November 9, 2011
Vol 13
July 13, 2011
No 44
Vol 13 No 28
GM invests $380 million in Wentzville Assembly Plant
Great News for Wentzville!
IN this Issue
Thursday, November 3, was the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet. On that day, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon joined representatives of General Motors, leaders from the United Auto Workers, and workers from GM’s Wentzville Assembly Plant to announce the company’s historic $380 million investment in the facility and plans to create 1,660 new local jobs. GM plans to produce a completely redesigned, mid-size Colorado pickup truck at Wentzville, creating at least 1,260 jobs at the facility. Wentzville Assembly, which currently has about 1,400 employees, produces the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. In early October, the plant announced a second shift, adding about 400 employees, to meet customer demand for commercial vans. The second shift will start in January 2012. “Today’s announcement demonstrates that the members of UAW Local 2250 have all the qualities of a worldclass work force,” said Joe Ashton, UAW vice president representing the GM Department. “We recognize and appreciate their focus on quality, flexibility and hard work. These new products will provide an opportunity for the plant to be more fully utilized and provide good-paying, middle-class jobs for Wentzville. ” The investments will support tooling and equipment upgrades. Product details, timing and pricing will be announced later. The current-generation Colorado will be produced in Shreveport, La., through the 2012 model year. Tony Mathews, president and CEO of the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce, said he has already received phone calls requesting informational packets for people who will be moving into the area.
Photo by Dan Donovan, © GM Company
“This announcement has already generated a lot of business from our members,” Mathews said. “Real estate agents, hotels and restaurants will feel an immediate impact. Long-term the outlook is good, because the GM announcement is creating a lot of positive buzz. I’m already getting calls from national chains looking to build in Wentzville.” Mathews added the influx of jobs will also create opportunities for locally owned businesses. Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi said while the extra jobs are great for Wentzville and the surrounding area, the even better news is the leverage those jobs create. “With the unemployed folks we have here, those (GM) jobs will be gobbled up quick. People need to focus on what’s not clearly visible nor understood. They need to be really open to what types of businesses are going to support that plant. You have two years to upgrade your skills. Look around and see what appeals to you. That is what so tremendously exciting.” “This is our time,” Gov. Nixon said.
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 Lincoln County Life . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
“This is our moment. The future of the American auto industry starts right here in Missouri. For generations, Missouri workers have built the trucks, vans and cars that keep America moving forward. GM’s investment in next-generation
production here in Missouri will ensure that our automotive legacy continues for generations to come. Missouri’s auto workers are leading the way for our state, for our country, and the world.” See GM PLANT page 4
MOVIE PEEK
See MOVIE page 9
Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy in Universal Pictures' Tower Heist - 2011
School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Movie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Shelly Schneider / Recipe . . . . . . . 10
Joe Morice / Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 What’s Happening . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15
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