INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Sen. Dan Coats planned to meet with President-elect Donald Trump in New York Wednesday, a day after Trump announced a deal that would keep hundreds of jobs from Carrier Corporation in Indianapolis.
According to Coats’ communications director, Matt Lahr, Coats is in New York and “looks forward to speaking with the President-elect about several important issues and thanking him for his work to keep nearly 1,000 jobs in Indiana.”
Carrier Corporation became a lightning rod during the election, with the company’s plans to move jobs to Mexico in a cost-cutting move drawing criticism from both Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Carrier, which is owned by defense contractor United Technologies, announced in February that it would close two Indiana plants — a Carrier plant in Indianapolis that employs 1,400 workers and a United Technologies Electronic Controls plant in nearby Huntington, Ind., that employs 700.
The company manufactures heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The jobs were expected to be shipped to Mexico starting next year, saving the company millions in labor costs.
Trump pledged to keep jobs in the U.S. during his campaign, and the Carrier deal is the first test for his campaign promise.
He’ll travel to Indianapolis Thursday with Vice President-elect Gov. Mike Pence to provide more details about the deal, which will include new inducements from the state, according to CNBC’s David Faber.
I will be going to Indiana on Thursday to make a major announcement concerning Carrier A.C. staying in Indianapolis. Great deal for workers!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2016
We are pleased to have reached a deal with President-elect Trump & VP-elect Pence to keep close to 1,000 jobs in Indy. More details soon.
— Carrier HVACR (@CarrierHVACR) November 30, 2016
I applaud @realDonaldTrump and @GovPenceIN for working with Carrier to save nearly 1,000 Hoosier jobs
— Senator Dan Coats (@SenDanCoats) November 30, 2016
Thanks @realDonaldTrump, @GovPenceIN & #carrier for deal saving Hoosier jobs! Look forward to welcoming you all Back Home in IN again soon!
— Eric Holcomb (@GovHolcomb) November 30, 2016
Looking forward to welcoming @realDonaldTrump to Indiana tomorrow afternoon for an exciting announcement at @Carrier!
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) November 30, 2016
