In Great Lakes states, it's old news to talk about manufacturing woes. The Great Lakes Manufacturing Council, which is holding a forum in Cleveland this week, is instead talking about how to work together as a region, not lament the past. When Governor Strickland addressed the group, he came as a booster, emphasizing that Ohio is still a top producer.
STRICKLAND: Ohio is the only state in the nation to increase exports every year throughout the last decade. If the Great Lakes region were a country, we'd have the third largest economy in the world.
Strickland also touted his $1.75 billion stimulus plan that he says will create jobs, and pushed green energy as a potential boon to the economy. The forum, which features leaders from Canada and the U.S., runs through Friday.