UPDATE 11/21/12 @ 10:40 a.m.
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- A $13 million steel distribution plant is closer to a reality in New Boston, Ohio.

Officials with the Southern Ohio Authority and Infra-Metals signed an agreement Tuesday with the Scioto County Commission to purchase the land for the plant, according to Portsmouth Daily Times.

The plant will be built on the site of the former Empire Detroit Steel mill in New Boston, Ohio.

Scioto County Economic Director, Steve Wells told the paper that all the paperwork is now signed.

The plant is expected to eventually hire 100 people according to previous reports. There is no exact date for construction to start.

The project was first announced back in 2007, but the national downturn in the economy delayed the project.

A groundbreaking for the plant was held last year.

Earlier WSAZ.com reported the plant would include a 250,000 square-foot facility to inventory, process and distribute steel products.

Infra-Metals is a subsidiary of Reliance Steel and is one of the largest structural steel distributors in the United States.

For one local community, that innovative team effort paid off with 100 new jobs to start.

The final preparations are finally underway on 30 acres of river and rail-side mud and rocks. At the Southern Ohio Port Authority offices, they finally inked the deal with Infra-Metals.

New Boston's Mayor says funding the final environmental clean up of this petroleum laden site was the biggest challenge to bringing in a $13 million plant with 100 good jobs.

“They still have to spend several million on finishing the reclamation.
Then, the land is ready to go,” said Mayor Jim Warren.

The distribution plant will ship out steel products for bridges, barges and storage facilities.

Those type buildings are what Portsmouth private developer Don Hadsell touted during the meeting. On display; finished and planned Wheelersburg shell buildings and docking facilities, and the developing McGovney industrial site where Hadsell will soon announce another new company with 25 to 30 jobs.

Right next door to the new plant site, developers say this summer they will use new technology to finish the clean-up of the old New Boston Coke Plant site. That will open up a lot of river and rail acreage for major economic development. Jim Warren says they have two new prospects ready. He says they all want that river and rail location.

Local leaders say new contracts and a continued effort for incoming and proposed new industry and jobs show the American economy is turning around. It looks like they're putting the "new" back in New Boston.

Mayor Warren says site construction should start in June, with the plant up and running by the fall. The mayor says Infra-Metals will start with 35 jobs, and go up to 100 in two years

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

Members of the Southern Ohio Authority and Infra-Metals plan to sign an agreement Monday to build a plant on the site of former Empire Detroit Steel mill in New Boston, Ohio.

New Boston Mayor, Jim Warren says in a news release that goal is start construction on the plant in June with operations to begin this fall.

The project was first announced back in 2007.

“The national economic downtown of 2008 delayed this project, but that didn’t keep us from moving forward and bringing jobs to New Boston and Scioto County,” said Warren who is also a member of the port authority board.

Infra-Metals is a subsidiary of Reliance Steel and is one of the largest structural steel distributors in the United States.

Infra-Metals Company is expected to lay out more of its plans and a timetable for construction Tuesday.

New Boston village administrator and development director Michael Sturgill says the $13 million project will include a 250,000 square-foot facility to inventory, process and distribute steel products.

He says starting pay for the approximately 65 jobs that will be created would be about $40,000 a year.

The steel industry in New Boston dates to the start of the 19th century.

The town was a major producer of weaponry for the Army during World War II.

A Portsmouth newspaper says that Infra-Metal is considering building a 150,000 square-foot facility.

Bob Walton with the Southern Ohio Port Authority tells the paper the plant would go on SOPA land near OSCO Industries.

According to the paper would initially employ 60 to 70 people.

The company makes steel rolls for the construction industry.