Ohio Governor John Kasich was in Findlay on Wednesday for the grand opening of a new auto supplier plant. MITEC is located on Fostoria Avenue and brings nearly 100 new jobs to the area.
MITEC is an auto parts manufacturer based in Germany. The Findlay facility is the company's first in the United States. Workers in the Flag City will make parts for General Motors.
"I know this building inside out," says Jim Shumaker, one of the employees hired by MITEC to work on the line.
Shumaker actually worked in the same building for more than 30 years, but his old company Findlay Industries closed down operations three years ago.
"I went to work for a rigging company, it was just a temporary job," says Shumaker. "Then they posted the applications online here and I got in."
MITEC also hired Bob Dingus, who was laid off by his previous employer of 29 years, a plastics company in North Baltimore.
"It feels great," says Dingus. "We've got a good team and we're honored to be a part of all this and overall I think it's going to be a really great operation."
All of the new workers joined city, county, and state leaders on Wednesday celebrating the grand opening of the power train plant.
MITEC has facilities in Europe and China.
"It's a big advantage to be in the country," says Dr. Michael Militzer, CEO & Owner of MITEC Automotive AG. "We've been delivering parts to the states for more than twelve years."
Local leaders lured MITEC to town with tax incentives, including more than $7 million from the state.
"It's just another illustration of the fact that this off shore investment, foreign investment into our state is growing," says Ohio Governor John Kasich.
Workers say they're proud of the product: balancers for four cylinder engines.
"It's an anti-vibration unit in the bottom of the engines on the GM engines and what it does is reduce the vibration and extends the life of the engine," says Shumaker.
By mid-July MITEC will have hired almost 30 people. By the end of the year, staffing expects to be near 100 as the company spends close to $30 million to expand.
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