Hogsett Expands Assistance to Rexnord Workers
Hogsett met with members of the Carrier Task Force ahead of Wednesday's announcement.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIn the wake of last week’s announcement that Wisconsin-based Rexnord Corp. (NYSE: RXN) tentatively plans to move nearly 300 Indianapolis jobs to Mexico, Mayor Joe Hogsett has realigned the city’s Carrier Task Force to aid affected employees. Hogsett says the city has secured a federal grant, which will be used to hire a full-time economic recovery coordinator.
Hogsett says the person hired for the newly-created position will be responsible for identifying employment opportunities for people impacted by the closure of manufacturing facilities in an effort to mitigate the effects of recent mass layoffs. The economic recovery coordinator will also lead economic development efforts to revitalize former industrial sites and grow the city’s manufacturing sector.
"I have called the president of Rexnord and made clear that the city’s top priority is keeping these jobs here in Indianapolis where they belong. But we cannot stand idly by and wait – not while Indianapolis families’ well-being is at stake," said Hogsett.
Hogsett says he plans to recoup any local tax incentives given to Rexnord if the company goes through with its move to Mexico. The city previously clawed back incentives from Connecticut-based United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) after its decision to move manufacturing operations at its Carrier facility in Indy to Mexico earlier this year.
The Carrier Task Force will offer its serves to Rexnord employees, including its partnership with Pete the Planner who, in July, agreed to assist Carrier workers with free financial planning assistance.