Commerce secretary urges investment in hurricane areas

Monday, Sept. 12, 2005 | 10:45 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez urged business leaders today to invest in the Gulf Coast, saying the private sector must play a major role in rebuilding the hurricane-devastated area.

In a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Gutierrez said businesses should look at the region as an economic opportunity.

"I hope businesses will consider investing and locating enterprises in the rebuilding zone," he said. "Only then will the region be truly reborn."

Gutierrez was asked by reporters whether the government was considering making any moves to lower the cost of lumber, cement and other building materials.

Cement shipments from Mexico and softwood lumber imports from Canada both face heavy tariffs that are being levied because the Commerce Department has determined that those products are being sold in this country at unfairly low prices, a practice known as dumping.

Asked what the government was doing to lower prices, Gutierrez said, "There's no question that construction is going to be a key need in New Orleans. ... We just have to be sure that they have the supplies, but I am not prepared to talk about any specifics."

Gutierrez praised the charitable contributions being made by corporations. He said Commerce has set up a nationwide toll free number that businesses can call -- 1-888-4USADOC -- and get information to make sure that corporate donations get to the places where they can be best utilized.

Separately, the Labor Department announced Monday that it was creating a Web site to help people who have lost jobs due to Katrina find new work.

The Web site -- www.jobsearch.org/katrinajobs -- is designed to help people looking for new full-time employment either in their home state or in the state where they have relocated and to also provide information on part-time employment in the hurricane cleanup and rebuilding efforts.