MEADVILLE, Pa. – Feb. 3, 2009 – Allegheny College will host a presentation, titled “Fixing America’s Economy,” by representatives of the Coalition for a Prosperous America on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. in Ford Chapel.
Charles Blum, president of the organization’s international advisory services group, and Dave Frengle, director of government affairs at Penn United Technologies, will outline the coalition’s strategy for creating economic policies and trade reforms to improve the global competitiveness of domestic producers and support a resurgence of manufacturing in the United States.
“Dave Frengel and Charles Blum will bring an unprecedented, nonpartisan message, a message that is being spearheaded by domestic manufacturers, farmers, labor groups and by community and religious organizations,” said Dennis Frampton, president of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association. “If you want to hear more about restoring these sectors and how we can begin to bring back America’s economic strength, this is a presentation you won’t want to miss.”
Steve Onyeiwu, associate professor of economics at Allegheny College and co-chair of the college’s managerial economics program, welcomes the program as well.
“We are pleased to host this event at Allegheny College because it represents a significant opportunity to partner with the members of our business community to promote a strong local economy,” Onyeiwu said. “In fact, a core objective of the Managerial Economics program at Allegheny College is just that, to collaborate with local businesses to create a more competitive local economy and support local businesses in their various activities.”
Blum, a founding member of the Coalition for a Prosperous America, has been involved in American trade issues for more than 35 years, serving as a diplomat, trade negotiator and consultant based in Washington, D.C. In his 17-year career in government, he has served as a diplomat in the State Department and as a trade negotiator who rose to the rank of assistant U.S. trade representative for industrial trade policy for multilateral negotiations.
Frengle joined Penn United Technologies, a precision manufacturer near Pittsburgh, in 1990. He serves on government and policy committees of the National Association of Manufacturers, National Tooling and Machining Association, Precision Metalforming Association and the Butler County (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce.
The Coalition for a Prosperous America is a nonpartisan network committed to supporting actions that will strengthen America’s economic position in world markets.
The presentation is made possible through a collaboration of the National Tooling and Machining Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Precision Manufacturing Institute, the Meadville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Northwestern Pennsylvania Keystone Innovation Zone, the Center for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED) and the Managerial Economics program at Allegheny College.
While admission is free, funds raised through donations collected at the door will support efforts by the Coalition for Prosperous America to improve U.S. trade policy. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. Parking is available in lots east of Pelletier Library, north of the Vukovich Center for Communication Arts and west of the Odd Fellows Building.
For more information about this event, contact Etienne Ozorak, CEED coordinator, at (814) 332-2713.
