General Motors’ Orion, Michigan plant could be the frontrunner to build the automaker’s forthcoming U.S.-made small car as Orion Township has pledged $44 million towards the effort. GM announced earlier this month that its next-generation small car would be built in Michigan, Wisconsin or Tennessee.
In addition to the $44 million offer, Orion Township is also offering GM a 100 percent tax break on all new equipment and machinery for 12 years. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority will likely sweeten the pot with grant money.
“It’s a monster offer,” Orion Township Supervisor Matthew Gibb told The Detroit News. “I struggled with it because we’re talking about funds and public money is so tight for everybody. But if the plant closes, we don’t get any tax revenue. I’d rather have the jobs and ancillary business for our small suppliers and big suppliers and party stores and everything else.”
The re-opening of the Orion plant would secure about 1,200 jobs.
Although the Orion offer seems like a big number, it is far less than the amount GM requested from the state of Tennessee to re-open its Spring Hill facility. GM told Tennessee officials it would take $200 million to secure small car production at the Spring Hill plant.
