Thursday, June 9, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, (573)751-0290
Blunt to Reaffirm Missouri’s Commitment to Auto Industry During Trip to Detroit
JEFFERSON CITY—Gov. Matt Blunt will meet with officials from Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. on June 13 in Detroit to discuss Missouri’s commitment to the auto industry that plays such an important role in driving the state’s economy.
Blunt, Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, chairman of the Job Creation and Economic Development Committee, and Mike Mills, deputy director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, will meet with top officials from Ford and GM to discuss ways to maintain and enhance the Missouri operations of both automakers.
Ford currently operates facilities in Claycomo and Hazelwood while GM operates a facility in Wentzville. Blunt’s trip was scheduled several weeks ago in support of this industry that makes up 11 percent of the state’s total manufacturing employment and accounts for 3 percent of Missouri’s Gross State Product.
"Missouri is committed to the auto industry and these talks will focus both on maintaining our long relationship with Ford and GM and looking at ways to enhance our role in this critical industry," Blunt said. "I certainly am looking forward to this opportunity to promote Missouri’s pro-jobs, pro-family agenda."
In order to boost Missouri’s economy, Blunt recently signed into law legal liability and workers’ compensation reforms and initiated the Missouri Quality Jobs Act passed by the Legislature that ties job creation to economic incentives.
"Missouri is open for business and I plan to take that message to the auto industry in Detroit," Blunt said. "By reaching out on behalf of Missouri’s workers, we can enhance our economy and provide high quality, high paying, family-supporting jobs to our citizens."
Jobs supported by the auto industry earn an annual average wage of over $46,000 or a much higher average of $74,804 for motor vehicle manufacturing alone, both well above the state average wage of $34,852.