WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today regarding a plan by the city of Columbus, Georgia to request economic recovery funds to help support the relocation of NCR from Dayton, Ohio. Brown urged Locke to prevent economic recovery funds from being used to relocate jobs from one state to another.

“The purpose of the ARRA is to create or retain jobs, not to relocate them from state to state,” Brown wrote in his letter today to Secretary Locke. “Stimulus funds should not be used in a manner that benefits one local economy at the expense of another.”

The City of Columbus, Georgia requested funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) administered by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). A full copy of Brown’s letter can be found below or here.

                                               
 June 3, 2009

The Honorable Gary Locke
Secretary
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20230


Dear Secretary Locke:

I write to express my deep concern that funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) might be used to relocate jobs from Ohio to Georgia.

NCR Corporation, a manufacturer of ATMs headquartered in Dayton, Ohio for the past 125 years, has announced plans to consolidate its operations and build a new global headquarters and manufacturing site in Columbus, Georgia.  NCR’s departure from Dayton will result in the loss of 1,300 Ohio jobs.

NCR has stated that the planned relocation of its headquarters has been made possible Recovery Act funding.  The City of Columbus, Georgia, apparently has requested ARRA funds, provided by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), to purchase the building for the new plant, which will be leased back by NCR.

The purpose of the ARRA is to create or retain jobs, not to relocate them from state to state.  Stimulus funds should not be used in a manner that benefits one local economy at the expense of another, whether the request comes from Columbus, Georgia or Columbus, Ohio.

I urge you to consider this matter carefully and take measures to prevent ARRA funds from being used for this purpose.


                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                Sherrod Brown
                                                                                United States Senator

###