General Motors announces $91M investment at Marion, Indiana factory

General Motors officials have announced a multimillion dollar investment at an Indiana factory.

MARION, Ind. - General Motors officials have announced a multimillion dollar investment at an Indiana factory.

GM will invest $91 million over the next decade on new equipment, which will help retain jobs at Marion's facility. In return for the investment, GM will get $100,000 in training grants from the Indiana Economic Development Committee. Grant County is providing additional incentives. GM made the announcement Monday at its Marion Metal Center, where the company says it has about 1,600 workers.

GM says the Marion plant supplies stampings and sheet metal assembly for cars, vans, trucks and SUVs to GM assembly plants throughout North America.

GM is not adding jobs, but the announcement still seen as big news. GM is largest employer and taxpayer in Marion, and people here want them to stay

"It's very important we not lose GM. There's not much around here," said Jerry Lobdell, the manager of a shoe store in Marion.

Over the years, as other plants closed or moved, GM stayed, providing jobs and stability in a city that still struggles to draw new business.

The shoe shop is one of the few retailers left on the square. The owners say GM has been key to their survival and others.

"It puts money back into the local economy and it's one of the biggest businesses that do that," said Lobdell.

Dessie Horton, who lost her job of 30 years after Thomson closed, was thrilled to hear about GM.

"GM is very important to people, especially young people, those that worry about it, they need the jobs. We have young people coming up now that are our future," said Horton.

As Bruce Berry knows, the GM jobs pay well, averaging about $28 an hour.

"We got all these big box stores. They can't really support a community like that cause they don't pay that well," he said.

Barry Lobdell says like others, he's feared GM might leave for a better deal elsewhere.

"It ranks right up there. It's huge they're going to stay," he said.

GM did get incentives, including a five-year tax abatement worth $85 million, which nearly matches their cost to upgrade equipment.

Still, Lobdell and his son think losing GM would cost the city a whole lot more.

"They do get tax abatement but it will come back and they do pay taxes and that's important. And it will eventually help downtown thrive," said Lobdell. "I think without GM here, the job market would be far less than it currently is."

As for the time frame for the improvements, people here probably won't see a lot of activity from the outside, but the new equipment should be in place by the end of 2017.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.