Steel leaders unite for Gulf Coast Steel Initiative
Twelve North American steel companies have joined together under the newly launched Gulf Coast Steel Initiative, vowing to "rebuild [the Gulf Coast] stronger with steel."
Together the companies have donated $1.1 million to support the initiative, put together by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). The business plan focuses on implementing long-term
construction strategies to help strengthen the area so the structures and the communities will be less vulnerable to storm-related damage.
The plan will focus primarily on the residential market with the specific objectives of: providing educational programs for building inspectors to encourage state-of-the-art design and
construction practices; encourage insurance and lending programs which promote the use of durable
construction materials; train local contractors and technical schools to build homes with steel framing and roofing; and facilitating steel recycling programs in the area.
Andrew G. Sharkey, III, president and CEO of AISI, said of the initiative, "After a comprehensive review of the needs throughout the region and a universal concern to rebuild it stronger than before, we recognized that our industry had a lot to offer that could impact the region for years to come. Through our long-term investment in Market Development, we have established a number of steel-based solutions that can help to rebuild homes and the infrastructure of the region while also helping to fortify it against future storms."
The companies involved in the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative are:
* AK Steel Corporation
* California Steel Industries, Inc.
* Dofasco Inc.
* IMSA ACERO, S.A. de C.V.
* IPSCO Inc.
* Mittal Steel USA
*
Nucor Corporation
* Shenango Incorporated
* Steel Dynamics, Inc.
* United States Steel Corporation
* USS-POSCO Industries
* Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation