BEDFORD - JUNE 21, 2023 - The General Motors Corporation representatives were a
"No show" at the Bedford City Council meeting Tuesday night for the annual compliance meeting for the tax abatements.
General Motors receives a total of six tax abatements the longest tax abatement was in 2010 for Equipment and tooling to produce mold head castings.
The other tax abatements include abatements in 2014, 2015, 2016, and the latest in 2022.
The latest tax abatement was a 100 percent tax abatement in 2023 to furnish, install, or upgrade machinery, equipment and special tooling to support electric vehicle Component Manufacturing.
The General Motors Corporations will invest a total of $45 Million in the Bedford Plant.
The $45 Million will be invested in the installation of machines, tooling of the machines, and equipment which will help retain 43 jobs at the Bedford facility.
The investment will be used to support the production of electric vehicles for the Silverado Electric vehicle, GMC Sierra Vehicle Electric Vehicle full-size pickup, and the investment will be used to retain 680 employees but there are no plans to add additional jobs.
The local plant laid of more than 70 full-time employees after their SPM productions was eliminated earlier this year. Those employees were offered varied positions throughout the corporation at other locations in the United States.
The GM Plant detailed plans to invest more than $51 Million at the 1 million square plant and a new building was constructed earlier, with $300,000 construction according to the Bedford Planning Department October permits issued.
The company will use the investments to install new equipment to support the drive unit castings production for the Silverado.
GM has made several investments over the last few years in the Bedford Plant totaling over $465 Million dollars since 2011.
" Our Bedford operation is one of the leading aluminum die casting facilities in the world and this additional investment is really an investment really an investment in the Bedford team and their commitment to excellence," said Phil Kienle, GM vice-president of North America manufacturing and labor relations.
"This investment helps build job security for our Bedford team for years to come as we continue to prepare our entire manufacturing footprint for an all-electric-future,"
Bedford Redevelopment Commission and Bedford City Council approved 100 percent 10 year tax abatement for the first year. With 15 percent of the tax abatement going the Beddford's RDC.
In September, General Motors says it has invested more than $500 Million to expand and upgrade operations in its Marion, Indiana Plant to support electric vehicle production.
General Motors plans to sell only electric vehicles by 2035.
However, the local plant did see some layoffs in 2022.
Here is a previous news story, the Lawrence County Zephyr posted:
The GM Corporation told employees in February 2022, that the layoffs are possible.
This comes after more than 80 full-time employees was permanently laid off in August. 2022.
Out of the more than 80 employees, 35 of those were seniority employees.
Prior to the first round of layoffs in August 2022, employees were told it would not affect them because of the tax abatements the City of Bedford given to the General Motor Corporation who invested another $45 Million in the Bedford facility.
The City of Bedford gave General Motors a 100 percent tax abatement in July 2022, for the upgrades to usher in the Electric Vehicles. The investment at the GM plant is being used to support the production of the Silverado vehicle, GMC Sierra Vehicle Electric Vehicle full size pick-up and the investment was to be used to retain 680 employees, but no plans to add additional jobs.
The GM Plant detailed plans to invest more than $51 million at the 1 million square plant and a new building was constructed earlier, with $300,000 construction according to the Bedford Planning Commission.
The company will use the investments to install new equipment to support the drive castings production of the Silverado.
GM has made several investments over the last few years in the Bedford Plant totaling over $465 million dollars since 2011.
" Our Bedford Operation is one of the leading aluminum die casting facilities in the world and this additional investment really an investment in the Bedford team and their commitment to excellence," said Phil Kienle GM vice-president of North America manufacturing and labor relations.
Bedford Redevelopment Commission and Bedford City Council members approved the 100 percent 10-year tax abatement for the first year. With 15 percent of the tax abatement going to the Bedford Redevelopment Commission.
" I think the people of Bedford should know the "tax breaks" we continue to give General Motors have so far resulted in a hundred jobs lost in less than a year. In less than a year and besides the little investment we got for tooling last year. There is nothing new coming." said one employee who wished to remain anonymous for this news story.
The employee questioned why the City of Bedford supports a company who continues to lay off employees and there are no repercussions for General Motors.
General Motors plans to sell only electric vehicles by 2035.
Lee Cuba, of NANLEE appeared before the Bedford City Council who reports that the company is expanding with the construction of 6,000 square feet building. GM tells the company more work is coming their way. The Bedford City Council approved the continuing the company's abatement.
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