A congressional delegation from Kenosha pressed Chrysler executives Thursday to rethink their decision to close the local engine plant during 2010.

Armed with manufacturing alternatives, and dangling millions in potential state and local assistance, they made the case to maintain the local plant, perhaps as part of Chrysler’s new reordered company under Fiat management.

Democratic Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold and Republican Rep. Paul Ryan met with Jim Press, Chrysler’s vice chairman and president, and John Bozzella, Chrysler’s vice president of external affairs. Rep. Gwen Moore, a Milwaukee Democrat, also participated in the meeting.

Despite their efforts, it may not have been enough.

“We made our case on behalf of the Kenosha workers, but Chrysler gave us no reason to believe that they’re putting any effort into keeping the Kenosha plant open,” the group said in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed and angered that Chrysler has chosen, in effect, to shift jobs to Mexico despite the years of loyal, productive service — and more recently the tax dollars — the workers of Kenosha have given the company to ensure a new Chrysler continues to produce cars.

“We plan to call on the administration to intervene.”

Moore said the delegation’s next step will be contacting President Barack Obama “to talk about all of the paths that we regard as viable for Kenosha.”

Chrysler spokesman Max Gates declined comment on the private discussions.

Chrysler, upon filing for bankruptcy in May, disclosed plans to close the Kenosha plant and seven others by the end of 2010.

All the while, the company indicated plans to continue on with a plant development in Saltillo, Mexico, where workers would produce an engine line that had been previously slated to come to Kenosha.

Kenosha’s prospects brightened somewhat when Fiat, the purchaser of Chrysler’s assets, inserted language into court documents enabling it to make an offer to purchase the Kenosha plant. That offer expires at the end of next month.

Other issues discussed in the meeting included:

Meanwhile, a provision inserted into the still-under-debate Wisconsin state budget would create a development opportunity zone that could provide up to $5 million in tax credits to businesses that locate within the established area. Local officials have said this could be used to assist the Chrysler plant.