President Obama highlights impact of stimulus at Saft America plant on Westside

President Barack Obama visited Jacksonville Friday to highlight the impact of the stimulus he signed into law seven years ago.

The president toured Saft America’s plant on the Westside.

He made the point that a decade ago, the space was just a swamp.

The plant was funded through federal stimulus dollars. It opened in 2011.

It employs nearly 300 people, creating lithium ion batteries that store renewable wind and solar energy.

It’s the president’s first visit to Jacksonville since he spoke at Jaxport three years ago.

“By almost every economic measure, we are significantly better off and Florida is significantly better off. Jacksonville is a whole lot better off,” said Pres. Obama. “And if we don’t talk about why it is that things got better, then we may end up pursuing policies that’ll make things worse ... . The future is built by the workers here at Saft.”

“I’ve been here since the doors opened,” said Saft team leader Chuck Caudill.

On Friday, Caudill got to show off a different talent. He sang the national anthem before Pres. Obama’s speech.

“It’s an absolute honor, especially for a guy like me, a local guy, to be able to look back on it,” said Caudill.

Pres. Obama started out his speech talking about the two mass shootings within the past week in Kansas and Michigan.

“We cannot become numb to this,” said Pres. Obama.

The White House press secretary said the president called the mayor of Hesston, Kansas on Air Force One during his flight to Jacksonville.

“It’s happening in far too many towns and affecting far too many innocent Americans. And there are some things we can do about it. And right now this Congress may not have any appetite to do something about it, but we need one that does. As long as I hold this office, I’m going to keep bringing this up,” said Pres. Obama.

Twelve-year-old Shariah Brown said it was the most memorable part of the president’s speech.

“I go to school and most of the gun things have been happening at other schools. And I just want it to stop so that it doesn’t end up coming to where I live and hurting me, or even my friends, and maybe even my family that goes to other schools,” said Shariah.

And as the president left Saft to head back to Air Force One, his promise to keep pushing for change is something Shariah won’t forget.

Cox Media Group