In another blow to the Flint area, GM announced it will close its Weld Tool Center in Grand Blanc.
The plant is located just southeast of the city of Flint.
Workers at the plant make robotic welding tools used to build cars like the Chevy Cruze, the Volt, and the Sonic.
GM spokesman Tom Wickham said the plant's 323 hourly workers and 28 salaried workers will be offered jobs at other GM plants in the region, according to MLive:
The employees were notified this morning the plant would be shut down, Wickham said... There are no immediate plans as to what the facility will be used for in the future, Wickham said.
Shaun Byron of MLive talked with some of the workers at the plant who were shocked by the news:
Brad Keskinen of Davison worked with GM since 1977 and at the Grand Blanc Township plant since 2007. “I’m really disappointed. I thought we had a smart, productive workforce. But it’s evident that the work model was set up for failure,” Keskinen said. “And the announcement comes to a shock to us.”
GM recorded the 'economic impact' of the plant as follows:
- Wages: $46.5 million (2011)
- Payroll Taxes: $9.7 million (2011)
- Property Taxes: $866,000 (2011)
Operations at the plant are expected to wind down in July of this year.
The plant was first built by the U.S. government in 1942. Sherman and Pershing tanks were built there.
