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Leaders from Greater St. Louis, Inc. and General Motors came together today to highlight the importance of advanced manufacturing to the metro and to discuss how to strengthen and grow the sector for the future. They were joined by businesses and economic and workforce development leaders from St. Charles County and the State of Missouri.
Greater St. Louis, Inc. is responsible for stewarding implementation of the STL 2030 Jobs Plan, which names advanced manufacturing as a “priority industry cluster” that is a critical part of the regional effort to grow the metro’s economy.
“We appreciate being at GM, which is one of our manufacturing anchors here in the St. Louis metro and in the country. With 4,000 employees, GM Wentzville Assembly is now the third largest General Motors facility in the U.S.,” said Jason Hall, CEO of GSL. “Lamar Rucker and his team have been at the forefront of the discussion around strengthening advanced manufacturing, and with what they are doing here in Wentzville, St. Louis is poised to be a national leader in this industry sector for years to come.”
The leaders gathered for a roundtable discussion at GM’s Wentzville Assembly plant that highlighted recent wins for the St. Louis metro’s advanced manufacturing sector. Those wins include the successful regional effort to win the highly competitive federal “Build Back Better Regional Challenge,” the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center in North St. Louis, and the $1.5 billion GM has invested in the Wentzville Assembly plant.
GM Wentzville Assembly produces the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-size pickup trucks, as well as the GMC Savana and the Chevrolet Express full-size vans. GM’s recent $1.5 billion investment in the midsize truck line and upgrades to the Wentzville plant included changes to the general assembly area, the body shop, and paint shop, including new machines, conveyors, controls, and tooling.
“I appreciate days like this when our plant can partner with community leaders to discuss further improving job opportunities, community safety and growth in our region. I applaud Jason Hall and his team’s efforts to move these initiatives forward at such a rapid pace,” said Lamar Rucker, Executive Director of the GM Wentzville Assembly plant.
Joining GSL and GM for today’s events were Wentzville Mayor Nick Guccione and representatives from St. Charles Community College, Missouri One Start, PGA Reach Foundation, Economic Development Council of St. Charles, St. Charles County, and local businesses and suppliers for GM including Lear Corporation and TVS.