Pacific Steel Group breaks ground on California's first new steel mill in five decades

Pacific Steel Group, headquartered in San Diego, broke ground last year on a steel mill in Kern County, marking the state's first new steel facility in half a century. The project's budget has risen from an earlier estimate of $540 million to about $700 million, and a completion date has not been set. When finished, the plant is expected to provide roughly 700 jobs to the local workforce.

The Kern County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a property-tax refund incentive aimed at hiring county residents. Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted the mill's role in reviving California's steel manufacturing and supporting a domestic supply chain for critical public-infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and hospitals. The initiative is being pursued with tax incentives to offset the higher costs.