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BUSINESS
ArcelorMittal selling off West Virginia land for redevelopment
CHARLESTON -- ArcelorMittal is launching a national marketing campaign to sell off more than 1,700 acres of land in and around its West Virginia steel operations, from quarter-acre residential parcels to large, wooded lots.
ArcelorMittal will work with local and state officials to ensure proposed redevelopment projects make sense for Weirton, whose population and economy have dwindled since the bankruptcy of the former Weirton Steel Corp., said Keith Nagel, director of environmental affairs and real estate for the steelmaker.
"I do not think our management would support any action that would be detrimental to the local community," Nagel said Wednesday. About half the acreage owned by Weirton Steel had nothing to do with steelmaking.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., called the announcement "great and welcome news for all of us who have been looking to attract jobs and investments to the Northern Panhandle."
"Given the breadth and depth of the land that's available for sale, it will clearly make it easier for us to continue to market and promote Weirton as great place to do business," he said. "As we've seen across the country in other steel communities, the possibilities for this land are endless."
