When General Motors idled its Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant in 2019, it sent shockwaves through the state.
Nearly 1,700 workers were out of a job despite promises to save the jobs. Beyond that, state officials were pretty peeved and demanded GM pay back about $60 million it received in tax breaks that were part of an economic development deal contingent on the plant operating through 2027. Now, it appears as though the two parties have reached a compromise.
According to Reuters, the company will pay back $28 million in state tax incentives. As part of the agreement with the Ohio Tax Credit Authority, the company will also pay $12 million for "community support programs" in the county.
While GM shuttered the assembly plant, it announced plans to build a $2.3 billion electric vehicle battery plant near the old facility as part of an Ultium Cells joint venture with LG Chem. The joint venture projects to create about 1,100 new jobs. Ohio reportedly awarded the joint venture a 15-year Job Creation Tax Credit worth $13.8 million if it meets the requirements. The positions at Ultium could generate $45 million in new annual payroll.
GM also sold the old plant to Lordstown Motors, an electric pickup truck startup, and agreed to invest about $75 million in the new company, including the plant and production equipment. Lordstown Motors plans to hire 400 workers starting in 2021.
According to Reuters, GM also announced a $71 million investment in manufacturing facilities in Toledo and Defiance, Ohio.
In June 2020, GM said, "repayment of the tax credits would be inconsistent with our significant manufacturing presence in Ohio."
Now that they have come to terms, the automaker changed its tune, saying in a statement that the state recognized "GM's substantial manufacturing presence across the state of Ohio."
