Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank to Tour Thomas Steel Strip Corporation

Blank to highlight the importance of foreign investment to the U.S. economy, discuss administration’s new SelectUSA initiative

WASHINGTON – Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank will travel to Warren, Ohio, Thursday to tour Thomas Steel Strip Corporation, a member of the Tata Steel Europe Group, and a manufacturer of cold-rolled strips usually used as steel casings for batteries. Thomas Steel employs more than 250 people.

Following the tour, Blank will highlight the importance of foreign direct investment, such as Tata’s acquisition of Thomas Steel, to strengthening U.S. economic growth and job creation. She will also discuss the administration’s economic plan and its new government-wide initiative – SelectUSA – which seeks to cut federal red tape for domestic and foreign investors, remove barriers to new investment and boost business growth in the United States.

Launched in June and housed at the U.S. Department of Commerce, SelectUSA was created by Executive Order in direct response to concerns the Obama administration heard from the business community. In addition to its work to remedy federal-level barriers to investment, SelectUSA also brings together information on federal programs and services available to companies looking to invest in the United States in one, easy-to-access location, supported by a comprehensive website at www.SelectUSA.gov. The website also provides snapshots of the competitive landscape in major U.S. industries and a direct line to state and local economic development agencies.