By Matt Sepic, KWMU
Hazelwood, Mo. – The Ford Motor Company could receive incentives worth $9 million under a new state incentive package for the Hazelwood assembly plant.
The agreement calls for Ford to keep the plant open at least until 2007. In exchange the company would get tax abatements and job training assistance.
Ford Hazelwood task force member Patrick McKeehan says the United Auto Workers must now approve the plan when the union votes later this week.
"This deal is still very tentative," McKeehan said. "We have to get through the ratification process with the UAW to really begin to lock in the agreements in the contract, and that's key to us."
Ford had originally planned to close the factory by mid decade. The Hazelwood plant makes sport-utility vehicles, and employs about 2,700 workers.
Missouri Governor Bob Holden had scheduled a Monday morning news conference in Hazelwood to announce the incentive package, but it was postponed.