By Andy Dahn

BLOOMINGTON – Local government leaders and Mitsubishi officials met Wednesday to discuss the recent closing of the car company’s plant in Normal.

State Representative Dan Brady said a task force will likely work together to find a new buyer for the plant.

“Those wheels are beginning to be put in motion,” Brady said. “I would say at this point in time that Mark Peterson, the City Manager of Normal, is going to play a key role in the organizational process of such task force.”

Brady explained the focus of the meeting.

“Organization, communication and the next step in this process to make sure that all of the stakeholders and the employees know that there are people working on their behalf,” said Brady. “We are trying to bring a buyer into this plant and to keep this plant very much open and viable.”

He added that saving jobs is a priority in this process.

“We are focused on what to do for the workers that are there,” Brady said. “We want to continue to keep them working. Then we need to decide where to go with bringing in a buyer and what type of message and organization do we need. Those are all things that are beginning to be put in place.”

Representatives from UAW and both state and federal government also attended Wednesday’s meeting.

Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].