Mayor Announces City Response To GE Closing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2008

For more information:
Maria K. Heslin, Deputy Mayor, City of Bloomington, 349.3569

Bloomington, IN -- With the news today that nearly 900 GE workers will lose their jobs, Mayor Mark Kruzan announced that the City of Bloomington is assembling a response team to take immediate action to help the employees and the community get through this challenging time. Kruzan said he is convening a meeting of community partners tomorrow to discuss specific strategies. "Most important to keep at the forefront is that the sterile statistics represent a real impact on real people," Kruzan said. "These aren't simply 900 'jobs.' We're talking about 900 families who have just had their lives sadly impacted. "We also need to be mindful of the ripple effect this announcement has on our community" Kruzan said. "The lost purchasing power of the company and its employees will be felt well beyond the walls of GE. The United Way is losing its second largest contributor, and United Way agencies and the people they serve will suffer. "The downsizing of a major US company impacted my family, and I want GE families to know that the entire community stands with them in spirit and in action," Kruzan said. "We are already forming a group to begin the long process of transition." Specifically, the City is working with the Lieutenant Governor's office, State Senator Vi Simpson, State Representatives Matt Pierce and Peggy Welch, US Congressman Baron Hill, Bloomington Economic Development Corporation President Ron Walker, Chamber of Commerce CEO Christy Gillenwater, Ivy Tech Community College Chancellor John Whikehart, Indiana University officials, the South Central Region 8 Workforce Board, the County Commission and Council, City Councilmembers and other local organizations to identify what resources can be pooled to assist the employees and their families. "A plant closing takes an economic and emotional toll on a community and requires a wide variety of resources to help the individuals who will need to find new jobs," Kruzan said. City Council President Susan Sandberg extended her care and concern to the employees and their families and noted the importance of higher education partners in this time of crisis. "Both IU and Ivy Tech have a great deal of expertise that will be essential on the gamut of issues connected with the closing, and we're fortunate to have those assets for retraining and support available." Trent Deckard, Field Representative with Hill's office, said he and staff are looking into a variety of potential help. "Congressman Hill is ready to do anything that he can to be of assistance to affected workers and their families." "There are several things we can do quickly," Kruzan said. "For example, we can promote the free housing counseling the City's Housing and Neighborhood Development Department provides. We also can join forces with United Way, IU, Ivy Tech and SCORE to provide information to employees on how to plan for what lies ahead. "We will meet tomorrow and identify precise possibilities and action steps and develop a cohesive strategic plan that addresses the impact on the employees and the community," Kruzan said. # # #