Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
STATEMENT:
Visit With Ford Officials in Michigan to Promote Missouri’s Business Case
JEFFERSON CITY–Following is a joint statement from Gov. Matt Blunt, St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and Hazelwood Mayor T.R. Carr who lead a delegation of Missouri officials to Dearborn, Mich., on January 5 to discuss the future of Ford Motor Co. in the Show Me State:
"Missouri has been in constant communication for years with Ford officials about the future of the company’s operations in our state and has been working tirelessly to understand and respond to the needs of Ford with a flexible strategy. Our visit this week was part of a continuing cooperative effort to discuss a strong business case which shows Ford, in no uncertain terms, the importance of the company’s continued presence in Missouri. Working together, and with the United Auto Workers through Local 325 President Ken Dearing, we are preparing an innovative approach to doing business in Missouri that takes into account the auto industry’s shifting global market. We understand that Ford will continue to develop its plans for the future but we intend to continue promoting what role Missouri could play in those plans. The employees at Ford locations in the state are the best. Just this year the Hazelwood facility was named Ford’s Best Quality Assembly Plant in North America. Along with our partners in the public and private sectors, we will continue to make a strong case on behalf of our workers’ that Ford can continue to play an integral part of our state’s economic future."
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