Ford to Provide 1,200 Jobs to Michigan Community

Added by Gary Dunn on October 26, 2010

On Monday, Ford Motor Company announced that it will upgrade four of its Michigan car plants in order to manufacture more fuel efficient vehicles.

In the process, Ford will also be hiring 1,200 people. The project, which will cost Ford $850m, has received a $400m tax relief from the state of Michigan.

“Investing in American manufacturing is a priority for Ford and that is what today is all about,” said Fields during a press statement in suburban Detroit.

Mark Fields, President of Ford Americas said that the investment is awaiting a green light from the state for the job-retention tax breaks.

The upgrades that Ford Motor Co. has planned, will enable the automaker to provide a more diverse range of fuel efficient cars and trucks.

In relation to the tax breaks, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, who spoke alongside Fields, said that they are essential to the recovery of the U.S. auto industry; similar to the 2009 federal bailouts of General Motors Company and Chrysler.

“The $850 Ford is investing means that jobs are going to be here in the future,” said Granholm. The Governor also added that further announcements about auto maker tax breaks in Michigan will be made this week, without divulging any names.

According to Fields, the car plants that Ford intends to upgrade are Van Dyke in Sterling Heights, the Dearborn Truck Plant, Livonia Transmission and the Sterling Axle plant.