Federal grant for new waterline helps secure GM plant for area

The new waterline is another big piece of the puzzle, GM workers say.
& lt;a href=mailto:slshaulis@vindy.com & gt;By SHERRI L. SHAULIS & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- Workers at the General Motors plant are "tickled to death" with a new grant that helps secure the automakers' presence here, a union president said.
"You can't even imagine how much this means," said Jim Kaster, president of United Auto Workers Local 1714.
Kaster and others from GM were on hand Monday for a $1.3 million check presentation, as were village officials and state and federal government representatives.
The grant money -- presented by David A. Sampson, U.S. assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development -- will be used to install a six-mile, 21-inch waterline from the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District plant on Salt Springs Road in Weathersfield Township to the GM plant. The money will be matched by GM, and Lordstown will also contribute $700,000 toward the project.
Main water source
The waterline will be the primary water source to the fabricating plant and backup to the assembly plant; Warren will continue to supply the assembly plant with water and serve as backup for the fabricating plant.
"It's another piece of a giant puzzle that we started putting together about two years ago," said Jim Graham, president of UAW Local 1112. "There were all these pieces that needed to come together, and this was a big part. Now all the small pieces are falling into place."
The puzzle of keeping the GM plant in Lordstown and becoming the site for the company's two new small-car lines had four major components, including the new waterline, explained Ron Barnhart, Lordstown planning and zoning administrator. An agreement between management and labor was first, and others were a 100 percent tax abatement on $500 million of new construction which was approved last year by council, and the dredging of a lake behind the plant, which Trumbull County officials took care of, he said.
Other companies
Aside from helping to keep GM in the area, Barnhart said, the new line will also allow for other companies' expansion in the village and surrounding areas.
"If it helps GM, then it helps the whole Valley," he said.
Sampson said the grant is part of the federal government's commitment to help the country in its economic recovery, especially in the manufacturing industry.
"It is the EDA's mission to work with states and communities to create an environment where jobs can be created and secured," he said.
On hand to receive the check from Sampson were Lordstown Mayor Arno Hill and several members of council, as well as U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio; U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17th; and state Sen. Marc Dann, D-32nd.
Construction on the waterline is expected to start this fall and be completed by early next year.
& lt;a href=mailto:slshaulis@vindy.com & gt;slshaulis@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;