CALVERT, Ala. (AP) -- German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp says its plans for a giant steel mill in north Mobile County remain on schedule a year after breaking ground on the facility and production begins in 2010.
The project's $4.2 billion price tag, however, has grown from $3.7 billion.
Company spokesman Scott Posey of Mobile says the plant is expected to create 2,700 permanent jobs and 304 employees already have been hired.
As the mill takes shape, more than 1,500 construction workers are on site each day. Posey says more than 25,000 applications and resumes have been received for both salaried and hourly positions.
ThyssenKrupp also has awarded contracts worth more than $1 billion, not including specialty equipment that is not available through U.S. companies.
Alabama suppliers account for roughly half of those contracts.
