Could GM plant sale attract jobs?
Could GM plant sale attract jobs?

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By Ja’Rena Lunsford
Published: March 12, 2008

More jobs may be an attractive byproduct if voters approve a bond issue allowing Oklahoma County to buy the former General Motors plant.

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The jobs could be filled both by Tinker Air Force Base employees as well as the private sector, officials said Tuesday.

Oklahoma County commissioners hope voters will pass a bond issue that will allow the county to buy the GM site for $55 million and lease the space to Tinker.

It's been more than two years since the last GM vehicle rolled off the assembly line in Oklahoma City, and city leaders said it's time to put the plant to use — while also helping the state's largest single-site employer.

If the deal goes through, Tinker will occupy two-thirds of the 3.8 million-square-foot facility.

Robin Roberts, executive vice president of economic development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, said the remaining one-third of the building will be open for private-sector companies to locate in the state, which could mean more jobs.

City leaders said the GM plant will give Tinker more room to work on maintenance projects such as the C-17 engines and the KC-X tanker. The new space also enables Tinker to increase its maintenance work and bring more jobs to the state, said Kirk Humphreys, the chamber's vice chairman of aviation and aerospace.

"If we can help Tinker be more efficient, it's going to allow more workload to come here,” Humphreys said.

Lease expected to be long term
Tinker is expected to use the plant to house its maintenance, repair and overhaul services, along with some key components of its software management group.

"Tinker officials have identified work that is currently going on in 69 buildings on their base,” said Ray Vaughn, chairman of the Oklahoma County commissioners. "All of that work in those 69 buildings can be transferred to the GM building.”

Col. Mark Correll, Tinker's installation commander, said the 69 buildings — some of which do not have air conditioning and result in workers taking a 15-minute break every hour to hydrate — will be demolished when Tinker moves into the GM plant. Correll said the Air Force will spend about $3.8 million to build roadways and other infrastructure upgrades.

Although details of the lease have not been finalized and are only being described as "low-cost,” the agreement is expected to be long term, Vaughn said.

General Motors doesn't want the plant sitting empty either, company spokeswoman Janine Fruehan said.

She said GM's redevelopment standpoint is not solely focused on selling an idled factory, but making sure the space will be used in a productive way that supports the community.

From shopping malls to golf courses, Fruehan said the nation's idled GM plants have evolved into various operations.

Fruehan said though GM did not market the Oklahoma City plant as for sale, the company was aware of Tinker's interest.

She said the plant's sale price was determined by GM and Oklahoma County.


 

Related Topics: Politics, Business, Financial Markets, Armed Forces, Local Politics, Bond Markets, Fixed Income Securities

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This reminds me of a Der Sturner column years ago "Could extermination of Jews benefit Germany?"
steve, Oklahoma City - May 4, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Since the Air Force will lease the building from the county why don't they lease it directly from GM, I realize GM wants to sell the building but some money from it is better than none. Oh, my bad if the county isn't involved then it wouldn't be beneficial to anyone.
phil, yukon - Mar 12, 2008 at 9:52 pm
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This is a very bad time to be selling bonds for municipal/county gov't projects. The credit crunch has made interest rates on such bond sales rise to double-digits, that is - the costs of repaying the bonds will be much greater than it would have been even a year ago. Add to that the ever-increasing tax burden we are already being asked to bear... and it's clear that our "leaders" have visions way beyond what we need as a city/county. If it's a good deal for Tinker, they will find their own way without citizens having to pay for it. The other $24M of county "improvements" is also something we don't need... not to mention county jail spending that is clearly being contemplated, as soon as they think we will succumb to that proposition. Rather than "making this area a good place to live", I'm find all this taxing and spending by local gov't a real good reason to leave. Many of us can't get decent streets to drive on, but we're sure being asked to line the pockets of our politicians and businessmen with out tax "donations".
Scooter, Oklahoma City - Mar 12, 2008 at 11:20 am
15 minute break every hour to 'hydrate'? When you add on the 10 minute break to smoke, 20 minute break to go the bathroom, and the 5 minute break to answer the cell phone call, you've got a good solid 5 minutes of almost picking up some tools to do work!
Brian, Weatherford - Mar 12, 2008 at 9:23 am
Better start saving your nickels people because you got a 500 million dollar arena to build in a couple of years.
Clay is a Goon!, OKC - Mar 12, 2008 at 9:19 am
This is an easy NO vote! Is the county going to buy bricktown and the Quail Spring Mall next? How about doing what government is supposed to do and provide better roads and schools? We are doing horrible in those areas because the government is occupied with things like this. Since when is government Donald Trump buying arenas and plants to lease out? Then they cry about not having enough money. We're always spending more than we have and this is another example.
Ray, Edmond - Mar 12, 2008 at 7:03 am
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