For once, some good local economic news
Boy, doesn't it feel great to get some good economic news for a change? It was announced yesterday that Butech Bliss of Salem completed acquisition of the former Sekely Industries.
In an area ravaged throughout by hard economics the move is a much needed transfusion into the heavy industry, or what's left of it, heart of Salem and the area. This time it isn't someone shutting down such as Eljer, Deming and, yes, Sekely which shut down early last year. Or this time it isn't someone rumored to be shutting down or moving such as American Standard. Or someone in bankruptcy such as the former Blackhawk Industries.
This time it's someone that continues to grow and grow. The Buta family and every worker top to bottom is to be praised for helping Butech Bliss attain worldwide recognition. Butech has utilized diversity, research, development and good ol' common sense to emerge as a manufacturing leader.
The company sells worldwide to over 55 countries. Its work force is at 275 and Butech is always looking for qualified workers. Its sole presence in Salem is enabling entire families to live here. Think about it. How many members of this growing work force would be living in Salem, given an otherwise gutted heavy industry sector, if it wasn't for Butech?
The former Sekely facility will immediately be used to manufacture metal production and process equipment designed by Butech Bliss. It's all about growth for the last decade for Butech Bliss - the latest acquisition is the company's third in the Salem area. Butech Bliss was on schedule through the first half of this year to subcontract $8 million of work for which it doesn't have the capacity at its current locale on South Ellsworth Avenue. The addition of the former Sekely facility will enable Butech Bliss to cover over 400,000 square feet of manufacturing floor space. It operates over 75 machining centers and 16 large stamping presses. It is actually recruiting workers to fill new roles.
Think about it. New industrial jobs in Salem. What a change. Beats having all the work move to China, doesn't it?
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Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, whose resume includes time as a Methodist minister, certainly ought to understand the concept of "preaching to the choir." We hope he will bear it in mind as he works with Buckeye State residents to devise a comprehensive strategy for improving public education.
"Preaching to the choir" means advocating a point of view to people who already accept it. There has been a lot of that in public education for many years. Education fads are accepted and practiced for a while, then, when they fail to produce dramatic improvement in schools, they are replaced by new fads - often because real innovation simply hasn't been discussed.
Strickland plans a series of 12 forums on public schools, to be held throughout the state this summer. A follow-up in the fall will involve meetings to discuss education financing.
It may seem to critical observers that Strickland already has made up his mind concerning what needs to be done to improve public schools. After all, he outlined "six principles for education reform" during his State of the State speech this year. One of them indicated that Strickland thinks the state should be spending more money on schools.
But the governor's other principles for education reform outline a promising framework. One commits the state to using standardized testing and similar assessments to measure achievement. Others point to a determination to investigate what practices work best in education - and to learn from the best, most effective educators.
Strickland's philosophy, on the whole, seems like a good one - with the one substantial objection that throwing more money at public education is not, by itself, a true reform.
But as its details of a comprehensive education reform plan are fleshed out, special interests with narrow agendas will attempt to take over and steer the process. Some of their ideas will be good and some will be bad. In order to avoid inflicting one more politically correct education boondoggle on Ohioans, Strickland should do all he can to ensure that his forums are an intellectual free-for-all regarding education. All sorts of ideas need to be discussed - and evaluated.
Which brings up the subject of failing schools. Many in Ohio - including most in big-city school districts - simply aren't doing the job they should. Exactly why is that? Unless Strickland's forums address that issue, they also will fail Ohioans.
Strickland has said he is determined to improve public schools. In that, he is providing Ohioans with an opportunity to make the kinds of changes that are needed to give young Buckeye State residents real opportunities for the future. That opportunity needs to be seized and capitalized upon.
The King of Beers will be the King of Belgium soon.
Anheuser-Busch Cos. has agreed to a $52 billion takeover by InBev, creating the worlds largest brewer.
Budweiser is an American icon, whose name conjures up visions of its label, or the taste of its beer on the tongue. So, it is no surprise that the sale of Anheuser-Busch to a foreign company is being met with a tinge of nostalgia by Americans, a longing for the days when American companies were the ones doing the buying, not the merging and selling.
But the merger of the parent of Bud should come as no surprise. Chrysler went multinational in ownership about a decade ago with its merger with Daimler of Germany, replaced now by the European capital company Cerebrus.
Major domestic steelmakers have gone foreign in ownershp.
A Japanese company owned New York city icon Rockefeller Center for a time.
Many formerly American electronic brands are made offshore, American in label only.
Consolidation of industries is a basic fact of economic life, and the major brewers are no stranger to the concept. Miller and Molson and Coors have been one company since last fall.
InBev is promising to keep Anheuser-Buschs American breweries open, cold comfort to the Latrobe, Pa., employees who already saw the American brewing giant close the historic Rolling Rock brewery.
So, with consolidation virtually everywhere in big business, why is the Busch buyout a little disconcerting?
Because its a pervasive American symbol, from the iconic horse hitch to the red-white-and-blue label. Because its part of American culture, even for those who dont drink beer. Say Whazzuuup! or think of Louie the Lizard or even the old Bud beer song and Ed McMahons deep voice, and youre thinking of Budweiser, of Anheuser-Busch. Because its been around since the 1860s.
InBev is already talking about corporate synergies, which usually is a euphemism for job cuts, attrition, buyouts or layoffs.
A simple fact of economic life? Yes.
But when icons fall, its always a reminder of how the once mightiest economic power the world has ever seen is playing in a changed environment.
