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KETTERING –
Tenneco will almost double its workforce in Kettering, adding 300 jobs as part of a $ 61.5 million investment that will significantly expand the plant.
For more than two and a half years, Tenneco has been negotiating with Montgomery County to expand its Kettering engine fleet, according to Mitchell Heaton, Project Manager JobsOhio.
Tenneco officials confirmed the decision Friday, saying the investment in its Kettering plant was part of an initiative to realign its manufacturing footprint "to improve operational efficiency and respond to changing market conditions and capacity requirements. "
Gregg Gorsuch, economic development manager for Kettering City, said the new jobs would come with a high salary.
"The hourly jobs that are part of these 300 positions will have a salary of about $ 20 at the hour," Gorsuch said. "It's a very good day in the city of Kettering."
Kettering's victory will come at two factories in Hartwell, Ga., And Owen Sound, Ontario, which will close in the second quarter of 2020, according to Tenneco. Last month, the company also closed a plant in Nebraska, resulting in the loss of 500 jobs.
"We are aware of the impact of this action on our employees and are working with local communities to provide transition assistance for all affected employees, including opportunities to transfer to other Tenneco sites," said Brian Kesseler, co-CEO of Tenneco.
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Tenneco Automotive Operating Company's investment in Kettering includes the addition of a machine structure to support overhead cranes and other existing equipment. The investment of over $ 20 million ahead includes the purchase of new equipment and upgrades to the plant, Heaton said.
This investment will create at least 300 jobs for line employees, engineers and administrative staff, said Heaton, adding to the 400 or so current Kettering employees. Some workers will be relocated to Ohio after the closure of their factories, but the essential jobs will be made up of new employees.
"It depends on the market, they could become even bigger," Heaton said. "It's really punchy."
The agreement to secure Kettering jobs meant a collaborative effort between city officials, Montgomery County, the Dayton Development Coalition, and the state of Ohio, Gorsuch said.
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"It was a team effort to get together and talk with Tenneco to get those jobs here," Gorsuch said.
Although Heaton can not give precise numbers because the agreements are not finalized, JobsOhio, the town of Kettering and Montgomery County will provide tax incentives to Tenneco, as well as additional help to find and develop a hand-in. precious work.
One of the incentives is a $ 500,000 Montgomery County EDGE grant, announced in 2017. The EDGE grant is for infrastructure that can not be recovered and relocated as parking lots.
"Montgomery County was in the vanguard to know exactly what their role was, but all the other details took a long time to materialize," said Heaton.
The Miami Valley is a kind of powerhouse for the manufacturing sector, with more jobs being created in this sector in the last month in Ohio than any other, pushing the state to register a number record of jobs.
"We are proud of the flourishing manufacturing economy in Kettering," said Kettering Mayor Don Patterson. "We are devoting considerable resources to creating new, high-paying jobs for our community. Once again, our ideal location, our world-class facilities and our sought-after workforce will result in a significant expansion of Tenneco's business. "
Tenneco is located in the former Delphi building, which, after Heaton, closed on a Friday in 2008 and went into service the following Monday.
"Kettering has not experienced a dramatic crisis, unlike other facilities in the city, so Tenneco has been great as a corporate citizen," he said.
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The plant at 2555 Woodman Drive manufactures shock absorbers and struts primarily for General Motors passenger vehicles. The plant also provides Tenneco sister plants in North America and a North American factory of foreign builders. Tenneco employs more than 31,000 people worldwide.
"Tenneco's investment shows that the manufacturing sector remains strong in Montgomery County and the Dayton area," said Deborah Lieberman, chair of the Montgomery County Commission.
She praised the local coalition that worked to achieve the expansion.
"We were able to respond quickly to the needs of the business by reducing costs and providing a location for optimal access to their customers," she said.
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