Early this week, cargo shipper DHL's German parent company said it would cut 9,500 jobs in the United States as well as eliminate shipping within the U.S. by land and air, but DHL spokespeople are saying the air cargo hub in Wilmington will continue to operate for now.

DHL, however, is still planning on a deal with UPS that would compromise the Wilmington hub and could result in the loss of around 8,000 jobs. DHL says it expects a decision with regard to the UPS deal by the end of the year.

U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Cleveland) released a statement in reaction to the closing of DHL's domestic-only operations, saying the majority of the U.S. jobs lost would come from Wilmington.

"Thousands of hard-working individuals and families affected by this decision, by no cause of their own, find themselves in a crisis of uncertainty about their future today," Voinovich said. "While the Ohio delegation - working with Gov. Ted Strickland and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher - has been fighting to save these jobs, it was always kept in mind the possibility that these jobs could still be lost, and contingency plans were also discussed."

Voinovich said that his staff, working with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain) and other members of Ohio's Congressional delegation, has been facilitating communication between the state and federal government, which he said will continue.

"We will also continue to be tireless in our efforts to ensure that state and local governments have the full federal resources needed to cope with this economic disaster," Voinovich said. "I'm sure all of us will urge the next administration to make extraordinary efforts to deal with what may be one of the worst economic dislocations that we've faced as a nation. We must pull together to help our fellow citizens, especially our families, in times of hardship."