WARREN - Charles J. Betters and his partners are expected to close on the purchase of Warren's RG Steel plant next week, Betters' attorney said Tuesday.
Purchase of the bankrupt plant was approved last month by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.
JobsOhio Project Manager Matt Cybulski said he is continuing to work closely with Betters and his partners on their plans for the former Pine Avenue factory.
''It's going to take some time,'' Cybulski said.
He declined to spell out specifics, but said the state agency is doing all it can to provide assistance with the purchase and the process of winterizing the mill.
Winterizing is a costly process in which the pipes are treated to prevent freezing and damage during the winter months.
He said he was awaiting cost projections and plans for the process.
Betters met recently with more than 100 laid-off steel workers and said he hopes to get help from the state in winterizing the factory.
After Betters and his partners in BDM Steel Holdings LLC close on the sale, they said they will look for an operator who can help them run the plant or who is interested in purchasing the plant.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware last week signed off on a $72 million sale of the now-defunct company's Sparrows Point, Md., complex to Hilco Industrial, a Chicago-based liquidator, and Environmental Liability Transfer, a St. Louis redeveloper. An ELT spokesman has said they are looking for operators for all or part of that mill, which has state-of-the-art cold-rolling equipment as well as rail and ship access.
Attorneys also are preparing for an anticipated two days of legal wrangling over details of the still-to-be-finalized acquisition of the Yorkville plant and Ohio Coatings by Esmark Steel. The approvals have been delayed by RG Steel's alleged failure to properly address soil contamination problems at its Yorkville plant.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.