As he waits for word of resolution on agreements between Fiat and Chrysler and between General Motors and parts manufacturer Delphi, Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight says he's trying to find a silver -- or perhaps chrome -- lining to a 14.6% unemployment rate in his city.
"Our numbers show that we're the second-highest in the state for unemployment, behind the Elkhart region," Goodnight said. "We're facing the same economy that everyone else is nationally, but we're being hit just a little bit harder. We have a very limited amount of revenue with the city, so we continue to try to spend that wisely."
Speaking on WFIU's "Ask the Mayor," Goodnight said a letter to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne extending him an invitation to Kokomo has, so far, gone unanswered. Goodnight said he hopes to show the large number of laid off auto workers means the city is ripe for reinvestment in a new wave of green car manufacturing.