GM plant in Michigan closing means more workers, investment in Parma

PARMA, Ohio - The Parma General Motors plant is expected to receive more employees, the city’s mayor, Tim DeGeeter, told NewsChannel5 on Thursday.

The Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center in Michigan will cease operations in July, sending more workers to northeast Ohio.

"The plant currently employs 323 hourly and 28 salaried employees," said GM spokesperson Tom Wickham. 

Wickham said the more than 300 employees will receive officers at GM's Flint tool and die plant, the Warren tech center in Michigan and GM's metal center in Parma.

"I like receiving these calls so this is very good news for us," DeGeeter said. 

He said the city's plant manager not only called to share news of more employees to the plant, but also called to inform DeGeeter that GM would be investing $10 million in new equipment to the facility as well.

"That tells me the plant will remain strong, healthy and vibrant… A lot of that goes to the men and women that work there, working together with management and doing things right. That partnership is so important. The men and women who work there get that and we're so proud of that," DeGeeter said.

News of a plant closing is something DeGeeter said no mayor wants to hear, especially in Parma, where GM is still the city's number one employer.

"If something were to happen at that plant, it would be extremely difficult to provide the quality of life, services that we give to our residents,” DeGeeter said.

It is rumored most of the employees from the Michigan plant will be re-locating to Parma, although Wickham and other GM officials said it's too early to confirm. 

DeGeeter said Parma's facility currently employees more than 1,400 workers.