Ed Montgomery is a labor economist, a dean at the University of Maryland, that specializes in job training and economic development. These are skills that Ohio's politicos are hoping come in handy as General Motors and Chrysler struggle to restructure and survive the economic crunch. Montgomery says part of his new job is to improve demand for cars. To prove his point he announced that the Obama administration would be spending $285 million in Recovery Act funds to buy 17,600 fuel-efficient vehicles from ailing automakers by June 1. Montgomery said he is also tasked with helping areas recover from downsizing.
Ed Montgomery: Sometimes that would be as some factories shrunk how do we get new factories in, how do we help workers get retrained and so its both sides of the equation.
Mayor Michael Chaffee from Lordstown, home to two GM plants, said Montgomery had a good understanding of the issues facing car towns and promised to be accessible.
Michael Chaffee: He made it clear from the very start that this wouldn't be the only meeting.
Over 100,000 Ohioans work in companies related to the auto industry.