to top V&M officials on Wednesday about the layoffs and expansion delay.

The expansion decision was to be made in September, Williams said.

“Now, they’ve pushed it out a little further,” he said of the decision delay. “It’s absolutely not delayed indefinitely. It’s extended, but they said it wouldn’t be stalled indefinitely.”

Williams said V&M officials told him when they would have a decision on whether to move ahead with the expansion project. He declined to provide that information saying that should come from the company.

Attempts today by The Vindicator to reach V&M Star President Roger Lindgren were unsuccessful.

Melfi said he wasn’t given a new date for a decision when he spoke to V&M officials.

Land in Youngstown and Girard near V&M’s location on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Youngstown is “still their preferred site” for a major expansion project, Williams said.

About 50 V&M Star workers at the Youngstown plant are losing their jobs, Melfi said.

The plant employs about 465.

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