Chrysler's decision to close its' one-point-two million square foot stamping plant in Twinsburg was a shock to autoworkers there who, just a day before, voted to accept concessions in exchange for what they thought were promises to leave the plant relatively intact.
Thursday two UAW officials and Mayor Procop will meet privately with Dr. Ed Montgomery - he's the head of President Obama's task force to assist communities hurt by the loss of the auto industry.
The federal government won't have much say in what Chrysler, under its new partner FIAT, will do with any of its facilities, but Procop says she'll take as much assistance as the feds can offer.
MAYOR KATHERINE PROCOP: "We're very interested in making sure the UAW, the community leaders, our county leaders and state are at the table if and when it comes time for a disposition of the property - and we need to be involved in those talks so that this property doesn't stay abandoned for who knows how long - decades."
Procop hopes to secure Environmental Impact and Economic Development dollars to help turn the plant around after Chrysler leaves. Meanwhile she is actively seeking 'any' car maker who might need the high tech equipment and the employee knowledge that Twinsburg could provide. And Procop says Congressman Steve LaTourette is talking with FIAT about keeping some aspect of its production in Summit County.
