General Motors' Fort Wayne, Indiana truck assembly plant wants local officials to waive taxes for a decade to help with a possible $1 billion upgrade, a spokeswoman said.
Executives at the Fort Wayne plant are trying to make a case to company leaders for such an investment in new space and equipment, spokeswoman Stephanie Jentgen said.
The Allen County Council will consider the 10-year tax waiver Thursday. If approved and the improvement goes forward, the measure would save GM more than $15 million.
"Our goal is to have this plant positioned for years to come," she said.
The Fort Wayne plant is competing with other GM facilities that also want to make improvements, and it's uncertain when GM will determine if the project goes forward, Jentgen said.
The Fort Wayne plant has received new investments from GM over its 28-year life, but several areas need improvements for the plant to become more efficient, Jentgen said. Executives hope to expand the 3 million-square-foot plant by 1.5 million square feet, she said.
"This would help make us viable for long-term future in Fort Wayne Assembly. It would allow us to have efficiencies, the most current technology in our operations and it would allow us to compete with future programs," Jentgen said .
The county council last year approved a tax abatement for a proposed $110 million paint shop, but the upgrade wasn't approved by GM. A paint shop is included in the current proposal, Jentgen said.
