By Emma Rausch
emma@thepaperofwabash.com
MARION – General Motors (GM) will invest $91 million in the GM Marion Metal Center over the next several years, officials announced Monday, Aug. 22.
Established in 1956, the plant provides steal blanks, stampings and sub-assemblies for a variety of GM products.
The multimillion-dollar investment will go toward updating the plant’s existing equipment, with expansion expected to start later this year and be completed by 2017.
The investment will also preserve more than 1,000 jobs at the site, according to Dan Hermer, GM North American manufacturing manager.
“I think what it’ll do is preserve jobs that are here,” Hermer told The Paper of Wabash County. “It’s an investment in dyes for future programs essentially and it will continue to make the plant competitive and provide for the future.
“The people here (at the Marion Metal Center) earn the work that they get. They continue to build excellent products for General Motors and they serve many of the plants that produce GM vehicles. So we believe that it’s a smart investment for General Motors.”
In addition to the future investment, officials also announced that GM has invested more than $116 million at the plant since 2014, according to Hermer.
“This, just again, reflects the commitment and the confidence of the team here in Marion and showcases a sense of ownership and pride that our employees put into our products each and every day,” Hermer said. “This investment will also make GM a stronger and more efficient company that can deliver vehicles that our customers want.”
In return for its investment, GM will receive $100,000 in training grants from the Indiana Economic Development Committee, according to Hermer.
Rollie Helmling, Indiana Economic Development Corporation domestic business development vice president, congratulated the company and the Marion plant on the investment.
“On behalf of Gov. (Mike) Pence, Lt. Gov. (Eric) Holcomb and Secretary of Commerce (Victor) Smith, but most importantly on behalf of 6 1/2 million Hoosiers, we thank General Motors for what they’re doing for the State of Indiana,” Helmling said. “For the last 14 (or) 15 months, with additions to Fort Wayne assembly and to the Bedford casting plant, GM has brought over $1.4 billion in new investment in the State of Indiana and we are extremely grateful to all of you and to this fine company.
“We’re so proud to have you in our Hoosier state.”
State Senator Jim Buck (R-District 21) spoke at the presentation both as an elected official and a GM retiree.
“This is special for me as a retired tool and dye bolt maker in Kokomo,” Buck said. “I watched many times, wondering whether or not General Motors was going to invest in us. You can have the greatest workers in the world and if the employer doesn’t invest in you, you’ll end up on the street.”
Buck worked with many of the Marion plant’s employees at one time in Kokomo, he continued.
“Many times we have heard the rumors that I heard many of you talking about, ‘The plant’s closing,’” he said. “Well I wanted to tell you this, and it was just mentioned, because of your skill and your dedication to your job, General Motors and its investors … placed confidence in you.
“This $90 million is not a small sum,” he continued. “I can tell you as a state senator, we face competition from all 49 other states and countries around the world wanting your job. It takes an enormous amount of effort, cooperation with the UAW and management and your local city officials to make it all come to fruition.
“I’m extremely happy for all of you because this is over a thousand jobs that have a future and the future is up to you.”