BATON ROUGE — Hyundai was given the go-ahead to proceed with its multibillion-dollar steel mill in Ascension Parish after a legal challenge to the state's agreement with the company.

Just days before Hyundai is set to break ground on the $5.8 billion steel mill at the Riverplex Megapark in Modeste, a hearing was held at the 19th JDC courthouse over whether Louisiana officials followed proper procedures when they entered into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Hyundai. 

The judge ruled against the plaintiffs, who include activist groups Rural Roots Louisiana and Louisiana Bucket Brigade. The ruling means that this legal challenge will not stop the project from moving ahead. 

The state argued that, if the legislature does not appropriate the funds that Louisiana Economic Development needs to meet its commitment to Hyundai, then there is no penalty on the state for that failure to appropriate.

The plaintiffs argued that the state did not follow the proper process when entering an agreement that involves hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. 

Hyundai is hosting an open house at the LeMann Center in Donaldsonville ahead of the project at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.