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Chief of Dems in Mahoning to meet Obama
YOUNGSTOWN
Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras will be among a small group meeting Tuesday with President Barack Obama after Obama gives a speech in Columbus.
Betras said he plans to thank Obama for two Mahoning Valley “success stories” — the V&M Star expansion project in Youngstown and the production of the Chevrolet Cruze at the Lordstown General Motors complex.
“We have two prime examples of the way dynamic public-private partnerships can create thousands of good-paying jobs,” Betras said. “V&M and the Cruze became realities due to his leadership.”
Betras said the president “set the stage that enabled the local, state, and federal officials to meet with the companies and provide the infrastructure improvements and financial incentives needed to make the projects viable. What’s happened here proves that under President Obama’s leadership, we can create growth and prosperity.”
Obama spoke May 18 at V&M to tout the company’s $650 million expansion.
About $19 million in federal stimulus money is going toward the project. But V&M officials have repeatedly said the stimulus money helped move the project forward, but the expansion would have occurred without government money.
During his V&M speech, Obama said if the federal government hadn’t bailed out the auto industry “the GM plant over in Lordstown would not be there because GM would have been liquidated.”
Obama visited the GM plant Sept. 15, 2009, touting it as an example of American automakers’ comeback.
“I am psyched to be able to talk to the president, and I will certainly brag about the Valley and the need to keep doing whatever he can to help us create more jobs like those at Lordstown and V&M,” Betras said.
“I think the invite is an indication to all Valley residents that the president is aware of us and our importance to the state.”