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New auto manufacturer moving into old auto assembly plant site in Flint

steve carmody
/
Michigan Radio
Since GM's bankruptcy, the RACER trust has been responsible for disposing of old auto plant sites, like Buick City.

An auto parts maker will soon be setting up shop on the site of a former iconic auto assembly plant in Michigan.

Buick City in Flint closed nearly 20 years ago.  Since then, the land hassat largely vacant.

But the Michigan Strategic Fund this week approved more than $4 million to assist Lear Corporation, which plans to build a nearly $30 million auto seat assembly plant on the old Buick City site.

“They are a major supplier and vendor for the General Motors Truck Assembly plant [in Flint],” says Tim Herman, CEO of the Flint/Genesee County Chamber of Commerce. “We’re really, really happy to have Lear come into our community at Buick City.”

In addition to the state grant, the city of Flint has offered property tax abatement in support of the project.

The Lear project is expected to create 435 jobs.

Meanwhile, the chamber’s Tim Herman says there’s more to do at Buick City.

“We’re working on Buick City and bringing companies to that property every single day,” says Herman. 

Lear picked Flint over a competing site in Mexico.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
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