This week GM has applied for an industrial facilities tax certificate that, if approved, would cut the property taxes in half on $220 million in property, most of it machinery and equipment. "Warren knows that they're a contender, and we're trying to put together a business case," GM spokeswoman Darla Park said. "Tax exemptions are an integral part and essential for corporate approval." The local plant has about 500,000 sf of space that could be used for the new project, if awarded.

In a press conference this week, the head of the UAW Region 1 president Ken Terry and Warren Mayor Mark Steenbergh explained that tax breaks are vital to keeping the plant running and retaining some 500-plus jobs at the plant. Warren Power Train now employs about 1,500 people.

"GM is interested (in Warren), but only if we can bring our costs down so they compare with plants overseas that want this investment and these jobs as much as we do," Steenbergh explained at the news conference. "If GM does not get this abatement, and therefore does not make this investment here, they will pay less taxes each year on that Powertrain plant and will have fewer and fewer jobs until it is time to turn out the lights there."