Marston, Missouri — Magnitude 7 Metals announced today plans to restart the first potline at its aluminum smelter in Marston, Missouri — a step to expand U.S. primary aluminum capacity and restore some jobs to the Bootheel, ravaged by closures under Noranda in 2016 and Magnitude 7 Metals in 2024. The 2024 shutdown laid off 500 workers and countless families relocated, crippling local economies dependent on the smelter's payroll and leaving behind shuttered storefronts and strained economic supports in this rural Missouri region.

The restart will bring new jobs — and we hope they will be strong, union jobs represented by the United Steelworkers — but it also raises broader questions about long-term viability and stability in an industry that has faced repeated cycles of closures and uncertainty — despite earlier promises from Section 232 tariffs to bolster domestic production, which ultimately failed to prevent repeated curtailments.

New Madrid County’s industrial future should be built around a modernized smelter that can support workers, communities, and long-term economic growth. The county was once home to major industrial activity, making it especially important to choose a path that reduces pollution, strengthens local resilience, and moves the region toward the future.

Our recent survey of Missouri residents shows that people want the smelter back for the jobs and local economic benefits it can provide, but they are also clear that the restart has to be built for the long term. That means moving beyond the same boom-bust cycles and toward a more durable future that can truly support workers and communities over time. As Magnitude 7 Metals looks ahead to additional potlines, there is an opportunity to align future operations with cleaner, more modern energy solutions that can strengthen both job security and community health.

In response to the announcement, Industrious Labs and partners released the following statements:

Jessica Polk Sentell, Director of Eastern Missouri & Policy Associate at Renew Missouri:

“After hundreds of layoffs in 2024 scattered Bootheel families, we welcome short-term relief while recognizing the need for a more stable path forward. While we welcome this effort to bring jobs and economic activity back to the Bootheel, we also have to be honest about what kind of future this restart offers. Returning to past models that have led to instability is not a long-term solution for workers, families, or the community. If this facility is going to truly support the region over time, it needs to move toward cleaner, more reliable systems that can protect both public health and long-term jobs.”

Annie Sartor, Senior Campaigns Director at Industrious Labs:

“We’ve seen in the Bootheel just how fragile these restarts can be. While the 232 tariffs helped make this possible, a single restart does not resolve the deeper structural challenges facing the U.S. aluminum industry. This moment highlights the need for a more durable, long-term strategy — one built on stable market conditions, affordable energy, and a transition to cleaner production that can sustain the industry for decades and support its workforce over time.”

For additional information or interviews, please contact Marwa Abdelghani at 818-669-3987 or marwa@industriouslabs.org.