BEAVER (KDKA) — People in Beaver County are welcoming plans for the Shell Oil refinery.

The Homestead Corporation, which currently operates a zinc plant on the site, planned to close it in 2013.

Keith Sevy, a business owner, says the news of the cracker plant is exciting.

“We were wondering what was going to happen over there, but this is great news,” he said.

Longtime residents who remember the job losses from steel plants and US Airways are finally seeing some positive economic news.

“Anything for the county’s good,” Jim Santry said. “You always hear talk growing up around here about how many jobs left here, so anytime anything comes back in is always a good thing.”

The plant is expected to create thousands of jobs and could impact real estate, car sales and small businesses.

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