General Motors Co. Thursday will announce plans to invest and add jobs at three plants, including the Defiance, Ohio, foundry.
GM was releasing few details Wednesday, but a media advisory said press conferences will be held "to announce an investment in these facilities to support the next-generation, fuel-efficient Ecotec engine from GM.
"This investment, totaling millions of dollars with a positive impact, will position these communities for a bright future as GM transforms its product portfolio with new technologies and engines to reduce vehicle fuel consumption and emissions," the advisory said.
In addition to the Defiance Foundry, GM is holding press conferences at plants in Tonawanda, N.Y., and Bay City, Mich. Those are scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday, while the Defiance press conference is at 2:30 p.m.
GM spokesman Chris Lee said the company wouldn't release further details prior to the press conferences. But the Rochester, N.Y., Democrat and Chronicle last week quoted U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., as saying the investment would be worth hundreds of millions for GM's Tonawanda plant.
Thursday's announcement will be more good news for the regional economy from GM.
The Defiance Foundry, which employs about 1,100, makes power-train components for most GM vehicles.
In September, GM announced that it would add a third shift and 700 jobs to the 2,400 at its Allen County assembly plant. GM officials said the foundry likely would get a boost as well, but didn't say how many jobs would be added.
