By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – An Illinois state legislator from the Metro East says it’s a Christmas miracle that U.S. Steel is reopening a furnace in Granite City.

Republican state Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton, said the impact is going to be beyond just the 400 good-paying jobs coming back to the area after U.S. Steel announced Thursday was reopening.

“We’re just thrilled that we think the entire region really will benefit economically from that, from increased traffic through Granite City and increased traffic and all those supporting organizations,” Elik told The Center Square.

U.S. Steel President and CEO David Burritt said the decision came after “carefully analyzing customer demand” and confidence in the company’s ability “to safely and profitably operate the mill.”

“We look forward to partnering with all stakeholders, including the United Steelworkers and elected officials, to ensure a safe and efficient start up and to discuss support for Granite City Works,” Burritt said in a statement.

Elik said it’s great news.

“This is not something that is going to be up for two weeks and then closed again,” she said. “It’s going to take a couple months for things to get rolling again. And so I just feel that the company made that decision, knowing this is going to give them more time to be producing steel there, and that means more jobs.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker also praised the announcement, saying his administration is committed to securing long-term investment and maintaining a clear path for the future of steelmaking in Illinois.

“This investment in Illinois is a testament to collaboration among the State of Illinois, community members, elected leaders – with Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski leading the charge – and the strength and resilience of the men and women of the United Steelworkers (UW),” Pritzker said in a statement. “It reflects our collective commitment to protecting good-paying jobs and ensuring that steelmaking remains a driving force in the Metro East economy.”

Elik said it’s not silly to say it’s a Christmas miracle. She also said it wouldn’t have happened if not for President Donald Trump.

“That deal that [Trump] made between Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel to get that sale through, and that golden share member that he insisted upon having so that the government can represent, be represented in business decisions is, frankly, the catalyst for what’s going on here,” Elik told The Center Square. “In my opinion, this would not have happened under President Joe Biden and his administration in the past, or a President Kamala Harris, had that happen.”

During the first Trump administration, the president visited Granite City in 2018 to highlight the steel industry. The factory idled operations there in 2023 and 2024.