Small auto suppliers ask for taxpayer help
WASHINGTON -- Auto suppliers appealed to Congress Wednesday for support, warning that the U.S. supply base could buckle under the declining fortunes of General Motors and Chrysler.
Several small suppliers, which make tooling, plastic molds and metal castings for cars and trucks, said during a congressional hearing that Chrysler's bankruptcy has left them in limbo, with some awaiting payment for millions of dollars worth of parts.
"Strengthening and supporting small firms will be critical. Failure to do so will shrink the supplier base further, dealing a lethal blow to businesses like GM and Chrysler," said Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee.
Several suppliers said they would be left vulnerable by Chrysler's decision to idle all its plants in the U.S. until it completes its sale to Italian automaker Fiat Group. GM, which faces a June 1 deadline to restructure or file for bankruptcy, has already announced plant closings and extended shutdowns this summer.
"A recovery plan for Chrysler and GM is simply not viable unless it takes into account the entire automotive supply chain," said Chris Norch, president of Denison Industries, a metalcasting company that employs 125 people in Denison, Texas.
The Treasury Department recently launched a $5 billion program to provide government guarantees for financing auto parts. The program was meant to help larger, so-called "Tier 1" auto suppliers keep parts flowing to GM and Chrysler.
But the small business owners, many employing 100 to 200 people, said the program was well-intentioned but has yet to reach smaller companies down the supply chain.
"The government should help open the faucet, because the only thing trickling down right now are pink slips," said Ron Overton, CEO of Overton Industries, a Mooresville, Ind., tool and die company.
