KANSAS CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon applauded the announcement that work would begin today on the third crew of F-150 pickup production at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant. In 2011, Ford announced its plans to create 1,600 jobs and invest $1.1 billion to produce the all-new Transit van for the first time in the U.S. and add a second shift for production of its popular F-150 pickup. The third crew of F-150 production was announced in May and will create an additional 900 jobs at the plant.
“Missouri’s resurgent auto industry continues to drive economic growth and create good jobs for families in Kansas City and across our state,” Gov. Nixon said. “Since I established the Missouri Automotive Jobs Task Force on my first day in office, revitalizing the state’s automotive manufacturing industry has been a top priority of this administration. I applaud Ford for its historic investment in this region, and congratulate the hundreds of additional autoworkers going to work building America’s most popular pickup right here in the Show-Me State.”
To facilitate Ford’s historic expansion, the company was able to take advantage of the Missouri Manufacturing Jobs Act, which Gov. Nixon signed into law in 2010. The act provides strategic incentives to automotive manufacturers and suppliers who meet strict requirements for job creation and capital investment. A significant expansion is also underway at General Motors’ plant in Wentzville, which is adding more than 1,660 new manufacturing jobs to produce the all-new Colorado pickup and meet demand for other vehicles produced there. In addition, automotive suppliers have announced plans to bring new jobs and investment throughout the state, including Yanfeng USA Automotive Trim Systems, LMV Automotive, Adrian Steel, TG Missouri and Spartan Light Metal Products.
Gov. Nixon’s administration worked closely with both Ford and GM over the past several years to move their expansions forward. On his first day as Governor in 2009, Gov. Nixon established an Automotive Jobs Task Force to make recommendations on strategies to attract automotive investment in Missouri. The Governor and members of his economic development team also traveled to Detroit on numerous occasions to meet with leadership at Ford and GM.
