The tallest building between New York and Chicago, the U.S. Steel Tower stands as a monument to Pittsburgh’s industrial past — and a reminder of what the future could be if our nation’s leaders step up for our manufacturing sector.

Once the world’s largest steelmaker, U.S. Steel’s presence remains vital in places such as the Mon Valley, where the Edgar Thomson, Irvin and Clairton works are still active, but in desperate need of modernization.

Several years ago, U.S. Steel canceled plans to invest $1.5 billion to upgrade the Mon Valley Works, in part because the Allegheny County Health Department slow-walked needed permits. The upgrade would have improved profitability and brought the plant into line with current environmental standards.

That was April 2021.

Less than four years later, then-President Joe Biden blocked U.S. Steel’s proposal to enter into a major investment partnership with Nippon Steel. Nippon had pledged to invest billions into American facilities, including more than $2.7 billion just to modernize the Mon Valley Works. They also pledged to relocate Nippon’s U.S. headquarters from Houston to Pittsburgh, giving us a shot at regaining the status of a steel capital.

No other suitor has offered such an investment. In fact, no other suitor has even promised to keep U.S. Steel fully intact and one suiter, Cleveland Cliffs, is now laying off its own workers.

The potential loss of the Mon Valley Works would threaten more than 3,000 jobs, most of them union positions. The closure would threaten thousands more jobs at small businesses that rely on the Mon Valley Works, either as a customer or as a source of economic vitality that ripples through car dealerships, shopping malls and lunch counters across the region. Finally, closure threatens our very culture as a people — we are the “Steel City.”

As a child, I saw firsthand how the loss of a major steel plant can devastate families in my hometown of Aliquippa. Families separate. Friends and neighbors leave the region. The pain inflicted is real.

Nippon’s offer would represent a victory for the American steel industry and the Pittsburgh region, with new production technology and innovations that would make steel manufacturing cleaner, safer and more profitable to the region. Nippon has promised to protect existing jobs, honor union contracts and usher in an era of manufacturing strength.

Under this deal, the headquarters of U.S. Steel will not only remain in Pennsylvania, but the unprecedented investment will almost certainly be a boon for our struggling Downtown and generate much-needed revenue for multiple sectors in the Pittsburgh area.

We know that President Trump, Sen. Dave McCormick and congressional Republicans want more investment in America and they support growing our country’s manufacturing capability. In my opinion, the Nippon deal is now consistent with these important national goals.

It will not only boost our economy, but the investment will ensure steel continues to be made in Western Pennsylvania for generations, something critical to our national security.

Contrast this with the alternative: Without this Nippon deal, U.S. Steel risks stagnation or worse, leaving our workers vulnerable and our economy weakened. Already struggling communities, from Monessen to McKeesport, would face yet another economic hammer blow.

The Republican Committee of Allegheny County is a leader for honest, effective and responsive government and an influential voice in Pennsylvania. The RCAC strives to foster growth and prosperity for our county, region and country — which is exactly why we welcome Nippon’s proposed transformative investment in U.S. Steel.

This investment presents a historic opportunity for U. S. Steel and Allegheny County. All Pittsburghers, including our elective representatives, need to put Pittsburgh first by publicly saying yes to this critical investment into the future of our region.

Jason Richey is a Pittsburgh attorney and chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County.