MAHONING VALLEY Packard commits to new plant

The state had already approved a $5 million loan for the project.
WARREN -- Delphi Packard Electric Systems has committed to building a plastic injection molding plant in Vienna Township.
The company was to hold a press conference today to announce the details of the plant, which will be built in a new industrial park off Ridge Road near the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
Packard already has been approved for a $5 million state loan and a tax abatement from Trumbull County commissioners, but Packard officials said recently that they were reviewing the need for the plant because of the slowdown in the auto industry.
What officials said: Company officials told Trumbull County commissioners last month that they were considering scaling back the investment in the plant from $75 million to $58.5 million and the number of jobs from 220 to 180.
Packard has been upgrading its plastic molding operations by buying new machines and moving much of its molding operation out of its aging Dana Street plant in Warren.
It recently reopened a plant in Cortland with new molding machines. About 160 people work in that plant, making connectors that are used in cars, computers and other devices.
Packard's main product has been wiring harnesses for vehicles but it has been expanding its line of electronic components.
The Cortland and Vienna plants are being staffed with current workers.