AKRON, Ohio -- Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg made a campaign stop in Akron on Wednesday to discuss his job-creation plan, which includes investing in existing industries and supporting small business owners.

Bloomberg spoke at Bounce Innovation Hub - a former tire factory turned business incubator - which he said is a “role model” for the kind of investment in research, development and revitalization that he hopes to see in his so-called “All-in Economy.”

“America needs more places like Bounce," the billionaire said to a standing-room-only crowd of more than 500, noting that a third of the 60 companies housed in Bounce are minority- or woman-owned.

Bloomberg is one of 14 Democrats seeking the party’s nomination for president. He and 10 others have qualified to appear on Ohio’s March 17 primary ballot.

The former mayor of New York City was introduced by Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, who earlier Wednesday endorsed Bloomberg’s presidential campaign and commended the candidate’s “proven record” on issues including climate change, gun safety, expanding support for neighborhoods and creating living-wage jobs.

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan (at podium) introduces Mike Bloomberg at a presidential campaign event at Bounce Innovation Hub in Akron on Jan. 8, 2020. (Robin Goist, cleveland.com)

Bloomberg’s “All-in Economy” includes federal investments in people and places through increasing job training, raising the minimum wage, supporting public education and connecting workers to employers through what he called “job factories.”

“These factories aren’t traditional factories that build something physical,” Bloomberg said. “They create investments and build on economic strengths in existing communities. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, but since this is Akron, I probably should clarify and say we’re not trying to reinvent the tire.”

Bloomberg pointed to Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s headquarters in Akron, which include the company’s research and development operations, and the University of Akron’s College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, as two examples of how Akron could become an advanced manufacturing “job factory” for the region.

The campaign visit to Akron was part of a tour of “places that have been shortchanged by Donald Trump,” including Chicago, Illinois and Wells, Minnesota. In Chicago, Bloomberg spoke at a college about his plan to create jobs, and in Wells, he visited a family farm to learn about economic issues in rural areas.

“He [Trump] has given a lot of promises,” Bloomberg said. “He keeps making the promises, and then he keeps breaking the promises. He’s promised all these things. Just ask the people over in Lordstown; farmers who have lost billions of dollars because of his tariffs and trade wars.”

In a brief interview with cleveland.com after his speech, Bloomberg said no trade deal is “perfect,” but he hopes that supporting entrepreneurs and making better products will create and keep jobs in the U.S.

“I think that it [NAFTA] was something designed to help America, and by walking away from it, you help China,” Bloomberg said. “It was a bad idea to walk away from it. Now, all of these things - nothing is perfect. You’re going to lose jobs to overseas competition, but on balance, America can be the winner and can attract people."

Regarding the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, Bloomberg said, “It looks to me like the same thing we had before, and I think it’s just a face-saving thing. We still haven’t solved the problem of, if wages are $2 an hour in Mexico and $20 an hour in Detroit, how do you do that? How do you keep our people employed? And there’s no easy answer to that, other than to try to create better products and new products.”

It’s standing room only for @MikeBloomberg’s campaign visit to Akron. He’s meeting with small business owners now, and will take the stage soon. pic.twitter.com/JEZb7RuPRT — Robin Goist (@robingoist) January 9, 2020

Before his speech, Bloomberg took a tour of Vigeo Gardens, an indoor vertical farm at Bounce that employees about 20 people, and talked with the company’s co-founders alongside Horrigan and Bounce CEO Doug Weintraub.

The Akron visit was to be Bloomberg’s second campaign stop in Ohio, having visited Chillicothe last month. He met with Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney and residents who had beenharmed by the opioid epidemic, after which he unveiled his plan to address the crisis.

Bloomberg’s campaign released a video this week that focuses on the opioid crisis and his visit to Chillicothe.

Because he entered the race in late November, Bloomberg won’t compete in the first four voting contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. His campaign strategy includes focusing on states with later primaries, beginning with those on March 3, or “Super Tuesday.”

His campaign has a staff of about 60 people in Ohio, and plans to open 13 field offices in cities including Akron, Athens, Columbus and Lima, according to a campaign spokeswoman.

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