Ford Motor Company announced that it will take jobs from Mexico and put them in Northeast Ohio.
AVON LAKE, Ohio - You always hear about jobs leaving the United
States for Mexico or other countries, but Tuesday we heard just the
opposite. Ford Motor Company announced that it will take jobs from
Mexico and put them in Northeast Ohio.
Workers are guaranteed to
earn a steady paycheck with Ford making a $128 million investment in the
Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, after the state approved an incentive
package valued at $15 million. Ford will get a $1 million tax break for
the next 15 years.
Gov. John Kasich said the money will be recouped within a year with higher tax collections.
"When
people ask for the moon, the stars and the sky it doesn't benefit the
people of the state we don't do it. But this is a really good agreement
that we reached and frankly I'm really pleased about it," he said during
an appearance at the plant.
So are the legions of workers. The
move is expected to save nearly 2,000 jobs. It's good news for guys like
Merle Mitchell, who has worked at the plant for 19 years.
"You hear the rumors. You're on, you're off. Now it's official. Let's get down to business, we know what to do," Mitchell said.
Ford
plans to phase out Avon Lake production of the Econoline van in 2013
and shift to medium-duty truck production. As part of the agreement,
Ford agrees to keep the plant running for at least 18 years. But if the
company does shut down the plant, the state can demand repayment of the
tax dollars.
The governor said this a much needed economic boost
in the arm for Northeast Ohio, one that he hopes will take us down the
road to prosperity.
"We were in a deep, deep ditch in this state.
We lost 400,000 jobs in the last four years. We lost more jobs in the
last 10 years than any other state in America except Michigan and
California. But I really think the sun is starting to shine in Ohio,"
said Gov. Kasich.
Gov. Kasich was also asked about the chances of
Sears moving to Ohio from Chicago. He said he did make the company an
offer, but he said he feels Sears is using that offer as a bargaining
chip to get more out of Illinois.