By Corey Williams
Associated Press Writer
DETROIT (AP) -- The advantages of doing business in the Detroit area is part of the sales pitch made by local elected, auto union and other leaders to Fiat suppliers during an economic mission this week in Italy.
A delegation of 21 people, including Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, United Auto Workers president Bob King and Detroit Regional Chamber President and Chief Executive Sandy Baruah arrived in Turin on Sunday.
King's presence affirms the UAW's commitment to being part of the discussions, according to county spokeswoman Stephanie Baron.
The group will meet with Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and the European automaker's Italian suppliers through Wednesday, before moving on to France on Thursday and Friday for the Paris Motor Show.
The trip allows the group to tout Michigan's skilled work force, infrastructure and other assets, Ficano said.
"It's not just Wayne County. It's the region that gets sold and eventually the state of Michigan," he said.
Wayne County faces a $100 million deficit that has led Ficano to authorize temporary layoffs for 700 employees at points throughout the summer.
The group attended a forum Monday morning with about 30 companies that supply parts to Fiat, and had a couple of one-on-one meetings with suppliers who have shown interested in southeast Michigan, Ficano said.
The trip is being paid for with private funds, Baron said.
It is opening communication with Chrysler and Fiat's leadership, she added.
"They are giving an overview of what our region is and what we do; what our assets are that are attractive to suppliers to come here," Baron said. "As Chrysler continues to build the Fiat brand in North America, we're trying to provide tools they need if, and when, they decide to relocate."
Marchionne has been running the U.S. automaker since Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy protection last year. Chrysler plans to start selling the tiny Italian-designed Fiat 500 in the U.S. in December.
"We cannot take our auto industry for granted," Baruah said. "Other states are aggressively going after what we have. We need to protect and expand upon our auto industry, high technology and advanced logistics."
This week's mission is putting things in place that might help the state return to prosperity, said John Rakolta Jr., chair of the Walbridge Aldinger construction firm.
Rakolta also made the trip, which he called a "seed-planting" mission after Michigan's 20-year economic decline that culminated in bankruptcy filings by Chrysler and General Motors.
"Michigan was known as a state based on ... confrontation as opposed to collaboration," he said. "We're going to have to do a lot of seed planting. We have become more cohesive, the UAW, business, Republicans and Democrats."
Published: Wed, Sep 29, 2010
