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New Ford Business Brings Minority Supplier and up to 400 Jobs to Detroit's Empowerment Zone

2 December 1997

New Ford Business Brings Minority Supplier and up to 400 Jobs to Detroit's Empowerment Zone

    DETROIT, Dec. 2 -- A Detroit-based minority-owned supplier
has won a contract for a portion of Ford Motor Company's export
packaging operations that supplies vehicle kits for non-U.S. markets and is
expected to create up to 400 new jobs in Detroit's Empowerment Zone.
    Renaissance Global Logistics (RGL) broke ground today for a 370,000 square
foot building in which operations will begin in October, 1998.
    "Working with RGL, we have the potential to make a dramatic, positive
impact on the Empowerment and Renaissance Zones," said Carlos E. Mazzorin,
vice president-Purchasing, Ford Motor Company.  "RGL expects to add up to 400
jobs with this venture.  This is a tangible sign of  RGL's commitment to the
city of Detroit, and it's a tangible sign of Ford's commitment to the
Empowerment Zone and to minority supplier development."
    "Ford Motor Company has a long history of minority supplier development,"
said John James, RGL's president and chief executive officer.  "This is
another case, as Ford goes global, that it is taking along its suppliers."
    RGL will provide services for the consolidation and shipping of knock-down
(KD) vehicles.  KD vehicles are vehicle kits that are shipped to foreign
markets for assembly and sale.  The RGL facility will be located within the
federal Empowerment Zone and the state-designated Renaissance Zone, qualifying
for federal, state and local incentives.
    "The Ford-RGL initiative gives a big boost to Detroit's economic
development momentum," Mayor Dennis Archer said.  "This initiative provides a
solid foundation for continued development within the Empowerment Zone, and
solid jobs for members of the community."
    RGL is a partnership of the O-J Group and TNT Logistics, a supplier of
consolidation and global logistics services.
    Ford Motor Company is committed to minority supplier development and
purchases more goods and services from minority-owned suppliers than any other
corporation.  This year, purchases will exceed $2 billion.
    Other Ford-sponsored minority supplier development programs include the
Technical Assistance Program, providing short-term technical and strategic
assistance to minority suppliers utilizing automotive industry retirees; an
interest abatement program; and a Minority Business Opportunity Forum.  Last
year the forum brought together more than 120 minority and 100 tier-one
companies to explore tier two sourcing opportunities.

SOURCE  Ford Motor Company