Maybe it's not so easy keeping factories in Seattle

A lot of media attention has followed efforts to keep Korry Electronics, which was looking at the Port of Seattle's Interbay site. (I refuse to call it North Bay.)

For me, the big news is the restlessness of GM Nameplate, a family-owned maker of nameplates, switches and other electronic gizmos at 2040 15th Avenue West. That's the one to watch because it's been a particular focus for Mayor Greg Nickels. The mayor, properly, wants to protect blue-collar jobs in Seattle — we can't all write software for Google. Owned by the Root family, GM Nameplate employs 450 people in the city.

Nickels has made keeping GM Nameplate a priority. Here's one speech:

"Let's act. Let's work aggressively with the Manufacturing Industrial Council and the Port to market Seattle as a great place to create jobs. When great homegrown companies like GM Nameplate need space to expand, the port supplies the land and we supply the permits. The issue is not complicated. It just takes commitment and hard work."

Well put, if I do say so.

And when did Hizzoner say that? In 2004. GM Nameplate is still talking about moving. Maybe it's complicated after all.

• O. Casey Corr writes the Mudville blog for Crosscut. He is a Seattle-based writer who previously worked for The Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer and now works at Seattle University as director of strategic communications. He worked as a senior advisor to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, ran for Seattle City Council in 2005, and recently taught business journalism at the University of Washington. You can e-mail him at casey.corr@crosscut.com.