Local firm to help Obama make pitch in Elkhart-WEB ONLY

When President Barack Obama visits northern Indiana today to promote his economic stimulus plan, an Indianapolis company will be on hand to help his effort.

The owners of Greenway Supply Inc. have been invited by the White House to join Obama in a town hall meeting in Elkhart. Obama will promote the need for green jobs across the country as part of his plan.

Greenway Supply carries earth-friendly building supplies, alternative-energy products and offers green-home design and remodeling advice. The company is located at 620 N. Delaware St.

Terrence Black, co-owner of Greenway Supply, will participate in the meeting, which is scheduled for about noon today. Free tickets for the event all were handed out Friday.

Almost no place in the country has been hit as hard by the recession as the northern Indiana cities that make up the heart of the nation’s RV industry.

Obama will sell his economic plan in Elkhart County, where the unemployment rate hit 15.3 percent in December – a stark contrast to 4.7 percent a year earlier.

Hundreds of workers have lost their jobs at recreational vehicle makers such as Monaco Coach Corp., Keystone RV Co. and Pilgrim International. Obama will be making a return visit to Concord High School, where he campaigned in August.

The industrial city of about 50,000 just east of South Bend also has long been home to musical instrument makers.

“We’ve done some diversification over the years, but not enough to offset what has happened in the RV industry,” Elkhart County Commissioner Terry Rodino said last week.

Keystone RV in Goshen informed 350 workers on Feb. 2 that they will be laid off in April. Jayco Inc. in Middlebury told more than 250 workers that they would be out of work in two weeks.

Elkhart County Commissioner Mike Yoder estimated that the county’s unemployment rate is now likely closer to 20 percent.