Shocked and surprised.
That's how local officials are feeling after hearing Nemak will close its aluminium casting plant in west Windsor in mid 2020.
AM800 News has learned the program was with GM Shanghai and sales of vehicles that use a two litre engine block made at Nemak have dropped 75% in that country.
Windsor-Essex Economic Development Corporation CEO Stephen MacKenzie says he's disappointed.
"The job losses, over 200 jobs I mean that's just a terrible impact and of course we're concerned for all of the folks that work there and their families," says MacKenzie.
CEO of the Windsor-Essex Economic Development Corporation Stephen MacKenzie (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
MacKenzie says there were no rumblings about the closure.
"When in contact with the different associations, machine, tool, die and mold to CAMM and as I said no rumours, if they're out there we certainly didn't hear them," says MacKenzie.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens says city officials were caught off guard as well.
"We had no advance notice either in the Mayor's Office, the city or at the Economic Development Corporation so we're just trying to get answers to understand what the real issue here is and to see if there is some way to move forward with Nemak to get that plant re-opened," says Dilkens. "I think if we can sit down and get some answers we maybe able to figure out if there's a solution locally."
Dilkens says in 2016 city council approved a $1.3-million Community Improvement Plan for Nemak over five years.
"We had worked with the company extensively over the years including most recently in the last couple of years approving a Community Improvement Plan contribution of 1.3 million and I know they haven't drawn on that approval by city council but we've certainly been willing partners to try and make them or help them become competitive here in the City of Windsor versus the other locations they operate around the world," says Dilkens.
Ward two city councillor Fabio Costante says the closure will have a spin-off effect on the community.
"When it comes to retain and spending and purchasing a home and all the things families do to contribute to our economy but the fact that it's located in the ward and the fact that many of the folks that work at Nemak do patronize the businesses here in Sandwich Town, it's certainly going to be a ripple effect in our community."
Windsor city councillor Fabio Costante on May 6, 2019 (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
In January 2017, the federal government announced it was investing in an engineering program at Nemak.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains told Nemak executives and staff that Ottawa is putting $3-million into a $9-million program.
The goal was to develop a fully automated casting process for aluminium engine blocks that would be lighter and stronger than what's being made now.
In 2015, the plant also received a $1.5-million grant from the province's Southwestern Ontario Development Fund.