Microgeographic Decisions in an Industrial Plant Location: The Fort Wayne General Motors Case

This article is a study of the microgeographic locational factors involved in a large industrialplant siting decision. The case studied in this instance is the General Motors truck assembly plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This plant, which became operational in 1986, produces 250 pick-up trucks daily in two shifts employing over 3, 500 workers. It is a key factor in the area's economic recovery after the closing of the International Harvester truck plant in 1983. The focus of this inquiry is the decisive and incisive factors that led to the locational decision in Fort Wayne. The decisive factors examined are the land-use features, transportation linkages, and utility connections that were required to make the Fort Wayne site a suitable location for a truck assembly plant. An incisive factor examined is the financial assistance package prepared by city, county, and state governments to close the deal.