By Matt Sepic, KWMU
Hazelwood, Mo. – Missouri officials are praising Ford's decision to continue operating the Hazelwood assembly plant, and are taking steps to keep other auto factories open.
Governor Bob Holden credited plant employees, company executives, and a task force he created for getting the factory off Ford's closing list, and said he's forming a similar statewide taskforce.
The automaker agreed to state and local tax incentives totaling about $17 million. Holden says the next step is to look beyond 2007.
"The agreement gives us more hope, but also gives us the opportunity to make a good case to Ford why they should choose to produce a new vehicle at this plant in the future, when the economy improves," Holden said.
The incentives package is part of the United Auto Workers' national contract, on which the rank and file are voting this week.