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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that General Motors Components Holdings, LLC (GMCH) will invest $100 million in Rochester to manufacture a new fuel injection product line, securing the jobs of hundreds of hourly and salaried employees and creating an additional 30 jobs.
The Rochester GMCH plant won the project over a sister plant in the Midwest. The investment is for the production of energy efficient Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) technology at the plant for GM's 2013 model year Gen-V truck engines, which are built in Tonawanda. Empire State Development (ESD) awarded GM a $3 million capital grant and $1.82 million in Excelsior Jobs Program benefits for the proposed investment and the retention of jobs. The plant currently employs over 800 workers.
The 30 new jobs are all UAW hourly jobs critical to the new injector design and include machine and equipment operators.
"To say that New York is open for business is an understatement – and this announcement just proves the point," Governor Cuomo said. "For generations, General Motors has provided quality products and good jobs for New Yorkers, and this move builds on the company's historic legacy in this state. As a car enthusiast, I look forward to seeing the future of automotive technology designed, engineered, and built by New Yorkers."
The Rochester GMCH plant specializes in engine management systems and related products, originally operating as Rochester Carburetor. After being acquired by GM, it was subsequently spun off as part of Delphi in 1999. In 2009, following Delphi's and GM's emergence from bankruptcy, the plant was reacquired by GM as a wholly-owned subsidiary (along with Delphi's Lockport plant) to ensure the continued and uninterrupted production of components and systems to its global car and truck operations.
This project follows two recent agreements between GM's Tonawanda Powertrain plant and ESD, protecting nearly 1,200 jobs involved with the fabrication of new, cutting-edge engine lines. The Monroe County IDA and Rochester Gas & Electric also provided incentives to the company for the Rochester GMCH project.
Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy said, "General Motors is a world-recognized brand that has a welcome base in Rochester. The parts manufactured here will span the globe and represent a testament to our region's extraordinary labor force and business-friendly attitude."
Empire State Development President & CEO Kenneth Adams said, "This opportunity was the result of a strong working relationship between ESD and GM, as well as the company's faith in New York State and its workers here in Rochester. GM is an iconic American company that is utilizing new and emerging technology to produce the next generation of U.S.-made vehicles. The
investments GM has made to our state and workforce makes it major player in New York's resurgence as an economic powerhouse."
GM Vice President of Labor Relations Cathy Clegg said, "GM continues to invest in our manufacturing operations to enable us to produce a new generation of fuel efficient small block truck and car engines. The Gen V small block engine family will have unprecedented fuel efficiency and GMCH Rochester Operations will play a key role in helping us deliver this directly our customers."
UAW-GM Vice President Joe Ashton said, "The men and women of UAW Local 1097 know that producing high-quality parts is essential to meet the needs of our customers. They take a lot of pride in our work and this investment is important to the future of this plant."
NYSEG/RG&E President Mark Lynch said, "The GM Components Holdings story is a great example of how RG&E/NYSEG investments in upstate New York can have a very large and long-lasting effect. Instead of losing this plant altogether, we'll now see a significant investment in new manufacturing technology plus job retention and growth in Rochester, which are exactly why we invest in the communities we serve."
Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency and administrator of the statewide business resource portal New York First (www.NYfirst.NY.gov). ESD is committed to being recognized on a global scale as the economic development engine driving job growth, strategic investment and prosperity in New York State. ESD is intent on paving the way for New York State to become the leader of the innovation economy and one of the most business-friendly, productive and competitive economic development climates in the world. ESD also oversees the marketing of "I LOVE NY," the State's iconic tourism brand.
General Motors Company, one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 219,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands:
Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors Company acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009 and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation.
