U.S. Steel broke ground on a $1.9 billion direct reduced iron facility in Osceola, Arkansas, at its Big River Steel Works campus. The plant will sit beside Big River Steel 2 and is intended to supply direct reduced iron to electric arc furnaces. U.S. Steel said construction is scheduled to begin in late 2026, while preliminary site work is already underway.
What it means
U.S. Steel said the Osceola facility will support steel production for automotive, appliance and solar markets. The company expects the operation to add about 200 full-time jobs, while construction of the facility is projected to create as many as 2,000 regional construction jobs.
U.S. Steel announced in April 2026 that it planned to place the direct reduced iron facility in Arkansas. The company acquired Big River Steel in 2021, and Big River Steel 2 began making steel in 2024 after a $3 billion investment.
Key facts
- U.S. Steel is investing $1.9 billion in the direct reduced iron facility.
- The facility will be built at the Big River Steel Works campus in Osceola, Arkansas.
- The plant will be located next to Big River Steel 2.
- Construction is scheduled to start in late 2026.
- U.S. Steel expects approximately 200 new full-time jobs.
- The build-out is expected to create up to 2,000 construction jobs in the region.
- U.S. Steel announced the Arkansas location plan in April 2026.
Source: Talk Business & Politics, reporting a U.S. Steel announcement