Steel Jobs and Small Businesses at Stake in Pennsylvania

It is not only US steel workers that have a dog in the fight with respect to the sale of US Steel. In addition to supporting nearly 12,000 jobs across the state, US Steel drives nearly $2 billion of economic activity in Pennsylvania. Anyone familiar with the economy or Pennsylvania small businesses knows these jobs are crucial to the overall health of our community. Small businesses provide a myriad of services that depend on a healthy economy. If jobs are shipped out of the state, it will be more than just the direct industry that is hurt. If steel jobs move to Ohio, it will have a devastating impact on every facet of the economy and our communities. Even schools and charities that depend on the generosity of Pennsylvania small businesses could see a drop in support. This is what is at stake with respect to the current prospect of a Cleveland company swooping in and exporting jobs from the keystone state to Ohio.

Pennsylvania depends on the jobs from the steel industry. Without those jobs, other small community businesses would not be able to stay afloat. I have seen this dynamic play out multiple times in my career, most notably because of different trade deals which resulted in losing manufacturing jobs in the rust belt and across the country. Small businesses in Pennsylvania, like the local contractor or mom-and-pop hardware store, sponsor community service events and contribute to philanthropic efforts across the state. Further loss or consolidation of businesses means less good-paying jobs in the state and less philanthropy. It is a lose-lose proposition.

In the bid for US steel, the company that promises to keep the most jobs in the state should ultimately prevail. Right now, it looks to many residents like the Cleveland company bidding for control of US Steel would export a significant number of jobs to Ohio and eliminate others. Small business owners deserve to know that steel industry jobs that their businesses depend on will remain in Pennsylvania.

The next few months may decide the future of our steel industry, so far Nippon has promised to keep the most jobs in the state and what’s more, they promise to move their US headquarters to Pittsburgh, which will be a major boon to the economy. Having helped small businesses market themselves, I cannot underscore how important the steel industry is to Pennsylvania. Many small businesses offer specials and promotions specifically targeted at the steel workers who buy their products – the same workers who risk losing their jobs in favor of Cleveland workers.

This fight has seen its ups and downs with local and national news all offering different perspectives on the matter but the next few months will be key in determining the future of our steel industry. If Pennsylvania hopes to keep main street intact, its elected officials should take an approach that focuses like a laser on the jobs that will be saved or created as a result of any merger. As it stands now, Nippon has made the more substantive and believable commitments to keeping jobs in our state.

John Preston has been working in Pennsylvania small business marketing for the past 25 years