Ypsilanti – State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem) today joined an array of leaders from around the State as well as U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis for a discussion on worker retraining in the wake of the GM bankruptcy announcement.
"It is no accident that Secretary Solis will be visiting Ypsilanti to discuss the future of manufacturing jobs and conversion to a green manufacturing workforce," Smith said. "Ypsilanti has already been hit particularly hard by the recession and the closing of the Willow Run GM plant will be another blow to the local community. We must seize this opportunity to retool and retrain our workers so that we may emerge from this economic downturn with a stronger and more diversified workforce"
Smith has been working on initiatives to create more green jobs around the state and later this week will introduce a series of bills to increase vehicle fleet requirements to be more reliant on alternative fuels.
"In a meeting just yesterday with Roush Industries, we were told that for every 10 propane-powered vehicles purchased 1 green job is created." Smith said. "Businesses like Roush are ready to retrain the labor force in Michigan to produce products that save consumers money and are friendlier for the environment. While I recognize that these types of jobs are only a part of the solution, it is important that we look at all options as we move toward putting Michigan manufacturers back to work."
The forum hosted at Eastern Michigan University was slated to run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Panelists were expected to discuss worker retraining across the state in an effort to create a "green" manufacturing sector in Michigan. Others expected to attend included: Dr. Ed Montgomery the Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, Congressman John D. Dingell, EMU President Sue Martin, Governor Granholm and other local and state officials.