U.S. Steel Breaks Ground on $1.9 Billion Direct Reduced Iron Plant in Osceola, Arkansas

U.S. Steel broke ground on October 30, 2026, on its new $1.9 billion direct reduced iron (DRI) facility at Big River Steel Works in Osceola, Arkansas. The plant will be built next to the company’s Big River Steel 2 mill in Mississippi County, the nation’s top steel-producing county.

About 200 permanent jobs

The DRI facility is expected to create about 200 permanent jobs, while construction could support up to 2,000 construction jobs. Major construction work is expected to begin in late 2026.

Linking Minnesota ore with Arkansas steelmaking

The project will connect U.S. Steel’s Minnesota iron ore operations with its electric arc furnace steelmaking in Arkansas, producing direct reduced iron as a high-quality feedstock for Big River Steel Works and strengthening a domestic steel supply chain.

David Burritt, President and CEO of U.S. Steel said:

“We’ve seen firsthand what the people of Arkansas and our team at Big River Steel Works can accomplish. This investment builds on that success by creating good-paying jobs, strengthening Northeast Arkansas, and advancing the next generation of American steelmaking.”

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said:

“America’s next great building boom needs steel, and we want Arkansas workers making it. With this $1.9 billion investment, U. S. Steel is helping put that ambition into motion, strengthening our nation’s supply chain and putting more Arkansans to work.”