BAY CITY -- General Motors made a major announcement at the Bay City Powertrain Plant Thursday morning. The company is receiving money to develop a new engine, which means more jobs are coming to the area.
A good day indeed for GM Machine worker Don Strachota; and the over 200 workers at the plant; as General Motors announced a plan to pour $10.5 million dollars into the Bay City Powertrain Plant, for equipment that produces components for the next generation fuel-efficient Ecotec engines.
The Cherolet Cruze, a four door sedan and the Chevrolet Volt are both fuel-efficient vehicles that use the 1,4-liter Ecotec engines.
"We are really moving forward on all of the high tech kind of programs that General Motors is putting together," said Michael D. Seward, President of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
And across the country, two other GM plants will also take part in manufacturing the high tech Ecotec engines.
Bay City Mayor Charles Brunner has fought in Washington D.C. for years to keep the production at the factory going; he says it is a victory for Bay City.
“A year ago when the fate of the auto industry was looking pretty bleak, what a difference a day makes," said Brunner.
"What it shows is the work that the business community, the labor organizations, and our local governmental leaders have put together, to support General Motors Powertrain, now it’s paying dividends," Seward said.
The production is expected to bring 15 new jobs to the area and hopefully more in the future.
"I think this is a great sign of the upside that our company has, that our company is experiencing, it is great momentum, so things are looking up and going well," said Manufacturing Manager for General Motors, Gerald Johnson.
Powertrain officials said it's a new GM, something Dan Strachota can be proud of.
"We know the plant was going to be closing, but the way it looks now, we have a bright future ahead of us," said Strachota.
Part of the $10.5 million dollars will also go towards facility renovations and special tooling to support this eco friendly engine program. GM Plant Communications Manager Heidi Magyar, says there is not word yet on when the production is expected to start.
