Husted, VP Vance, Energy Secretary in Middletown for announcement on strengthening Ohio manufacturing and American energy dominance

“We used to be 34 th , now we’re number 1 again!” MIDDLETOWN, Ohio – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) today joined Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright for an announcement at Middletown Works with Cleveland-Cliffs. Cleveland-Cliffs is making a $1 billion investment in Middletown Works, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s rescoped $500 million award. In June 2026, Husted led a letter with other members of the Ohio congressional delegation to Secretary Wright advocating for the department to retain the $500 million Industrial Demonstrations Program award for Cleveland-Cliffs’ Middletown Works facility and move forward with the award in a timely manner. “Today’s announcement is a win for Middletown and Ohio manufacturing. Cleveland-Cliffs’ $1 billion investment in Middletown Works will strengthen Made-in-America manufacturing, which you can’t do without Ohio. This investment will create jobs, strengthen American steelmaking and help secure our nation’s energy dominance. I advocated for this project because every ton of steel we make at home is one less ton we need to import from overseas. I was proud to join Vice President Vance and Secretary Wright today for this announcement. Ohioans can count on me to continue supporting policies that put Ohio workers and communities first, ” said Husted. Cleveland-Cliffs’ Middletown Works is a cornerstone employer in southwest Ohio, supporting 2,300 union jobs and anchoring the region’s industrial base. This investment will generate 1,500 construction jobs, secure advanced steelmaking in Ohio for more than 20 years and directly advance America’s energy dominance agenda.