WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today praised the announcement that is expected create or retain more than 300 jobs through new investment at the Whirlpool facility in Ottawa, Ohio. Whirlpool announced today that it would increase production of the chest freezer, potentially adding 134 jobs by the end of 2011.
"This move will create good-paying manufacturing jobs, the kind of jobs that are critical to our economic recovery,” Brown said. “Manufacturing helped build our nation's middle class and we must continue to position Ohio as a leader in the production of goods that we can export around the world.”
In January 2010, Whirlpool announced it would repurpose the W.C. Wood manufacturing site in Ottawa, bringing 190 full time manufacturing jobs to the county. Today’s news of increased production of the chest freezer is expected to add 134 jobs. The decision comes after cooperation with state and federal government to spur job creation, infrastructure investments, and employee training.
Whirlpool Corporation now employs about 10,000 workers in the State of Ohio, making Ohio the largest manufacturing center for appliances in the United States. Manufacturing jobs support as many as four other jobs, and investments in the manufacturing sector have a multiplier effect for economic growth.
Recently described as "Congress' leading proponent of American manufacturing," Brown is leading the fight to help the American manufacturing industry compete in the 21st century. Brown is the author of the Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act, which would establish a $30 billion Manufacturing Revolving Loan Fund to help former auto suppliers and small and mid-sized manufacturers retool for production in the clean energy economy.
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