WARREN, Ohio - An international trading company has announced the completion of the sale of all steel making assets of the former RG Steel plant in Warren, and plans to look for a new operator.

Hilco Trading LLC, announced the sale in a news release on May 31st. The company purchased the assets from BDM Warren Steel Holdings, LLC.

Warren's Mayor, Doug Franklin says he believes it's a move in the right direction.

"I have some guarded optimism. We're cautiously optimistic that we have a new player who has a lot more experience than BDM in sales and marketing of this facility. That's after talking to both parties. As you know the facility has a 100 year history, and we want to make sure that remains an asset and something that can create some jobs. We think there's an opportunity for this new entity to more successfully market the plant," said Mayor Franklin.

In a statement issued by Hilco, Gary Epstein, the Chief Marketing Officer said the company is, "...planning an aggressive push to seek buyers for the facility as a whole or in part. ...Our goal is to do everything possible to find a purchaser for the facility that can operate the hot mill facility..."

Darryl Parker, the President of the United Steelworkers - Local 1375 tells 21 News, "It gives us a reprieve. It gives us a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. You know all be it, it's dim. But if someone wants to come in and do their do diligence and look at the plant in it's entirety."

More than 1,000 laid off mill workers have been waiting for a glimmer of hope after the company filed for bankruptcy.

But there's always been optimism that this once world renowned facility will open it's doors again.

However, that can't happen until the next major step of securing a potential operator, and even with that many of the skilled workers have moved on to training programs to transition in to new careers.

"There has been a need for them to stay in the area, but I don't see a lot of them coming back to this facility without some kind of guarantee," said Parker.