| Ford's president of The Americas, Mark Fields, addresses employees and visiting guests at the company's Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Mich., to announce Ford's commitment to invest $850 million and add 1,200 new jobs in its manufacturing and engineering operations in the state between 2011 and 2013. |
"Fuel economy and technology are consumers' biggest priorities -- and we have made them Ford's as well," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "We are pleased to work with state and local government leaders to find new ways to work together, invest in our people as well as Ford facilities, further improve our competitiveness and secure jobs in Michigan."
Ford will allocate the investment across a variety of its Michigan facilities, including its Van Dyke Transmission, Sterling Axle, Livonia Transmission and Dearborn Truck plants.
The company expects approximately 900 jobs to be hourly positions in its Michigan manufacturing facilities and the remaining 300 to be salaried positions within its engineering and manufacturing operations.
Ford is making the Michigan investment commitment after working with officials on a new Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) package that replaces several existing state incentives. Based on the Michigan Economic Development Corp.'s recommendation, the MEGA board Tuesday approved a state tax credit valued at $909 million over 15 years to encourage Ford to expand in Michigan over competing sites in India, South Africa, Europe and Asia.
"We applaud the State of Michigan's leadership in finding innovative solutions aimed at making both the state and Ford more competitive," Fields said. "Promoting investments in technologies, facilities and our workforce ultimately will help revitalize manufacturing in Michigan and help Ford compete with the best in the business worldwide."
