Rokita: Meritor Expansion is Great News for Plainfield and Entire State

Nov 13, 2012 Issues: Economy and Jobs

November 13, 2012

Contact: Josh Britton

Phone: (202) 225-5037

E-mail: Josh.Britton@mail.house.gov

 

Rokita: Meritor Expansion is Great News for Plainfield and Entire State

 

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita today issued the following statement after Meritor, Inc., announced that it would consolidate its North American remanufacturing operations and establish a center of excellence in Plainfield. Rokita has worked closely with Meritor through his Red Tape Rollback program, and earlier this year earned the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association’s (MEMA) “Industry Champion” award. 

“Today’s announcement by Meritor is great news for our Hoosier economy, and further proof of our success in making Indiana a top destination for job creators,” said Rokita. “Over the past year, I’ve worked closely with Meritor to push the federal government to consider using remanufactured parts to achieve greater savings for taxpayers, and I look forward to continuing our productive relationship.”

Meritor operates a large “remanufacturing” facility in Plainfield producing brake pads and other remanufactured parts. Earlier today, Meritor announced plans to invest approximately $1.4 million in its Plainfield facility while creating approximately 82 new jobs by the end of 2013.

Last year, Rokita and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) led a letter to the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office requesting a study into potential cost-savings to taxpayers from using remanufactured parts. The GAO agreed to complete the study – one of nearly two dozen victories in Rokita’s Red Tape Rollback program.

In announcing that Rokita had earned the “Industry Champion” award earlier this year, MEMA President Bob McKenna praised Rokita for his leadership and support of motor vehicle parts suppliers, citing the GAO letter and Rokita’s work on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Last month, Rokita spoke to management and human resources employees at Meritor’s North American Site Management and Human Resources Management Summit about labor and workforce issues.

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