Steel startup invests $4.5M in plant

A startup steel processor is investing $4.5 million in the area and planning to hire up to 61 employees as it grows.

Steel 21 plans to build a 30,000-square-foot facility on a 60-acre parcel of land in Algoma Township, at 4709 12 Mile Rd. NE, according to The Right Place, a regional economic development nonprofit, on Wednesday.

Construction on the facility will begin next month.

Steel processing

The startup plans to hire 31 employees to start and then expects to add up to 61 new positions over the next three years.

Steel 21 plans to fill a range of roles: computer-aided machine programmers and operators, machinists, die set assembly and inside sales.

The Right Place said Steel 21’s business model will use the latest in steel plate processing equipment to create faster, more efficient steel processing, cutting and machining methods.

Steel 21 President Kimm Slater is the former owner of both Maco Steel and Steel Craft Technologies.

Incentive

Earlier this month, Algoma Township approved a tax abatement for the Steel 21 facility and equipment.