Tribune Chronicle

LORDSTOWN — The Lordstown Transition Center is now open at the United Auto Workers Local 1112 Hall at 11471 Reuther Drive to serve General Motors workers, contractors and spouses impacted by the GM Lordstown reduction of workforce earlier this year and for the upcoming 2019 layoffs.

The Lordstown Transition Center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“We do have a transition center open now that’s been pretty busy, trying to help people get through and get the right information,” said Dave Green, president of UAW Local 1112.

The center offers a computer lab and print materials related to job search, resume preparation and training. Ohio MeansJobs, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and UAW Local 1112 staff are all housed within the center.

GM workers, contractors and spouses needing more information should call the center at 330-501-0000 or the UAW Hall at 330-538-2213. All others needing information should contact Crystal Keaton at the Workforce Investment Board Area 1 office at 740-259-6826.

“It’s there for dislocated workers in the auto industry, not just for UAW members,” Green said. “Union, non-union, it doesn’t matter.”

Anyone who has been impacted can come out and utilize the services offered, Green said.

In a related matter, the Ohio Mayors Alliance unanimously voted to pass a resolution supporting the Lordstown Assembly plant and the communities around it.

Warren Mayor Doug Franklin, who attended the organization’s meeting in Dublin on Thursday, said the organization’s board understands the importance of Lordstown GM’s Drive It Home campaign.

“Mayors understand GM Lordstown’s supply chain comes from companies located from across the state, so this decision may affect people in their communities,” Franklin said.

The resolution reads, in part: “Ohio Mayors Alliance urges General Motors to find a solution that does not adversely impact the Mahoning Valley; and we offer our full and unconditional support, not only to workers within the Lordstown complex, but to the entire region and all Ohioans affected by the announcement.”

The resolution will be sent to Governor-elect Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor-Elect Jon Husted and GM Executive Director Mary Barra.

DeWine and Husted were at the meeting and gave presentations, Franklin said.

The association, as a group, did not speak to the new state leaders about what is happening at GM Lordstown, but Franklin said he spoke to them directly after their programs were completed.

“The governor understands what is happening ,” Franklin said. “He did not give a strategy on what he may do.”

There were 21 mayors in attendance at the association’s quarterly meeting, including Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, and Franklin, representing the Mahoning Valley.

The Ohio Mayors Alliance was formed in 2016 to address common issues facing local mayors, including the local and state economy, the opioid crisis and Ohio economic development.