August 2012 - Republic Steel, Canton, Ohio, a provider of special bar quality steel, has begun construction on an electric arc furnace at its facility in Lorain, Ohio. Republic Steel expects the furnace’s first heat of steel during the second quarter of 2013. The project will generate more than $1 billion in annual economic activity for the state as well as 449 jobs. This is Lorain’s first significant growth in steelmaking in the 21st century. The company expects the furnace to boost liquid steel production by 1.2 million tons annually.