GLOVIS America announced a new inland distribution center for imported vehicles to be located at the former General Motors plant in Shreveport.
Glovis will make a $1 million capital investment and create 150 new direct jobs, with an average salary of $31,760, plus benefits. The Louisiana Department of Economic Development estimates the project will result in 246 new indirect jobs, for a total of 396 new jobs in northwest Louisiana.
At the distribution center, employees will outfit imported vehicles with equipment and exterior upgrades, as requested by local dealers.Glovis America is a third-party, finished-vehicle logistics company for Kia Motor America and Hyundai Motor America.
The investment is the latest at the former GM plant in Shreveport, which the State of Louisiana and the North Louisiana Economic Partnership, or NLEP, have marketed extensively since GM’s departure in 2012.
“Glovis America’s announcement today signifies a new chapter in revitalizing the former GM plant and returning great jobs to Shreveport and the surrounding region,” Governor John Bel Edwards said. “Upon the launch of operations, I know Glovis will find an abundance of highly skilled talent and an unrivaled infrastructure to receive and ship vehicles.”
The new center will operate in a 125,000-square-foot facility and more than 90 adjoining acres at the former GM site in Shreveport, where Industrial Realty Group is actively recruiting tenants for Caddo Parish’s Industrial Development Board, the site owner. Earlier this week, the company signed a lease with IRG.
This is a great win for the region. -- Scott Martinez, NLEP President
The first vehicles arrived in Shreveport by rail on Tuesday, with future shipments to arrive from South Korea and potentially from sites in the U.S. The company highlighted the ability to expand on-site as a key factor in selecting Shreveport, with additional phases planned for the future.
“We are very excited to be opening a state-of-the-art vehicle logistics and processing center in Shreveport, Louisiana,” said President Glenn Clift of Glovis America. “Existing infrastructure, strong labor force and competitive inbound-outbound rail and outbound trucking costs allowed Shreveport to beat the competition. We anticipate this facility will have a rapid ramp-up over the next few months and will handle over 75,000 new vehicles annually.”
At the new inland distribution center, Glovis is receiving new finished vehicles built at Kia’s factory in Monterrey, Mexico. At the Shreveport center, Glovis America will provide added options and packages to the vehicles prior to delivery to dealerships.
“This is a great win for the region. North Louisiana’s logistical and transportation infrastructure is a major competitive advantage for our communities,” said NLEP President Scott Martinez.
LED began discussing the project with the company, NLEP and IRG in April 2016. In addition to site selection assistance, the State of Louisiana is offering use of its Enterprise Zone Program to Glovis.
“It is such a thrill to see vehicles moving in and out of this plant again,” said Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler. “This site will now return to the symbol of economic prosperity that it once held in our community.”
