Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry held a rally at the State’s Capitol to show his support for the General Motors Oklahoma City Assembly Plant.
The governor partnered with Kathy Taylor, Secretary of Commerce and Tourism, Fred J. Hall, Chairman, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and GM Plant Manager Tyree Minner, to talk about the importance of rallying around GM during this pivotal time.
“This campaign is about celebrating one of Oklahoma’s great corporate citizens, as well as its hard-working and dedicated workforce,” said Henry. “GM has a tremendous impact on our economy, but its role in our state goes even deeper. This company is a major contributor to Oklahoma charities and various philanthropic organizations, and its commitment to Oklahoma is unparalleled. I look forward to working with GM and UAW officials as the company continues to play a pivotal role in our economy for many years to come.”
According to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the direct and indirect economic impact of the GM Oklahoma City facility to the state is in excess of $1 billion.
This isn’t the first time the state has rallied to support GM. After 2003 tornado tore though the plant, “a drop-everything-and-rebuild mission”, got production going just seven weeks later.
The state clearly intends to stand by GM and its employees. Many articles have speculated that the plant will close, but the company denies their accuracy.
“Something like that is pure speculation,” said Pam Reese, GM’s production spokesperson. “I have not seen anything or heard anything about this being it for Oklahoma City. This is a production and sales issue. It’s a market driven decision and not anything reflective of the people at Oklahoma City.”
Chris is a staff writer for Murdok. Visit Murdok for the latest ebusiness news.
