It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Fort Pitt Block House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Pittsburgh, PA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“My grandmother has been getting to and from her appointments with no issues and finally got the right care since joining this agency! She finally has someone to help her clean and organize the way she likes it and helps her make her favorite meals! If you’re looking for someone to care for you I’d give this place a chance.”
“I love working for these guys. Pretty flexible and my bosses are understanding that life happens. They go out of their way to help their caregivers and their elderly clients. Best company to work for! Love you guys.”
“I am a current client of this provider We have Always Best Care of Pittsburgh. They help my mom with whatever she needs, like a run to the store, making food, laundry, and that sort of thing. I haven't had any trouble with the agency. We've had two to three different caregivers, they're always good and on time. They come three times a week for four hours a day.”
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting West End Overlook Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Altius or visit Rivers of Steel Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Pittsburgh, PA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Pittsburgh, PA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Pittsburgh, PA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
President Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America, will deliver remarks at a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 6:00PM EST.The choice could not be clearer for Pennsylvanians: President Donald J. Trump stands for America First policies while Kamala Harris represents incompetence and dangerously liberal policies that are devastating Pennsylvania families. Inflation is suffocating the Keystone State at a brutal ...
President Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America, will deliver remarks at a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 6:00PM EST.
The choice could not be clearer for Pennsylvanians: President Donald J. Trump stands for America First policies while Kamala Harris represents incompetence and dangerously liberal policies that are devastating Pennsylvania families. Inflation is suffocating the Keystone State at a brutal 19.2 percent, slashing over $1,000 a month from the average Pennsylvania family's budget. Under Harris' failed leadership, Pennsylvanians saw record high gas prices that still remain higher compared to when she entered office.
Harris insists the Biden administration is "helping more people buy a home," but that couldn't be further from the truth. Since she’s been in office, the median home price in Pennsylvania has skyrocketed over 25 percent, from around $215,845 in 2021 to a crippling $270,780 in July 2024. Thanks to Harris, the average 30-year mortgage rate has more than doubled—from a reasonable 2.77 percent to a devastating 7.22 percent.
This is the disastrous path Harris and Biden have paved for Pennsylvania, and President Trump is the only one who can fix it. Pennsylvanians will re-elect President Donald J. Trump on November 5th to strengthen the economy and Make America Affordable Again.
Date and Time:
Monday, November 4, 2024
6:00PM EST
Venue:
PPG Paints Arena
1001 Fifth Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Timeline of Events:
2:00PM – Doors Open
6:00PM – 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump Delivers Remarks
General Admission Tickets:
Request Media Credentials:
All requests for media credentials must be submitted by Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 5:00PM EST.
Vice President Kamala Harris is closing out her campaign in Pennsylvania and will rally with supporters in Pittsburgh on Monday.Harris is barnstorming through the swing states during the last few days of the campaign. She’s saving Pennsylvania, the most critical battleground, for last.The vice president will speak at a rally and concert at Point State Park from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., according to an email sent to Harris supporters and obtained by TribLive.Wesley Robinson, a spokesperson for the state Department of Conse...
Vice President Kamala Harris is closing out her campaign in Pennsylvania and will rally with supporters in Pittsburgh on Monday.
Harris is barnstorming through the swing states during the last few days of the campaign. She’s saving Pennsylvania, the most critical battleground, for last.
The vice president will speak at a rally and concert at Point State Park from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., according to an email sent to Harris supporters and obtained by TribLive.
Wesley Robinson, a spokesperson for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, confirmed the department approved permits for the Harris campaign’s event at the park Monday.
The email also mentions that Harris will be joined by a “special guest” for the concert, but did not say who.
The Pittsburgh area has received more visits from presidential candidates than any region in the country.
Pennsylvania is the largest swing state in the country with 19 Electoral College votes. Polling shows Harris and former President Donald Trump are locked in a dead heat.
Harris has visited Southwestern Pennsylvania six times since she became the Democratic nominee earlier this summer. She stayed in Downtown Pittsburgh for several days to prepare for her September debate against her rival, Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump.
Democratic presidential candidates have visited Pittsburgh just before Election Day the last two presidential elections. Hillary Clinton held a rally at Heinz Field, now called Acrisure Stadium, the final Friday of the 2016 election, and President Joe Biden rallied on the North Shore with Lady Gaga the day before the 2020 election.
Monday will be a day of double duty for Harris in Pennsylvania.
She will also be holding a rally and concert in Philadelphia evening, according to new reports.
That rally will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Philadelphia, according to CBS News-Philadelphia.
Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at [email protected].
UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) — As rescue efforts have turned to recovery amid the search for a missing woman who fell through a sinkhole in Unity Township, search teams fear the abandoned mine property could be at risk of collapsing.As it got darker and colder Thursday evening, crews wrapped up their th...
UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) — As rescue efforts have turned to recovery amid the search for a missing woman who fell through a sinkhole in Unity Township, search teams fear the abandoned mine property could be at risk of collapsing.
As it got darker and colder Thursday evening, crews wrapped up their third day of searching for 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have been swallowed by a sinkhole and into an abandoned mine while she was trying to find a missing cat.
Police said on Thursday that excavators reached the spot where they believe Pollard is.
"The goal is to remove the dirt and then to come up from underneath and extract that dirt. We're going to take that dirt and put it in separate piles. We're going to have people reviewing that dirt, looking through it, possibly if we could find a cellphone or anything that could be of significance," said Trooper Steve Limani.
Limani said they're also going to bring in cameras to help search through the caverns and dogs will be on standby.
"I like our chances when we get the hole opened up, that between having a dog available, having the camera systems that we have in place available, using the drones and the expertise of the people working the excavators — those guys are first class when it comes to their capabilities. We really like our chances to get close to the scene that we need to get to," Limani said.
Police, firefighters, mining experts, and search and rescue teams have spent nearly two full days digging, shoring up and searching an abandoned coal mine behind Monday's Restaurant on Marguerite Road.
Troopers said the mine property has become unstable and is no longer safe for search teams to enter and work in. Now, they plan to dig more of the area out.
Limani said that finding Pollard is a matter of trying to do right by her family.
"We had a conversation with them a couple hours ago about where we thought the investigation was," Limani said on Wednesday. "I know we have a lot of hopes, and maybe there is still a glimmer of hope, but based off of oxygen levels being a little lower, even though we've pumped oxygen into the mine, it's lower than what you would want for someone to try and sustain their life. It's been difficult."
Tabitha Pollard, Elizabeth Pollard's niece, has been at the site every day to offer support for her uncle and cousin, who she says still hold out hope.
"It's been a battle. I have mixed emotions going on being there for my uncle and my cousin and being here and just keeping up with everything, things like that, so I have reached out for help myself just to make it easier so I'm there for them 100 percent," Tabitha Pollard said.
Crews are using nearly century-old materials to navigate the abandoned mine. Pleasant Unity Volunteer Fire Department Chief John Bacha says that the Bureau of Mines has provided rescue crews with some hand-drawn maps from the 1940s.
As for whether Pollard's cat has been found, officials said Pepper is still missing.
At one point, more than 100 people had responded to the scene to assist in the massive search and rescue effort.
Limani explained how the search has been a dangerous and difficult job — physically, mentally, and emotionally — but they're receiving lots of love from community members and businesses.
Firefighters from countless departments, including many volunteers, responded with Pennsylvania Strike Team 1, the urban search and rescue team serving western Pennsylvania.
"Those guys were in that mine and they were just busting their butt, covered in mud, and doing everything they could to remove debris. They could have moved a mountain, that's how many people that were here and that's how hard they're working," Limani said.
With temperatures below freezing and wind chills hovering around 7 degrees, crews have been fed and sheltered by not only the owners of Monday's Restaurant but also by the outpouring of support from the surrounding community.
Matthew Alamo, who owns both McDonald's restaurants in Latrobe, says he has been following this story since it broke and says that giving 50 meals to help feed the people who are outside working is the least he and his company can do.
"I actually live right here in Latrobe myself and have been following it closely and it's tragic and so sad. We are all watching closely, but it is also heartfelt and uplifting to see the community and just everybody rallying around this. And I got friends, neighbors and peers, and everyone is just trying to do whatever they can," Alamo said.
Amber Carr from Latrobe said she stopped by to get donations from Walmart.
"I took the dogs out this morning and I realized how cold it was and that these men and women have been out here in this cold for the last few days trying to recover her. So I just wanted to do something nice," Carr said.
As crews continue to dig for Elizabeth Pollard, residents nearby are worried after learning parts of the mine's roof have collapsed.
Authorities on the scene couldn't say whether or not the roof collapse could create more risk.
As those who live nearby cope with the intense search and rescue mission underway for 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard, they say they're also stressed about whether they are safe themselves while living on top of the mine.
Philip Reeder, a professor at Duquesne University, has extensive experience working with sinkholes in South Florida.
"It's really a mine sink, where there is an old coal mine and that area is riddled with coal mines, and the coal mines sometimes lose their integrity," Reeder said.
KDKA-TV reached out to the Bureau of Mine Safety and DEP several times on Wednesday to learn if any nearby homes or businesses could be at risk, but have not heard back.
BRADDOCK, Pa. —Some steelworkers say they support the $15 billion takeover of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel, after President-elect Donald Trump again vowed to block the deal.On Monday night, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, "I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Ste...
BRADDOCK, Pa. —
Some steelworkers say they support the $15 billion takeover of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel, after President-elect Donald Trump again vowed to block the deal.
On Monday night, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, "I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan. Through a series of Tax Incentives and Tariffs, we will make U.S. Steel Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST! As President, I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!"
"Very frustrated with the news that came out last night," Jason Zugai, the vice president of United Steelworkers Local 2227, said on Tuesday. "I didn't expect that to come out, so that was like a gut punch."
Zugai and Local 2227 President Jack Maskil spoke in support of the Nippon deal at a forum in Washington, D.C., where leaders of the Steelworkers local at U.S. Steel's Irvin Plant are lobbying President Joe Biden's administration to support the deal.
MORE: US Steel CEO defends sale to Nippon in exclusive interview with WTAE
Union leaders at the Irvin Works in West Mifflin say 95% of their members are in favor of the Nippon merger, and many of them were at the Trump rally in Pittsburgh one day before the election.
The union leaders say they were initially skeptical of the deal, but support grew after they met with Nippon executives who visited the area during the summer. Nippon pledged to spend $1 billion to upgrade the 86-year-old hot strip mill at Irvin.
The Japanese company executives met with West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly inside his garage.
"The people that own and operate Nippon Steel are the real deal," Kelly said. "They're genuine, they're compassionate, and I continue to — I did not interact with one person that said anything negative about Nippon, not one."
MORE: USW President: Nippon Steel's promises short term, jeopardize US steelmaking
Kelly says one job at Irvin supports another seven jobs in his community.
"A billion-dollar investment that creates 5,000 additional jobs over a period of four to five years, and then it produces a better outcome, which means you're going to employ more people, you're going to use more American products and more steelworkers," he said. "I mean, it's a no-brainer."
The steelworkers and the mayor say without Nippon, the Mon Valley will be devastated with thousands of jobs gone.
"It's a game changer," Maskil said. "And in my mind, without it, without this, you can flip the hourglass, because I truly feel that once that sand hits the bottom, the valley will be done. That's my opinion."
Before the Nippon deal can happen, it must be cleared by the Treasury Department's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The CFIUS is expected to make a decision before the end of the year.
The United Steelworkers union opposes the deal. In a statement Tuesday, the union said the deal carries “serious long-term implications for U.S. economic and national security.”
“It’s clear that President Trump understands the vital role a strong domestic steel industry plays in our national security, as well as the importance of the jobs and communities the industry supports," the union said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday responded to President-elect Donald Trump’s social media comments in opposition of the proposed $14.9 billion sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel, reiterating his focus on keeping the 122-year-old company’s jobs in the Keystone State.“I’m less about social media posts and more about doing the hard work,” Shapiro said during an event in Pittsburgh, “and I’ve been convening the table over the last number of months with all t...
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday responded to President-elect Donald Trump’s social media comments in opposition of the proposed $14.9 billion sale of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel, reiterating his focus on keeping the 122-year-old company’s jobs in the Keystone State.
“I’m less about social media posts and more about doing the hard work,” Shapiro said during an event in Pittsburgh, “and I’ve been convening the table over the last number of months with all the different participants in this conversation to see what we can do, with my sole focus being on protecting jobs here in western Pennsylvania.”
Trump wrote Monday in a post on Truth Social that he is “totally against” the sale.
“Through a series of Tax Incentives and Tariffs, we will make U.S. Steel Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST! As President, I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!” the post reads. Trump made similar comments about opposing the sale back in January.
Shapiro said Tuesday that “Trump may want to check with some of the local leaders of his own party right here in western Pennsylvania who are out calling for support of the deal every single day.”
“He seems to be on a different page from them, or they seem to be on a different page with him,” Shapiro said,
State Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), whose district abuts the Pittsburgh suburbs where U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works are located, said in a statement Tuesday she is “100% on board to make U.S. Steel great again.”
“Keeping U.S. Steel headquarters and operations in southwestern Pennsylvania is about keeping our jobs and our heritage in place for present and future generations,” Ward said in the statement. “President Trump’s comments to make U.S. Steel great again through his administration’s policies when he assumes the presidency, provide the promise of options and solutions that have been absent from the current administration.”
Ward previously expressed support for the sale to Nippon Steel. Her spokesperson Erica Clayton Wright said Tuesday that Ward’s most recent statement reflects that “she is fighting for the best option for the workers and the industry.”
President Joe Biden has also opposed the sale amid concern from state and federal lawmakers and the United Steelworkers union over likely layoffs and the strategic need to protect U.S. industry. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, who served as mayor of Braddock, where U.S. Steel operates blast furnaces, has been among the most strident opponents, along with outgoing U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-17th District)
Biden makes unions and steel the focus of his first 2024 visit to Pittsburgh
The federal Council on Foreign Investment in the United States (CIFUS), which will make a recommendation to Biden on whether to approve the deal, deferred its decision until after the November election. It’s expected to be completed before the end of December, the New York Times reported, then presented to Biden for review.
Shapiro didn’t respond directly to questions about whether he supports the sale or whether he would speak to Biden about his decision.
“He ultimately will make the final decision through the CFIUS process, and that’s not a process that’s governed by state law. It’s governed by federal law, and it’s exclusively within the hands of the President to make that decision,” Shapiro said, also declining to say whether he would facilitate a meeting between the Steelworkers union and Nippon Steel.
Shortly after the sale was first proposed in December 2023, Ward said in a statement that Nippon Steel’s pledge to invest in the Mon Valley Works and to honor U.S. Steel’s contracts with the union were “encouraging,” and that “we will continue to do all we can to maintain its presence where it belongs – Pittsburgh.”
Ward said in an Aug. 30 statement “Nippon Steel’s investments in cutting-edge infrastructure at the Mon Valley Works facility will not only jump-start innovation and secure jobs for our region to grow and compete, but will also generate critical construction jobs for the building trades which will help create certainty for all,”
Ward’s spokesperson, Wright, told the Capital-Star her statement Tuesday does not indicate a change in her position.
“To be clear, Nippon is the only offer. While it is a transformative and competitive offer, it is still the only offer. Trump’s post suggests he has other thoughts, but we still don’t know what they are and likely will not until he officially becomes president. Sen. Ward has been completely transparent in her position from the start and all of that has been shared with you,” Wright said.
Ohio-based steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. made a competing cash and stock offer for U.S. Steel, according to a regulatory filing in January.
U.S. Steel operates four plants in Pennsylvania that comprise the Mon Valley Works, including one in Fairless Hills, Pa., outside of Philadelphia.
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