SSAB Americas announces plans to move head office from Chicago area to Mobile

Posted on: Oct 19th, 2017 | News and Announcements

Press Release from the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce October 19, 2017 (Mobile, Ala.) ? SSAB Americas, a division of global steelmaker SSAB, today announced plans to relocate the division?s head office from Lisle, Ill., to Mobile, Ala., a move that will bring 60 jobs to Alabama. Since 2001, the company has operated a steel mill in nearby Axis, Ala., which employs nearly 600 SSAB employees. ?Mobile is a growing community with a booming economy; we are excited to expand our presence in the area as a trusted employer and community partner,? said Chuck Schmitt, President, SSAB Americas. ?Moving our team to Mobile will ensure that our senior leaders and support staff work in closer proximity to our front-line operations, where key decisions are made for our business and customers.? The new office will be located in Mobile. More details will be announced over the coming months, with the transition expected to take place throughout 2018. Mobile County Commission President Merceria Ludgood said, ?Attracting a corporate headquarters is a game-changer for any community. SSAB Americas? decision to locate here in Mobile County is the next chapter in what has been an extraordinary partnership between the company and the community.? ?Today is a great day for the City of Mobile,? Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. ?Corporate headquarters are viewed as the crown jewel of economic development and the ultimate prize for any community. SSAB?s decision to locate its headquarters in Mobile will create high-paying jobs and add momentum to our downtown resurgence. This announcement serves as the latest proof that we are becoming the most business friendly city in America.? ?SSAB?s decision to relocate its North American headquarters to Mobile reflects the success the company has experienced with its Alabama steel mill, which continues to chart a growth path,? said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. ?With this headquarters project, SSAB will not only create high-paying jobs but also solidify its presence in the state.? SSAB Americas has been a strong contributor to the Mobile community for many years. In 2015, the company announced a $110,000 donation to the University of South Alabama for the creation of a scholarship fund. In addition, for more than a decade, SSAB has contributed $100,000 a year to local schools to support education projects and technology, more than $1 million to date. The SSAB Foundation for Education also hosts an annual school supply drive called Fill the Bus, donating thousands of school supplies to local students in need every year. SSAB Alabama is also a major sponsor of community groups and projects in the Mobile area. "SSAB is a great corporate citizen and we are delighted that they have decided to move their Americas corporate headquarters to Mobile. In addition, it is exciting to be adding another corporate headquarters to the business community in Mobile,? said Mike Saxon, Vice President - Mobile Division of Alabama Power, the company that connected SSAB with the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce economic development team. ?Over the last decade SSAB has made significant investment in its Mobile facility and added high-paying jobs,? said Troy Wayman, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Economic Development. ?The decision to make Mobile home for its Americas headquarters is evidence that we have a strong business case matched with an exceptional quality of life. This project is an excellent example of our economic development strategy to recruit headquarters and other high-paying jobs to our area.? Media contacts SSAB Americas ? Ivonne Furneaux, director, communications & community relations, 630-297-1526, ivonne.furneaux@ssab.com Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce ? Susan Rak-Blanchard, director of communications and marketing, 251-431-8641, susan@mobilechamber.com About SSAB Americas SSAB Americas is a division of SSAB, a Nordic and US-based steel company. SSAB offers value added products and services developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. SSAB has employees in over 50 countries. SSAB has production facilities in Sweden, Finland and the US. SSAB is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and has a secondary listing on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.ssab.com. About the Mobile Area Chamber?s Economic Development Efforts The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce is a private business organization with more than 2,000 members, and the economic developer of record for the city of Mobile and Mobile County. Over the last decade, Mobile?s economic development efforts have garnered $8.47 billion in capital investment and added 15,771 jobs with an average salary of $45,824, including 35 new businesses recruited and 75 expansions made at existing area companies. Fifty-plus foreign based companies have operations in the Mobile area, representing 18 different countries. Additional information is on the Chamber?s website at www.mobilechamber.com, Facebook @MobileChamber and Twitter at @MobileChamber.