By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Bucyrus area workforce is about to get a boost due to a $30 million dollar investment from General Electric to reach demand for energy efficient light bulbs.
The investment will be split among three of General Electric’s facilities which will bring 70 new jobs to the Bucyrus, Ohio plant, 50 jobs to the Circleville, Ohio plant, and 30 new jobs to the Mattoon, Illinois plant. The announcement coincides with a new agreement between Walmart and GE, as part of Walmart’s $50 billion domestic manufacturing commitment to bring more American-made products to consumers. This agreement will put U.S.-made GE Energy-Efficient Soft White light bulbs on the shelves of 3,400 Walmart Stores by summer 2014.
George Gramas of the Bucyrus G.E. plant said of the investment, “I think It is great to continue to grow the plant. So in 2008 and 2009 we invested 60 million dollars into moving a group from Canada and bringing in production from overseas. So just to see a continued investment in the community and the commitment from our employees I think it is fantastic.”
As a result of the investment, the G.E. Bucyrus Plant will have seven running lines with four high speed linear florescent groups along with three new lines for the new energy efficient soft white light bulbs.
In a press release GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said, “As a company whose history dates back more than 130 years, we understand that to grow, we have to invest—in R&D and in workers. Today’s announcement is evidence of our continued commitment to creating advanced manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and yet another sign of an American manufacturing renewal.”
The Bucyrus plant has already began the process of hiring and changing the facility in order to install the new line groups in order to meet next year’s deadline with Wal-Mart.