The only auto plant currently working west of the Mississippi is in Fremont, CA… an old farming village turned high tech city. The auto plant was a joint venture between GM and Toyota begun in the ‘80s. But this summer GM announced plans to pull out of the deal. Now Toyota has decided to close the plant. Rachel Dornhelm talked to residents in this unlikely auto town about how the plant’s closure will affect them.
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Piece Description
The only auto plant currently working west of the Mississippi is in Fremont, CA… an old farming village turned high tech city. The auto plant was a joint venture between GM and Toyota begun in the ‘80s. But this summer GM announced plans to pull out of the deal. Now Toyota has decided to close the plant. Rachel Dornhelm talked to residents in this unlikely auto town about how the plant’s closure will affect them.
Broadcast History
A shorter version of this story aired on the Marketplace Morning Report
Transcript
DORNHELM 1
Beck’s Shoes is a family-owned chain. Walk into their Fremont branch and there are tables of comfort shoes and racks of insoles. But go in the stock room with store manager Oscar Blanco [BLAHN-koh]…
SFX 1
This is like your basic [SFX: sound of pulling shoebox down in background]
DORNHELM 2
…and there are shelves and shelves of work boots:
SFX 2
it’s your basic six inch, we call it a six inch black boot [FADE UNDER] because it’s six inches from the ground from heel to collar
DORNHLEM 3
These are typical boots at NUMMI– the short name for Fremont’s New United Motor Manufacturing plant. It is the largest private employer in the city. And its shutdown would hurt other businesses throughout the region… Places like Beck’s. They’ve had an account with NUMMI for several years.
BLANCO 1
Well, it’s huge because you figure they’re given 110 dollars toward a pair of their s...
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Intro and Outro
INTRO:INTRO: The only auto plant still working west of the Mississippi is in Fremont, CA… an old farming village turned hi tech city. The auto plant was a joint venture between GM and Toyota begun in the ‘80s. But this summer GM announced plans to pull out of the deal. Now there are reports that Toyota will likely close the plant. Rachel Dornhelm talked to residents in this unlikely auto town about how the plant’s closure would affect them.
OUTRO:
