Steel mill in Georgetown sits idle, future uncertain after machinery sold off

City officials said the LIBERTY Steel mill in Georgetown has been idle for nearly two weeks.

LIBERTY officials confirmed that the plant is currently not operational. Only six workers remain from the nearly 80 employed when the plant resumed operations in 2022 following the COVID-19pandemic. In 2023, mill officials announced plans to add shifts and expand to nearly 100 workers.

"We idled production at Georgetown. We are monitoring market conditions and evaluating options with the intention of restarting when the market conditions improve," said LIBERTY USA Spokesperson, Reace Smith.

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Mill officials also confirmed reports that machinery from the mill has been sold to a North Carolina steel wire manufacturer.

Insteel Industries Inc. announced on Monday that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Insteel Wire Products Company acquired Engineered Wire Products, Inc. for $70 million.

Smith confirmed that EWP was a subsidiary of LIBERTY, and said they sold the downstream-related equipment located at the mill, including two drawing lines. EWP is considered a leading manufacturer of welded wire reinforcement products for use in nonresidential and residential construction.

Mill officials gave employees notice on April 19, that the Georgetown steel mill will temporarily pause the production of wire rods.

“We are pleased to complete the acquisition of EWP. This move will expand our geographic footprint and bolster our competitive position in the Midwest market," stated H.O. Woltz III, President and CEO of Insteel.

Meanwhile, Georgetown City officials have been monitoring the mill since October 11 according to City Spokesperson, Cindy Thompson.

This activates the city's Redevelopment District clause that allows the city to withdraw the industrial zoning status of the mill after it sits idle for a certain time.

City officials stated that under current zoning laws, if the mill remains idle for 365 days from October 11, the city has the authority to permanently shut it down by prohibiting industrial operations on the land it sits on along Front Street.