Breaking News - Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation

County to Present GM with $200,000 Check

Jun. 19th, 2010
Stephanie Wilken

An economic development incentive helped bring General Motors to Yuma County with the GM Test Track - and now officials will honor that commitment with a check presentation. At the presentation, which was announced Friday, the Yuma County Board of Supervisors will present a $200,000 check to GM officials June 28 at Yuma Proving Ground, where the test track facility opened in July. According to the release, the money is part of an economic development incentive the board agreed to pay GM, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Commerce, Commerce and Economic Development Commission (CEDC), to relocate its hot weather test track to Yuma. “GM's presence has been a welcome addition to Yuma County since before the construction phase event started,” said Yuma County Administrator Robert Pickels. “The organization made a commitment to become part of our community and they have fit in very well. The board of supervisors felt very strongly about following through on Yuma County's financial commitment.” According to the release, the agreement calls for Yuma County to pay an additional $26,000 on the second anniversary of the test track opening in Yuma County, with the CEDC matching the total $226,000 payment to GM after the test track has been in operation for five years. The GM Desert Proving test track was developed on 2,400 acres inside Yuma Proving Ground about 30 miles north of Yuma through an enhanced joint use lease agreement between the automaker and the Army, according to the release. The new test facility replaces the 50-year-old GM complex in Mesa, where urban encroachment brought two-story homes to the very edge of the test courses. “GM's construction of the $120 million facility began in 2007, and the test complex went into operation in May 2009,” according to the release. “GM employees have since relocated to Yuma from Mesa and the test track has been in full swing during cold and hot weather seasons.” Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.

Stephanie Wilken
Sun Staff Writer
The Sun
Jun. 19th, 2010

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