Ohio Governor Says Ford's Future In State Is 'Good'

AVON LAKE, OH — Ford's future in Ohio is "very good," according to Gov. Mike DeWine.

Speaking at a City Club event in Cleveland, DeWine said jobs currently at Avon Lake's Ohio Assembly Plant are not in jeopardy. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted has been asked to speak to Ford about the company's prospective investment in northern Ohio.

Ford initially announced plans to invest in Avon Lake in 2019. Company officials said at the time they would bring a $900 million new product line to the plant in 2023, creating as many as 1,500 jobs in the process. Between 2012 and 2019, Avon Lake returned $115,000 in collected income tax to Ford in an attempt to spur future development.

But UAW Vice President Gerald Kariem announced this week that Ford was considering taking its planned investment to Mexico. He described the situation as "rapidly evolving," according to News 5.

Ford officials shared with Patch a letter they sent to employees this week. In the letter, Ford executive said they intend to invest in the plant, but the circumstances surrounding the 2019 pledge have "changed." It's unclear if the company is bringing a new product line to Avon Lake or not.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, and Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat from Toledo, have both publicly urged Ford to keep its word and invest in the Ohio Assembly Plant.