CANTON, Ohio (AP) -- Gov. John Kasich was on hand as Timken Co. broke ground Monday near Canton, Ohio for a $225 million expansion of its Faircrest steel plant.
The maker of specialty steel says a significant factor behind the expansion is current and expected demand by the oil and gas industry in eastern Ohio and elsewhere.
Companies have applied for dozens of permits to drill for natural gas in the region's Utica Shale formation.
A new five-year contract with the Steelworkers union cleared the way for the project.
The company says the expanded operation won't mean additional jobs but will make the plant more competitive.
