By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Governor Bob Holden announced a plan this morning he hopes will keep the Ford Motors plant open in Hazelwood.
Last year he appointed a task force to tackle the problem. State legislators in the group have developed a bill that would allow for retention projects in essential industries beginning in 2005.
Holden says the bill specifically targets Hazelwood by giving Missouri the tools and the flexibility to negotiate with Ford in a way that makes Hazelwood even more
competitive with other cities with Ford plants.
Last month state officials presented the plan to Ford executives in Detroit. The company has not made a decision on it yet.
The Hazelwood plant employs 26-hundred people and makes Explorer and Mountaineer SUVs.
Ford plans to close the facility by mid decade and move production to Louisville.