Gov. Jay Nixon joined officials from Martinrea Riverside LLC and local elected officials to break ground on the company’s new Missouri manufacturing facility, located near I-635 in Riverside. The global auto supplier will operate in a 275,560 square-foot automotive parts manufacturing facility, creating up to 290 new jobs.
“Missouri’s automotive industry is a driving force in our state’s expanding economy, and today we mark another milestone in its continued resurgence,” Gov. Nixon said. “Global companies like Martinrea are continuing to grow and invest in Missouri because of our experienced workforce, low taxes and stable economic climate. With smart, strategic, pro-growth policies, we will continue to build on this strong momentum.”
Martinrea Riverside LLC is a subsidiary of Martinrea International Inc., a Tier One automotive supplier headquartered in Ontario, Canada. With 38 facilities across eight countries and four continents, Martinrea International Inc. is a leader in the production of quality steel and aluminum metal parts, assemblies and modules, and fluid management systems focused primarily on the automotive sector.
The Riverside facility, which is the company’s first location in Missouri, will manufacture welded corrosion-resistant engine cradles using its e-coating process, and automotive assemblies for the General Motors plant in Fairfax, Kan.
“We are pleased to open our first facility in Missouri, in order to better serve our customers”, said Rocco Marinaccio, Director of Modular Assembly. “We have received a warm reception from everyone, and we look forward to becoming a contributing member of the local community.”
“It’s always exciting for our community when a company new to the Kansas City area, like Martinrea, chooses Riverside as home,” Riverside Mayor Kathy Rose said. “This project continues to show the benefit of having a strong partnership with the State and how we can work together to recruit businesses that meet our mutual economic development goals.”
Since taking office, Gov. Nixon has made it a top priority of his administration to reenergize the Missouri automotive industry. On his first full day as Governor, Gov. Nixon established the Missouri Automotive Jobs Task Force to make recommendations on strategies to attract automotive investment to Missouri. In the summer of 2010, the Governor called a special session of the General Assembly to pass the Missouri Manufacturing Jobs Act, a package of strategic incentives to attract next-generation automotive manufacturing to the state.
As a result of these efforts, Missouri's automotive manufacturing industry has rebounded. Ford and General Motors have invested a combined $1.5 billion and created thousands of jobs to produce all-new next-generation vehicles at their facilities in Claycomo and Wentzville. Missouri has also seen strong growth among automotive suppliers. Martinrea Riverside LLC joins suppliers such as Janesville Acoustics, Yanfeng USA Automotive Trim Systems, SRG Global, Adrian Steel, Toyota Bodine and Grupo Antolin North America in announcing plans to invest and expand in the Show-Me State over the past year.
To assist Martinrea Riverside LLC with its expansion, the Missouri Department of Economic Development has offered a strategic economic incentive package that the company can receive if it meets strict job creation and investment criteria.