Cayuga County's senior director of economic development summed up Bombardier's announcement Monday in one word.
鈥淚t's huge,鈥 said Jon Christopher, of the company's plans to close its Auburn plant. 鈥淭hat's a huge hit. It's just a nasty thing to go through.鈥
And it's not just a matter of losing the county's 20th largest employer, Christopher said. Manufacturers have an immense trickle-down effect on communities' economies.
鈥淓ssentially, it's just pumping more money into the communities,鈥 said Christopher, who was employed in the manufacturing sector for more than 25 years. 鈥淭he money is amplified through the economy many, many times. It's what you don't want to lose - they're the jobs you need to hold onto.鈥
Bombardier, which will keep its Plattsburgh plant open, builds components for rail and aerospace products. William Spurr, the president of its North American division, told Auburn employees Monday of the company's plans for the future, which include consolidating operations and reducing overall costs.
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Auburn Mayor Tim Lattimore emphasized Bombardier's important role in the community since its 1984 arrival.
鈥淭he goose that lays the golden egg is manufacturing,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey are the creators of money.鈥
Lattimore attributed the closure in part to Bombardier's failure to win subway car contracts with Philadelphia and New York City.
鈥淚f we had secured those bids,鈥 Lattimore said, 鈥渨e would have been adding a lot of jobs.
鈥淭here's nothing in the pipeline鈥 after the current orders are completed, he added.
For Lattimore, Monday's announcement didn't come as a total shock, considering he had been following Bombardier's 2004 plant closures and layoffs in Europe. After that time, he went to Montreal to talk with Spurr.
So when Spurr asked to meet with him Monday, Lattimore had a good idea what was going to occur.
鈥淚 know what you're going to tell me, and I probably don't want to hear it,鈥 Lattimore told Spurr.
Steve Lynch, Auburn's director of planning and economic development, had talked with the plant manager about two months ago after its union sent a letter to local officials.
鈥淲e had talked to the plant manager recently and discussed the slowing down of some contracts, but we were not led to believe that the closing of the plant was on the horizon,鈥 he said.
Bombardier's closure announcement also hit Christopher 鈥渒ind of out of the blue.鈥
Company officials had not approached the county for any help or assistance, he said.
鈥淚 will do everything I can to retain jobs, but I have to be given the tools to do so,鈥 said a frustrated Christopher. 鈥淵ou can only help when you're asked to. It's just unfortunate.鈥
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
