Glover in DC on auto trip as Obama announces GM plan

President Obama today announced his $800 million proposal to clean up old General Motors sites in a effort to make them viable for future growth. The Shreveport plant (technically in Caddo) is on that list.

Meanwhile, Mayor Cedric Glover (and Assistant Director of Economic Development Matt Bailey) is in DC on another trip for leaders of automaker cities. Known as “Auto Communities and the Next Economy: Partnerships in Innovation,” the national summit is co-sponsored by the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program, and the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities.

The Obama administration invited Glover, according to a city news release. Meeting attendees wil learn about what the federal government is doing and how to partner with philanthropy groups. Glover was scheduled to participate in a panel discussion called “Innovations and Opportunities for Further Partnership – Land Use/Physical Transformation."

“I am proud once again to have the opportunity to represent Shreveport and the challenges we and other communities face at this very important and timely gathering,” Glover said in the release.  “We’re going to Washington to work to solidify the connections and collaboration with the federal government and other localities that will build a framework for the future.  Just as, here locally, we have worked together with the parish, region, and Gov. Jindal’s administration, we also have to work to build those same partnerships with the federal government.  We’re especially well-positioned here locally to use the blessing of the Haynesville Shale to become a leader in natural gas vehicle technology, and I’m going to deliver that message as well."

Here are some of Glover's tweets from today's events:

• White House & Brookings Institution Auto Communities & the Next Economy Summit is officially underway. Opened by Bruce Katz & Luis Ubinas.
• Katz is VP & Director of Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings. Ubinas is President of the Ford Foundation. Auto Czar Ed Montgomery next.
• Ubinas says today's abandoned auto communities are like the South Bronx in the 1970's. Greatly challenged, but with tremendous potential.
• Dr. Ed Montgomery, "Today we announce the largest environmental trust in our country's history! Combined trust over $850 billion dollars!"
• Dr. Lawrence Summers, Director of the Nat'l Economic Council begins comments w/ a quote from de Tocqueville on the US sense of community.
• It is that unique American sense of community that allows us to meet together to solve common problems & maximize common opportunity.
• Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis is now the podium. Venue is now at standing room only. Hundreds of people are in attendance