Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has said that Vallourec’s new multimillion-dollar expansion in Youngstown underscores Ohio’s position as a prime location for business growth and job creation within the North American market. DeWine made this announcement in a social media post on November 12.
“Ohio is a premier destination for companies seeking growth in the North American market,” said DeWine. “The latest example of this is in Youngstown, where I joined those from Vallourec on Monday to break ground on their new multimillion dollar expansion that will lead to dozens of new jobs in the Mahoning Valley.”
Vallourec, a French-based manufacturer of premium steel tubular products, announced in 2025 a new expansion of its Youngstown operations. According to The Business Journal of Youngstown, this expansion is expected to enhance the Mahoning Valley’s industrial economy. The project involves modernizing its pipe-finishing plant and implementing digital upgrades, which are anticipated to secure existing jobs and create additional skilled manufacturing positions while reinforcing Youngstown’s role in energy-sector supply chains. Local officials have cited it as an indication of renewed industrial momentum for northeastern Ohio.
According to the Ohio Department of Development’s 2025 economic outlook, the state’s manufacturing and industrial sectors added approximately 15,200 jobs between mid-2024 and mid-2025. This growth was driven by energy, automotive, and advanced-materials projects. Private investment commitments during that period surpassed $28 billion, led by semiconductor and steel manufacturing expansions, illustrating continued industrial recovery and reshoring trends in the Midwest.
When compared to other Midwestern states, Ohio’s 2025 job-creation and capital-investment totals rank second only to Michigan, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Indiana and Wisconsin posted smaller gains, while Illinois saw flat manufacturing employment. Analysts attribute Ohio’s performance to a combination of state tax incentives, infrastructure upgrades, and aggressive workforce-training initiatives under the “Ohio Is All In” development program.
DeWine has served as the 70th Governor of Ohio since January 14, 2019. His administration has prioritized economic development through initiatives such as the Ohio Builds infrastructure plan and the JobsOhio partnership. These efforts focus on manufacturing competitiveness, broadband expansion, and workforce training. DeWine has emphasized regional revitalization projects like those in the Mahoning Valley as pillars of long-term state growth.
Vallourec operates a major seamless-tube manufacturing facility in Youngstown producing steel pipe for oil, gas, and industrial applications. According to the company’s North America profile, Vallourec employs roughly 900 workers in the region. Its Ohio operations include its Star Center and pipe-finishing plant, which have undergone over $1 billion in cumulative investment since 2012. The company’s latest modernization effort focuses on energy-sector demand and sustainability improvements in production efficiency.
