Corvette Assembly Plant Named Kentucky Manufacturer of the Year

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Corvette Assembly Plant Named Kentucky Manufacturer of the Year

The new Corvette Stingray has been earning accolades from the press ever since it was unveiled earlier this year.

It’s only natural that the General Motors Assembly Plant in Bowling Green where America’s Sports Car has been built since 1981 would share in that glory, too.

Earlier this month the Bowling Green Assembly Plant was named Manufacturer of the Year by the Kentucky Association for Manufacturers (KAM) at the 2013 KAM Manufacturer and Employee of the Year Awards ceremony.

Plant Manager Dave Tatman was on hand to accept the latest honor for the Bowling Green facility during a ceremony in Louisville, Ky.

“We are honored to receive this award from KAM,” Tatman said. “General Motors has had a great partnership with our local community and the state of Kentucky. We are happy to be able to give back to this area that we have called home for over thirty years.”

Each year, a manufacturer that exemplifies the traits of exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, community leadership, and policy contributions to enhance the overall prosperity of Kentucky is presented with the award.

Competition was stiff this year with a record number of entries for the award, according to Greg Higdon, president and CEO of KAM.

“GM personifies the criteria that we use to evaluate those nominated for this award,” Higdon said, “and we couldn’t be more pleased to honor them for all that they have accomplished.”

The Bowling Green plant – which just underwent a $131 million renovation to get ready for production of the totally redesigned C7 – earned praise from Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Brad Howard.

“GM has redefined the business climate of South Central Kentucky, and their continued confidence and investment in the region has served as a foundation for a thriving automotive industry,” Howard said. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with GM for many years to come.”

GM has been a strong corporate citizen in Kentucky, too. This year alone, the company has donated $213,000 to charities, and in January, it earned four awards for its support of United Way of Southern Kentucky after donating some $100,000 to the agency and increasing pledges by $37,000.

The plant has also earned recognition recently for its environmental efforts.

Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson says the Corvette plant “continues to make significant contributions to our community, both to our economy and to improve the quality of life here in Bowling Green.”

He said the city is “grateful to have companies like GM that care about their community and help make Bowling Green, Kentucky a great place to be.”

Judge Executive Michael Buchanon says people often associate the city with the production of the Corvette and when the city itself thinks of GM, it sees a corporate citizen that is making a difference in the quality of life there.

“When Bowling Green thinks of GM, we think of a corporate citizen that has given this city not only an identity, but a quality of life by their contribution to the community and environment here,” Buchanon said. “There is a sense of pride in this region for GM and when they succeed, we succeed. Congratulations to the GM staff for this honor.”


Source:
Corvette Museum

Related:
[VIDEO] CorvetteBlogger Talks with Corvette Plant Manager Dave Tatman
Corvette Assembly Plant to Reopen Tours Starting October 14th
[VIDEO] Watch the 2014 Corvette Stingrays Get Built in Bowling Green

 



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