Area braces for losing
Ford
One plan: Persuade automaker to keep
plant open
BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER
STAFF WRITER
 BATAVIA
- A group that includes Clermont County commissioners,
economic development experts, business leaders, United
Auto Workers representatives, state political leaders and
local educators is fashioning a three-pronged approach to
the planned closing of Ford Motor Co.'s Batavia
transmission plant.
The group, which met Friday, organized three
subcommittees in reaction to Ford's decision, announced
Jan. 23, to close the plant in 2008, eliminating 1,745
jobs. The plant closing is part of a company wide
cost-cutting plan that will eliminate 30,000 jobs.
One subcommittee led by Chris Smith, the governor's
regional representative for the Ohio Department of
Development, will try to convince Ford to keep the plant
open.
"The Ford people have indicated they're willing to
discuss this with the county commissioners and other local
leaders," said county Administrator David Spinney.
"We want to find out if there is information that
might change their decision."
Another subcommittee led by David Devier, University of
Cincinnati-Clermont College dean, will focus on helping
plant employees.
A third subcommittee led by Andy Kuchta, county
economic development director, will explore possible uses
for the 1.8 million-square-foot Batavia plant, which
opened in 1980.
Clermont County commissioners instigated Friday's
meeting.
"These issues would have been addressed without
this meeting," Spinney said. "But the
commissioners wanted to provide a focus to it and develop
a way to coordinate all this."
In a few weeks, the subcommittees will report.
State Sen. Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, and state Reps.
Joseph Uecker, R-Miami Township, and Danny
Bubp, R-West Union, attended.
E-mail skemme@enquirer.com
|
Saturday, February 11, 2006
