Elkhart, Indiana finally sees 'Obama recovery' – but many say RVs saved city
by Chris McGreal in Elkhart, Indiana from on (#193K7)
Obama visited the ailing Indiana city four times in 16 months at the peak of the economic crisis, and pledged part of a $787bn stimulus package to help - but recovery was slow until US demand for RVs revived the city's old stalwart
The Great Recession came as a wave of blows to Tom Bumpas.
In 2008, he lost his job of 20 years in the recreational vehicle manufacturing capital of the world - Elkhart County, Indiana. Demand plummeted for what are popularly known as RVs, the wheeled apartments in which Americans tour their country, and unemployment in Elkhart surged to nearly 20%.
Related: Elkhart travels Obama's slow road to recovery but struggles to feel the benefit
Continue reading...