JEFFERSON CITY — Ford Motor Company announced that the company will retain nearly 3,750 jobs at its Claycomo plant.
Last year, Sen. Ridgeway fought to help pass HB 2, also known as the Missouri Manufacturing Jobs Act. This legislation provides tax incentives for qualified manufacturing facilities and/or suppliers to create or retain Missouri jobs. The measure was created to bring new product manufacturing in to the state. This measure was aimed at enticing Ford to bring a new production line to its plant in Claycomo after the company announced that the production of its Escape SUV was moving to Louisville, Kentucky.
“This announcement is a victory over our current economy,” Sen. Ridgeway said. “The question of whether or not citizens were going to continue to be able to provide for their families has been answered. And it was the answer we needed.”
Currently, the factory still produces the F-Series truck, and no announcement has been made by Ford as to which new product will be coming into production at the Claycomo plant. However, officials did say they plan on investing over $400 million into the site to prepare for the introduction of a new product.
Under the Missouri Manufacturing Jobs Act, any company that wishes to utilize the tax incentives offered in the measure must make significant capital investments before any benefits will be given. In addition, the jobs must remain in the state if the company wishes to retain those incentives or face having to repay the money.
The jobs, and the resulting pay, affect nearly all businesses in the greater Kansas City area. Those dollars flow into our restaurants, repair shops and many other small businesses. The loss of jobs at the Claycomo plant would have proven devastating to our local economy.
“We have solidified our economic base in Clay County,” Sen. Ridgeway said. “It has been my pleasure, as well as my duty, to work toward this end result, and I am happy to be able to celebrate it.”
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