Tuesday, October 05, 2010 2:55 PM(Source: The Lima News) By Tyrel Linkhorn, The Lima News, Ohio
Oct. 05--MINSTER -- At the world's largest yogurt plant here, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said the importance of manufacturing in this country is being realized anew.
"If we don't make things in the United States we decline as a country, and for 30 years we've forgotten that lesson," Brown said after a Monday tour of Dannon Co. "I think we're seeing, with President [Barack] Obama and Gov. [Ted] Strickland, we're seeing more attention paid to manufacturing."
The Ohio Democrat visited the plant as part of his "Made in Ohio Tour." After walking the production floor, Brown met briefly with about 50 Dannon employees, assuring them he would work to help companies looking to expand in Ohio.
Dannon itself is considering expansion. Minster's plant could potentially add 100 new jobs . The plant currently employs 400.
"We have already invested massively here because we've increased production by more than 50 percent in the last five years," Plant Director Didier Menu said.
Menu said the company expects Americans to buy twice as much yogurt in the next five years, making expansion likely. Where depends on what state has the best business and regulatory climate.
"This is where politicians can be helpful," Menu said. "They know us, they came here, they hear about us challenging the regulation ... they see if we are challenging the regulation it's not to cut corners but it's to improve the process. Ohio has to be as competitive as any other state."
Brown touched on working to reduce outsourcing while talking with Dannon employees. On free trade, which has become a heavily campaigned upon issue in this election cycle, Brown said opposition is building among the public and politicians.
"I think the public's always been skeptical of this free trade that clearly cost us jobs," he said. "I think the policymakers in Washington are finally starting to wake up about it."
A recent poll by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News showed a majority of Americans have negative views of free trade and an even stronger majority believes the agreements have cost American jobs. On Congress' early exit ahead of the November elections, Brown said there were a few things he'd like to have seen accomplished before they left, but overall he was OK with the decision.
"I think it's fine we're back home now campaigning. ... We tried a bill to stop outsourcing of jobs and the Republicans filibustered it. There's been too much of that. We finally got our small-business bill passed that's going to create jobs."