Ford Motor Co. recently announced their decision to invest upwards of $1 billion in Cleveland-area plants, specifically in Avon Lake and in Brook Park, Ohio. This investment has garnered much attention and excitement due to its anticipated economic impact.
PVMI member Susan Helper, chief economist at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Obama administration, discussed the potential economic benefit to northeastern Ohio from this investment. She noted that the region’s “depth of services and specialized manufacturing capabilities” will likely amplify the impact.
Helper views the investment as a vote of confidence in the Brook Park plant in particular, observing, “That’s a real tribute to the quality of the work and the labor-management cooperation that we’ve seen in that plant. I think that there’s a real spirit of problem solving, getting things done and making sure everything is done right.”