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Ohio leaders scramble over hints it may lose Jeep

By WTOP Staff

JOHN SEEWER
Associated Press

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s governor and the mayor of the state’s fourth-largest city talked with the head of Chrysler over the weekend about the future of the Toledo-built Jeep Wrangler, just days after the automaker indicated production could be moved when a new model comes out.

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said last week that reconfiguring and keeping the Wrangler assembly line in Toledo may be too costly if the new design includes an aluminum body.

The suggestion that the Jeep could be made somewhere else within three years is causing anxiety in the city where the vehicles first began rolling off the assembly line during World War II.

The Chrysler assembly plant that produces the Wrangler along with the Cherokee has one of the largest workforces in northwest Ohio, employing more than 4,000.

Marchionne told Automotive News last week at the Paris Car Show that a different vehicle could be built in Toledo if Wrangler production is moved. The automaker still has a commitment to the city and the state, he said.

“I don’t have a doubt that there will be zero impact on head count and employment levels and anything else,” Marchionne said, who made a pledge last January that the Wrangler would not be built outside of Toledo as long as he was the CEO.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins spoke with Marchionne during a conference call Sunday.

A statement from the mayor’s office said no commitments were made, but both sides have agreed to keep talking. Collins and Kasich are hoping to arrange a sit-down meeting soon with Marchionne.

“The purpose of this meeting will be for the city and its partners to better understand the specific challenges facing Chrysler and develop resolutions to overcome those obstacles,” said Stacy Weber, the mayor’s spokeswoman.

Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said the governor agrees with the mayor on the importance of keeping Jeep in Toledo.

“One of the biggest reasons for their success to date is because of the world class workforce in Toledo, and that would be an asset that would be very difficult to give up,” Nichols said.

Chrysler is considering building the Wrangler with a lightweight aluminum body to meet the federal government’s goal of nearly doubling average fuel economy to 45 mpg by 2025.

The assembly plant in Toledo is one of the busiest in North America.

Union leaders have said they felt betrayed by talk that Wrangler production could be moved because of how much the workers and city have given to the plant.

Former owner DaimlerChrysler AG received nearly $300 million in tax breaks to construct the new $1.2 billion plant in 2001. Four years later, union leaders agreed to allow auto parts suppliers to take over work once done by union workers.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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