Kokomo in the spotlight

ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com

The importance of a visit by two key officials in the administration of President Barack Obama was the fact they picked Kokomo to visit.

Karen Mills, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Ed Montgomery, Obama's Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, were in Kokomo Thursday to announce a new program to help dealers finance their inventory.

Mills and Montgomery met privately with local officials for 90 minutes.

"The most important thing was we as a county and city have the attention of two top officials," Howard County Council President Dick Miller said. "We got to discuss issues that are critical to our community."

Miller described Mills and Montgomery as cordial and down-to-earth.

He said the local officials learned the SBA has a range of programs to help local businesses and were encouraged to search for grant funds.

"They were in Kokomo," Miller said. "They heard us. There are a lot of communities facing similar problems, but they came to Kokomo."

Miller said Mills and Montgomery were given the flavor of the issues facing the local community and were able to talk in a private setting.

Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight agreed the visit by Montgomery and Mills was important.

"They didn't just come in for a press conference," he said. "They sat down and heard us."

Goodnight said local leaders discussed what has been done in the past, as well as the current challenges.

"We talked about what we've done to help ourselves - the new economic development group, streamlining government and diversifying the economy through Inventrek," Goodnight said. "But because of the severity in the auto industry, we could use some assistance."

Mike Kennedy, president of the Kokomo Common Council, said Montgomery offered assistance on how to locate and obtain available stimulus package funding. He added that Kokomo now has a contact within the Obama administration.

"There was not much discussion about the Delphi and Chrysler situation," he said. "We let them know what we have gone through over the past few years and the number of jobs lost through a gradual decline."

Kennedy said Mayor Greg Goodnight did a good job of presenting that information to Mills and Montgomery during the meeting at city hall.

The basic tone of the meeting focused on Kokomo's current inability to stabilize the manufacturing jobs here, and until that happens, it will be tough to work on new investment, according to Kennedy.

"We told them that people have lived here for generations," he said, "and they want to stay here."

Kennedy said local officials encouraged Montgomery on the deal between Chrysler and Fiat.

"We had two major, almost cabinet-type people, coming to Kokomo," Kennedy said. "They were made aware of the problems the community is facing."