By Brett Wallace, Chronicle-Tribune
bwallace@chronicle-tribune.com
General Motors on Monday officially unveiled its plans for expansion of the Marion Metal Center.
The plant is scheduled to receive 366 new positions, with workers arriving primarily in three phases throughout 2009 and 2010.
Investment in equipment both being brought to Marion from other stamping plants and in existing equipment being refurbished is expected to reach $364 million.
"It's outstanding for General Motors, it's outstanding for the community and it's outstanding for employees who work at the plant," plant manager Paul Buetow said during the announcement.
The first phase of workers included about 150 who have already arrived and begun working in Marion, primarily from the now-shuttered GM stamping plant in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Buetow said the second phase will include about 116 workers and is scheduled to arrive in November. Those workers primarily will come from the soon-to-close stamping facility in Mansfield, Ohio.
As more equipment comes online in Marion, Buetow said about 100 more workers will join the local operation sometime in 2010, most likely from other GM facilities.
"We'll need additional employees to run those presses," Buetow said.
Those numbers include both salaried GM employees and United Autoworkers members, he said.
The equipment investments fall into four categories highlighted Monday by Buetow. They include 158 dies sets that will transfer to Marion, valued at $166 million; four new press lines, valued at $132 million; upgrades on seven existing press lines at a cost of $47 million; and six weld cells worth $19 million being transferred into the factory.
Buetow said 90 percent of the new dies have already arrived, which is what has brought the 150 new workers to Marion this year.
When Buetow went before the Marion City Council in July to request an increase in the amount of economic development bonds lent to the company by the city, he noted that up to four new presses could come to Marion from other GM plants, though only one was confirmed at the time.
"I'm pleased to announce today that we will be receiving all of those presses," he said.
GM management, the United Autoworkers and local elected officials all went out of their way to praise one another Monday for the work each did during the last year to ensure these jobs and investments came to Marion.
Paul Hollers, shop chairman for UAW Local 977, thanked the company, Marion Mayor Wayne Seybold and others for their hard work.
"These extraordinary efforts ... mark only the beginning," he said. "This celebration could've easily taken place in a remote location far from U.S. soil."
Dave Walker, Local 977 President, echoed Hollers' comments.
"Thanks to everyone who participated to help make this happen," he said.
Buetow said much of the credit belongs to Seybold, the city council and the Grant County Economic Growth Council.
"I believe without the mayor's help ... I don't think we would have been as successful as we have been here," he said.
Seybold talked about the longtime partnership between Marion and GM and said he's glad to see it's been extended.
"We're so humbled to even be here today," Seybold said. "Because of the help of a lot of people, these great things were able to happen."
Congressman Dan Burton also spoke briefly, thanking GM for the investment, the workers for their commitment and Seybold and others for working to acquire the new investment.
"The person I admire more than anyone else as far as government was concerned is your mayor," Burton said. "We have one of the best, if not the best, mayors in the state of Indiana."
The largest of the four presses coming to the stamping plant - called a double-A press - will be the second of its kind at GM Marion.
Buetow said that equipment should be installed and operational by summer 2010.
Two other smaller, B-sized presses are scheduled to come online as well, the first in November 2010 and the final one sometime in 2011, he said.
In total, the 366 positions coming to Marion from the other locations should increase employment at the plant to about 1,300 by 2011.
"Marion has always been important to General Motors," Buetow said. "As (GM) goes through consolidation and has fewer and fewer plants, it becomes more important that we provide excellent results."