By KENNETH HART / The Independent
Ashland — A group of state, local and union leaders got together Tuesday for a roundtable discussion that centered on one question:
Is there money in the federal economic stimulus package that could be used to help AK Steel’s Ashland Works?
Based on currently available information, the best answer anyone seemed to be able to provide was ... maybe.
The meeting was initiated by United Steelworkers of America Local 1865, which represents hourly employees at the Ashland Works, and took place at the Steelworkers hall in Ashland.
The roughly 90-minute session was chaired by Greenup County Judge-Executive Bobby Carpenter. In attendance were all the members of northeastern Kentucky’s legislative delegation, the mayors of Ashland and Russell, local economic development officials, representatives of the offices of Gov. Steve Beshear and U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis and others.
Steelworkers President Mike Hewlett said the purpose of the meeting was simply to get local leaders to thinking about what could be done to held ensure the future viability of the Ashland Works, and whether federal stimulus dollars could be utilized for that purpose.
