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Expansion Coming to Bowling Green Corvette Plant

Lisa Autry

A major expansion is in the works at the Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant. 

General Motors announced today a $439 million investment for facility upgrades, including a new paint shop.  Construction will begin this summer and take about two years to complete. 

Plant Manager Jeff Lamarche says the investment shows GM’s commitment to the Bowling Green facility.

"It's really clear that GM is not just committing for years ahead, but committing to the community, the plant, and the men and women here in Bowling Green," Lamarche told WKU Public Radio.  "It's basically recognition for the great job everybody's done."

The new paint shop will be 450,000 square feet, almost half the size of the current assembly plant.  The expansion is not expected to create any additional jobs. 

Thursday's announcement follows nearly $135 million invested in the plant over the last four years for the new seventh generation Corvette and the Performance Build Center. 

Last month, GM announced it would invest $5.4 billion in its U.S. facilities over the next three years.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.