Ed Montgomery, the newly minted director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers for the White House, will meet with Gov. Jennifer Granholm and her economic advisers this afternoon. After that meeting, Montgomery and Granholm will hold a press conference to discuss details of the meeting. Following that, Montgomery is off to Detroit for a private meeting with Detroit’s interim mayor, Kenneth Cockrel Jr.
 
A press release from the governor’s office indicates the two will discuss the following plans:

He will identify and pursue all possible opportunities, including for example, initiatives to:

• maximize the effectiveness of Recovery Act funds for new and more diverse economic development for new jobs, business and industry through various means, including local infrastructure, housing, education and new industry;

• deploy rapid response unit to communities facing plant closings to both meet immediate needs and to develop strategies for new job growth;

• extend trade-adjustment-assistance (TAA) to the auto industry, including retraining, healthcare extensions, income support, and wage insurance;

• attract major defense, research, green industry, and other projects to the region;

• channel Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and other emergency grant funds to the region;

• work with stakeholders to develop new legislative efforts to direct emergency support to affected communities and regions and bring new jobs and economic opportunities to these areas.

Michigan Messenger will be on hand for the Granholm/Montgomery press conference.