Saving GM was vital to Valley

Earlier this month marked a momentous day for the Mahoning Valley.

I watched as the first three Chevy Cruzes rolled off the assembly line at Lordstown — one red, the next white, and the third blue. It was a fitting procession for an all-American accomplishment.

We all cheered for a car that helped bring 1,200 Ohioans back to work for a third shift at the Lordstown plant.

And while this is a triumphant time for the Valley, it could have been a tragic one if auto industry detractors had gotten their way.

By late 2008, the American auto industry was in peril. Between spiking gasoline prices and overall uneasiness about the state of the economy, demand for new vehicles dropped to an all time low. Americans didn’t want — nor could they afford — to buy the sports utility vehicles that had been so popular earlier in the decade. Without federal intervention, the industry was virtually certain to collapse. Such a breakdown would have put the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of Ohio and American workers in jeopardy.

Not an easy road

The Obama Administration made a tough, politically unpopular decision to save the auto industry from disintegration. In the process, it helped maintain good-paying manufacturing jobs that are needed to keep our economy strong.

The process wasn’t perfect. For example, I continue to be extremely troubled by Delphi retirees who have not been treated fairly when it comes to receiving the pensions and health care benefits they earned. While we still have a long way to go, the U.S. auto industry today enjoys the most job growth in a decade.

The naysayers who slammed the president’s decision — arguing that the “free market” should be allowed to run its course — were no doubt at a loss for words at the launch of the Cruze. This affordable, fuel-efficient car features components made at plants all across Ohio: engine blocks manufactured in Defiance, transmissions assembled in Toledo, and parts stamped in Parma.

Opening a new era

The launch was a testament to the staying power of the American-made automobile — and when that car rolled off the assembly line, Ohio ushered in a new era of auto manufacturing.

It was a far cry from 18 months ago, when the company’s future was in doubt.

Ohio is home to parts suppliers, materials industries, and technology companies that support America’s auto manufacturing base. More than 440,000 Ohio jobs directly or indirectly depend on the auto industry. It is the engine that drives American manufacturing and provides a reliable ticket to the middle class.

An analysis released last week by the Brookings Institution revealed that the Youngstown area gained more manufacturing jobs over the last several months than anywhere else in the United States — a jump of 8.9 percent. The auto industry played a critical role in this manufacturing boon in the Mahoning Valley.

Ohio workers — in small towns, rural areas, and big cities in 78 out of 88 counties statewide — contribute to the U.S. automotive industry.

But as we continue to work our way toward economic recovery, one thing is clear: we’re not going back to business as usual. The Cruze shows that clean energy and fuel efficiency represent the future of our state’s manufacturing base.

Invest in technology

I have been working to pass my Investment for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act, legislation that would create a revolving loan fund to help auto suppliers and other small- and mid-sized manufacturers retool their operations so they can participate in the clean energy supply chain. The IMPACT Act could create more than 52,000 jobs in our state while revitalizing Ohio’s manufacturing base.

President Obama made a decision that saved the U.S. auto industry from collapse. Ohio’s steelworkers, plastics producers, and stamping plant workers were able to keep their jobs. Ohio auto parts suppliers were able to hire more people and build capacity. We owe it to our children and we owe it to Ohio workers to create a climate that fosters Ohio innovation and creates Ohio jobs.

Sherrod Brown, a Democrat and Ohio’s junior U.S. senator, wrote this for The Vindicator.