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Office of Communications Gwen Campbell Media, Community & Education Relations Tel. 318.673.5062 / Fax: 318.673.5087 gwen.campbell@shreveportla.gov | ||
“We see this as a situation where without question, the glass is half full as opposed to half empty,” said Shreveport Mayor Cedric B. Glover. | “GM has made an adjustment in its bankruptcy filing that has placed the local GM-Shreveport plant on the list of those that are scheduled to not move forward with the new General Motors. | The glass half full aspect of that is rather than an immediate shutdown, activity will continue here for at least a significant period of time. There will be continued production of the Colorado and the Canyon as well as the expected completion of the sale of the hummer brand which will result in for at least a limited period of time of continued production of the Hummer here at this Shreveport Plant as well. That could potentially mean an increase in terms of the current overall Hummer production in that the expectation is that the European and diesel models currently manufactured in South Africa would continue as planned to be manufactured here in Shreveport. | From my perspective as Mayor and I think it’s shared by most of us who are here, we see this situation evolving essentially down three different paths. The first one would entail an ongoing effort to try and continue to position the Shreveport facility as a part of the “GM of the Future” and with the continued activity that’s here over the next hopefully two plus years, we intend to stay at the table with them and discuss with them those possibilities and to see how that particular scenario might end up potentially moving forward. | The second scenario involves what is now been a process of engaging the folks of Tengzhong (Sichuan Tengzhong Industrial Machinery) the new potential buyers of the Hummer Brand about an expanded and continued ongoing relationship with them. That entails not only the Hummer but whatever additional potential automotive manufacturing they may be inclined to engage in here within the United States. We know that’s a process that is still awaiting regulatory approval both at the national as well as the provincial level within China, but with all indication is that is an effort that will ultimately end up coming to a positive outcome. | The third scenario entails a complete separation from both General Motors as well as a facility that would no longer be producing any other automotive product for Tengzhong or anyone else. Under those circumstances we are highly hopeful that we will be able to put forth a scenario that would give the collective individuals or groups that we represent, obviously local governments of facilities in the parish, Caddo, or in the State of Louisiana, supported by the infrastructure of Shreveport and greatly supported by Bossier and other surrounding areas, we would look to hopefully be in a position to see the facility be made available rather than just simply being sold to the highest bidder, but there would be a recognition of the public investment that’s been made over the years and that you would have some form of an entity whether it’s the local parish economic development entity that may be created or one of the existing ones that’s already here that would be able to be in a position to be the recipient of that property and give us the opportunity to be able to go out and effectively market it for some future manufacturing or other job creating manifestation. So those three represent where we are today, obviously as I mentioned the plant itself is situated within the limits of Caddo Parish, the parish has over the years, has been without question a great supporter of this facility not only in terms of affording them tax incentives and breaks to make their efforts here more economically viable. But they’ve also provided access to land over the years for plant expansion.” | Abbreviated comments of Caddo Parish Commission President, Stephanie Lynch: | “I want to thank General Motors for the 28 year positive relationship that they have had with Caddo Parish and with the Shreveport and Bossier Community. We are down today, but we’re not out. This is a critical situation but we’re not on life support. This is a plant that we’re going to continue to fight for. We want to continue a presence here in this community. If not automotive manufacturing, some high use for the facility, but right now we know that we have some time and we’re going to continue to work toward making sure that we establish those relationships to keep the plant open. General Motors has been a top ten taxpayer for Caddo Parish and we want to continue to try to make sure that we keep the plant here.” | Abbreviated comments of Shreveport City Council Chairman, Ron Webb: | “I know the employees at General Motors are proud people and they’ve proven that over the 28 years the plant’s been open here. We’ve always been number one, or almost number one, in productivity and quality and I know the employees there will continue to hold their heads up and remain optimistic that something could change. The automobile industry is very strange. Next year everything could turn around and all this could go away and so that’s what we need to do is just be in prayer that our economy will turn around and this thing could never come to an end and we hope it doesn’t and if GM does decide to go away from Shreveport, permanently, I feel that somebody’s going to want to jump on-board because we do have quality people, quality employees and we’re ready to build something, whatever it is and meet the demand. I’m going to just keep my hopes and prayers up that the market will turn around and everything will change. Because like I said we may be down, but we’re not out yet and we’ll just take it day-by-day and see what happens.” | Comments of Bossier Parish Administrator, Bill Altimus: | “This is a regional impact and we want to let you know Mayor (Glover) that whatever Bossier Parish, Bossier City, can do to help out now and in the future, we will do.” | Abbreviated comments from Kurt Foreman, Executive Director of the Northwest Louisiana Economic Development Foundation: | “While this is a serious matter I think there are a lot of parts of the country that are well into double-digit unemployment, some communities in the 15 to 20 percent unemployment and while that means there are a lot of families in pain, I think we can look around and see the good news that happened at Barksdale Air Force Base in the last ten days and a lot of other things that our community is still a very blessed community and that our economy I think, will weather this in a significant manner and that we just need to hold out that optimism that there are others looking at our community, both in existing companies and new ones, that see the value of our community.” | Ending comments by Shreveport Mayor Cedric B. Glover: | “It’s a great Louisiana tradition to take challenging circumstances that which to many others would not represent a whole lot and make something great and wonderful out of it. So whether or not if that’s how we ended up with Gumbo and Boudin or any of those other things, you can probably tell I skipped lunch today, it’s a Louisiana habit of being able to take challenging situations and circumstances and turn them into something that ends up being a great, great gift and a great, great benefit. Thank you all for coming.” | Also attending the June 24, 2009 News Conference: | Jeff Everson, representing U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu | Leslie Quinn, representing U.S. David Vitter’s Office | Becky Wilson, representing Congressman John Fleming’s Office |
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