RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. (AP) - State and federal officials and top executives from Century Aluminum met in private Saturday to try to figure out a way to keep the company's Ravenswood plant open and spare nearly 700 jobs.
Governor Joe Manchin, Senator Jay Rockefeller, U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and other leaders joined Century Aluminum chief executive officer Logan Kruger and union officials in a three-hour-long private meeting at the plant.
Participants would not reveal what was discussed, but said many areas were covered.
Congresswoman Capito told reporters, "The bottom line is it's a lot of people's lives and communities and it's important to all of us to pull as hard as we we can together to keep those human faces, those families at a point where they can live and prosper in West Virginia."
The Monterey, California-based company shut down one production line at the plant in December. It warned that the entire facility may close February 15th if the slumping price of aluminum didn't stabilize.
Manchin has said tax breaks or other aid may be needed to keep the plant's doors open.