Department of Development | News Room

TAFT APPLAUDS $186 MILLION EXPANSION AT FORD SHARONVILLE
231 jobs retained as Ford, GM announce new transmission project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2004

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced a $400,000 business development grant to Ford Motor Company for its Sharonville transmission plant. The grant coincides with an announcement by Ford and General Motors Corp. that Ford’s Sharonville plant will help build a new, front-wheel-drive transmission. Two hundred thirty one jobs with an average hourly wage of nearly $25 will be retained through the $186.4 million investment.

“Ohio continues to be a leader in the automotive industry and our autoworkers are second to none,” said Taft. “The expansion of Ford’s Sharonville transmission plant is great news for its workers, and welcome news for Southwest Ohio.”

According to Ford, its 2.4 million square foot Sharonville plant opened in 1958 and employs more than 2,200 people. It currently builds 5-speed and 4-speed automatics for Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Jaguar rear-drive sedans and SUVs. Today’s announced expansion is part of an overall $720 million investment by Ford and GM to jointly build an all-new, fuel-saving, 6-speed front-wheel-drive automatic transmission. It is the second investment at the plant in six months. In November, Ford announced a $155 million investment at the plant to produce gears for a new rear-drive 6-speed automatic.

The Ohio Department of Development is providing a $400,000 business development grant to help with the acquisition and installation of machinery and equipment. The Business Development Account (412) is a grant program to assist companies and communities that are creating or retaining jobs with the necessary infrastructure improvements needed to ensure a project moves forward. The grant is pending approval of the State Controlling Board. In addition, Sharonville workers are benefiting from a $250,000 training grant to assist the company in specific training and other workforce development needs. That grant was awarded in mid 2003.


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