General Motors returns to Lordstown, Ohio - with the promise of tax incentives from the state.
Oh, my Lordstown: After closing its factory in Lordstown, Ohio, General Motors announced it would open an electric vehicle battery factory in the politically important Mahoning Valley town, the Detroit Free Press Jamie LaReau reports.
You spin me right round: Of course, that announcement was hailed as a victory for the Mahoning Valley workers. Groundbreaking on the plant is expected by 2020 and 1,100 jobs are expected to come to the area. Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, called it great news. The plant closure has been especially problematic for Republican President Donald Trump, whose Ohio campaign spokesman said it was a huge win for the Mahoning Valley.
Theres always a but... There arent really more jobs coming to Lordstown. The area has lost 4,500 as GM idled its Chevrolet Cruze plant earlier this year. The company sold the plant to Lordstown Motor Corp., an electric vehicle startup, that even under the best-case scenario would hire 400 workers. And its not like GM is going to Lordstown out of the goodness of their heart. DeWine is actually giving the company tax incentives to return, though how much is unknown, per LaReaus report.
https://www.cleveland.com/politics/2019/12/general-motors-goes-back-into-lordstown-ohio-the-flyover.html
*******Jobs at the battery plant will pay around $15-$17 an hour. A far cry from what GM Lordstown workers made assembling cars.