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In the News
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Press Release Archive
May 7, 2002
MEDIA ADVISORY
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Will Present Check for $500,000 Grant Check for Ford/Hazelwood Strategic Response Plan
St. Louis, Mo.- On May 13th at 11:00 a.m. Assistant Secretary for Economic Development will present a check for a $500,000 grant to the St. Louis Economic Development Council to develop
Rep. Todd Akin and Sen. Kit Bond today announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce has approved a $500,000 grant to develop a strategic response plan for the announced closure of the Ford Motor Company automobile assembly plant in Hazelwood, Missouri.
Dr. David A. Sampson, Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, will be travelling to Hazelwood on May 13th to present a check. He will also have a roundtable discussion with community leaders regarding the grant that will be dispersed to the St. Louis County Economic Council. The presentation and roundtable will be at the Hazelwood City Hall at 11:00 a.m. Central Time.
“As a member of the task force to look at options for the Ford plant in Hazelwood, I am pleased to announce that the Economic Development Administration has, in response to our request, awarded this grant,” stated Akin. “These funds can be put to good use and empower regional leaders to develop a meaningful strategy for those communities threatened by the proposed closure.”
Sen. Bond added that the first priority is to convince Ford that it makes economic sense to continue operation of the Hazelwood plant. “The best way to keep high-paying jobs in Missouri is to make sure that our state is competitive when it comes to job skills, worker education and costs,” said Bond. “At the same time, we must be ready and prepared to protect local workers and the local economy if the Ford Plant goes away—and this money will help us be ready.”
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