Toledo officials continue effort to keep Wrangler production

Sapara
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Toledo’s top economic development official said Tuesday there’s been no break in the city’s efforts to convince Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to keep building the Jeep Wrangler here, even as the city begins to acclimate to life with a new mayor.

“It’s constant dialog going back and forth,” said Matt Sapara, director of the city’s department of development. “It’s very obvious they’re dedicating time and resources to considering Toledo.”

In early October, Fiat Chrysler’s chief executive officer told the automotive world he might move Jeep Wrangler production somewhere else rather than make a sizable investment in Toledo.

For the last four months, top city officials have been working both publicly and behind the scenes to assemble enough incentives and good will to sway that decision.

Mr. Sapara confirmed that the city has presented FCA with a proposal, but said it’s not necessarily a complete or final offer.

“We put together a proposal for them based on project assumptions that we came up with at the city. They’re reviewing that,” he said. “We’re trying to get product assumptions matched up, to make sure the project we’re looking at is the same project they’re looking at.”

He again said Fiat Chrysler has not asked for anything specific from the city. That, he said, has made the process difficult because the city is forced to work off assumptions.

Still, Mr. Sapara said the project is getting clearer, with incentives likely including infrastructure and some form of tax credits. The city has also assembled more than 100 acres of industrial land.

Fiat Chrysler has repeatedly declined to comment on the city’s efforts.

Some have expressed concern in the past couple of weeks that the unexpected death of former Mayor D. Michael Collins, who seemed to have developed a rapport with FCA boss Sergio Marchionne, could set back the city’s efforts.

Mr. Sapara doesn’t share those concerns. Though he’s mourning the loss of Mr. Collins, he said Paula Hicks-Hudson is up to speed and involved in the project.

Ms. Hicks-Hudson was formally sworn-in as mayor Tuesday. In brief remarks at the ceremony, she pledged to continue with the previous mayor’s efforts.

“Please rest assured that the city is not in turmoil. Rest assured that we’re going to move forward with those plans and projects that were in the pipeline,” she said.

In an interview later, Mayor Hicks-Hudson said she felt confident about the work already done and said she’s ready and able to jump in.

“The team has brought me up to speed on where we are right now. I think we’re still back and forth between us and Chrysler trying to get the information so we can put together that proposal and do the numbers to make sure that everything is what we need in order to move forward with it.”

She said she expects to defer to experts on the specifics of what Fiat Chrysler may need to happen to keep the Wrangler in Toledo but pledged to remain personally involved.

“I think when we’re ready for that meeting to go, I will definitely be there,” she said.

No face-to-face meeting has been set, though FCA officials have said the latest a decision could be made is June 1.

Contact Tyrel Linkhorn at tlinkhorn@theblade.com or 419-724-6134 or on Twitter @BladeAutoWriter.