Governor Quinn and President Obama Visit Ford Motor Company's Chicago Plant

CHICAGO – August 5, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today joined President Barack Obama at the Ford Motor Company’s manufacturing plant on Chicago’s South Side. Governor Quinn signed Illinois’ tax credit for auto manufacturers into law in December 2009 to bring 1,200 Ford jobs to the Chicago area. Last week, the company unveiled its 2011 Ford Explorer, which is being built in Illinois thanks to the new tax credit.

“Ford has a long history of putting Americans to work building dependable vehicles, and they understand that some of the best workers in the country are right here in Illinois,” said Governor Quinn. “I am proud to be here with President Obama to demonstrate Illinois’ commitment to getting people back to work in good paying jobs like those here at Ford.”

Ford is benefiting from Governor Quinn’s commitment to create and maintain jobs in Illinois. Last December, Governor Quinn signed the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit for auto manufacturers into law. The auto industry is one of Illinois’ largest employers, and the EDGE tax credit enables auto manufacturers to retain employee income tax withholdings as an alternative to current EDGE corporate tax credit, and reinvest those funds into operations that generate greater employment.

In January, Governor Quinn joined Ford Motor Company to announce the addition of 1,200 new jobs at the Chicago Assembly and Chicago Stamping facilities to produce the next-generation Ford Explorer SUV. The auto maker is investing nearly $400 million to launch production.

Governor Quinn joined Ford executives in Chicago last week to unveil the 2011 Ford Explorer, which is being assembled in Illinois. The new Explorer will deliver at least 30 percent better fuel economy than the outgoing model. The vehicle will feature unibody construction, Ford’s EcoBoost engine technology, a six-speed transmission and lightweight materials.

In addition to the 1,200 jobs created at Illinois’ Ford plants, the company’s suppliers have agreed to add more than 600 jobs in Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. Using industry estimates by the Center for Automotive Research, 1,200 direct Ford jobs in Chicago are expected to support nearly 12,000 indirect jobs.

Ford has a long history in Illinois. The company sold its first car, the Model A, to Dr. Ernst Pfenning of Chicago on July 23, 1903. Just over 20 years later the company opened Chicago Assembly, now its oldest operating plant in the world.

As a result of Governor Quinn’s efforts – such as the EDGE tax credit – to create jobs in Illinois, the state has added nearly 60,000 jobs in 2010, more new jobs than any other Midwest state.