Fort Wayne hopes Navistar workers will attract business

The president of an organization that aims to attract businesses to northeast Indiana says the region is hoping to use Navistar International Corp. workers as an asset.

John Sampson, president and chief executive officer of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, told The News-Sentinel that Fort Wayne will market itself toward firms seeking technical, research and design capabilities. The plan is to use the workers as a talent pool to try to attract new business.

Navistar announced last month it would wind down operations in Fort Wayne over the next two to three years. The closure will lead to the loss of 1,200 to 1,400 jobs in the Fort Wayne area.