Mayor Williams believes Youngstown is preferred V&M Star expansion site

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said his meeting today in Paris with four top officials of V&M Star Steel’s parent company left him believing this area is their preferred location for a $970 million expansion project.

“I am comfortable this site is as competitive as any other,” Williams said Monday shortly a one-hour meeting with Vallourec Group officials. “I interpreted [the conversation as] our site is the preferred site. Those are my words and not theirs.”

The officials are “very pleased” with efforts in the Valley to bring the potential plant here, Williams said.

“It went very well,” Williams said of the meeting. “I’m very comfortable that they understand our desire to have this ultimately land in the Mahoning Valley.”

Vallourec officials are expected to make a decision on the location by December or January.

“They indicated the incentives we bring to the table make our site attractive and competitive,” Williams said.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com