Governor Bob Holden and legislative leaders have announced a bi-partisan plan to help save 2,600 jobs at the Ford Assembly Plant in Hazelwood. Economic Development Director Joe Driskill says the proposal to keep Ford in Missouri does not involve the state giving away fistfuls of dollars. Rather, it includes legislation that would amend current laws related to incentive programs, the Enterprise Zone Program, and the Community College New Jobs Training Program. Ford had previously announced it intends to close the Hazelwood plant, but says it won’t do so before 2005. Holden says there are no guarantees the incentives will keep the Ford plant open, but he believes this is well worth the effort.
