GM Investment Shows ‘We’re Here to Stay’
The 60-year-old plant employs a total of more than 1
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGeneral Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) has officially unveiled plans to invest $91 million into its Marion Metal Center to buy new equipment and make upgrades. Communications Manager Stephanie Stephanie Jentgen says, after years of speculation about the future of the plant, the move shows the automaker "thinks we’re a viable concern." The investment will retain around 120 jobs.
The Marion plant supplies GM assembly plants throughout North America with metal products for cars, vans, trucks and SUVs. The 60-year-old plant employs a total of more than 1,600 full-time and part-time workers. The company says the project will enhance the facility’s process capability and flexibility. The installations are expected to be complete next year.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered GM up to $100,000 in training grants based on the investment plans. Grant County has approved additional incentives.
Today’s announcement marks the latest in a string of major investments by GM in Indiana in recent years, suggesting increasing faith in the state’s manufacturing industry. The automaker announced plans in December to invest more than $127 million in its Bedford Casting Operations plant and add around 127 jobs. That plant makes parts used in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles and employs more than 700 workers. In May, the company unveiled plans to invest more than $1 billion to double the size of its Fort Wayne Assembly plant, which employs more than 4,000 workers.
Ahead of today’s announcement, Jentgen spoke with Inside INdiana Business about what the investment means to the Marion plant.