Harley considering new sites for a new plant

[Randall K. Wilson]

It was on the Local Indianapolis news tonight that the Town Fathers of Shelbyville IN (central Indiana) are throwing a rally Sunday at 1pm. They are asking folk to drive their Harley's to town and come to town wearing Harley shirts and hats. According to this account, Harley Big-wigs have been in Shelbyville looking the town over as a consideration of putting in a plant that will employ 1,500 people.

Shelbyville one of the Finalists for Harley Davidson Plant
Fox59.com
August 21, 2009

Just weeks ago Connersville, Indiana landed a police car plant. Now Shelbyville is one of four national finalists for a Harley Davidson motorcycle plant.

The city is up against Shelbyville, Kentucky, Murfreesboro, TN and Kansas City, Missouri. All want to land the plant. Harley Davidson announced they may close their plant in York, Pennsylvania because of economic inefficiencies at the plant. The York plant employs 2300. The new plant will be smaller and have about 1000 workers. Harley officials visited Shelby County Wednesday and Thursday. They want to streamline production for a U.S. company that in recent years has lost ground trying to stay profitable.

Fox59 has learned a 100-acre tract of Indiana farmland in the northwest corner of Shelby County is the spot they company's considering.

"It is a small town and there are only a few sites that are right for what they want, said Steve Allen a longtime Shelbyville realtor.

"It could generate jobs and generate sales for us because we are the closest dealer to that location," said Cathy Shulteti general manager of a Harley Davidson dealership on Indianapolis' southside.

"With Honda to the east and Harley to the west, combined it would be 3500-4000 jobs," said Allen. "So that would have a huge economic impact in Shelby county."

Honda opened it's Greensburg plant in Decatur county last year. Economic incentives will play a major role in luring Harley. In Pennsylvania locals are fighting hard to keep the plant open in York. having huge rallies to convince Harley Davidson officials to keep the plant open in York. The state has offered 15 million towards upgrading the York plant.

Shelby county financially may have a lot to offer. County officials say they're making six million in tax revenues from the Casino and horse track. Some of that revenue can go to pay for a sewer system and roads in and out of the plant along with other major incentives to lure Harley. Harley officials say they wont make a final decision until Fall.
Copyright © 2009, WXIN-TV, Indianapolis

 

[Fossil]

I was riding Harley's before York, PA came into the picture. Before Harley that was an old closed factory but was cheap for the getting at the time. It was never intended to be a motorcycle assembly plant. Harley has made do all these years. Harley has already moved the Sprotster and V Rod assembly else where. Harley hates the unions and will do what ever they can to kill off fair representation of the workers. Greed now directs Harley thus the high prices, pay as you go HOG, advertisement in The Enthusiast for the first time in decades and the list goes on. I wouldn't ride any other brand and believe me Harley knows their plant must be in the good ol USA. Perhaps Harley wants to move closer to Milwaukee then maybe they don't. If they seriously want to move the York plant then Alabama is the place to go. Alabama has made many concessions to corporations to move there and I don't see them not offering deals to Harley. We will see. Fossil

 

[NEWHD74FAN]

I am constantly amazed how easy it is to tear things down, but when it comes to building infrastructure back up, they never get done because it is too expensive. HD should phase down portions of the York plant, and move some of the equipment if in excess to their other facilities. But what happens if things turn around, suddenly there is no money to buy all that capital equipment that has been bought and paid for many times over. Keeping skilled workers even on shorter 4 day shift, rather than totally wiping out the job force makes more sense. When it comes to layoffs, many in the workforce understand the need to cutback...bonuses for underperforming execs should be flat out denied. Read poor Mr Murdock (in another industry) took a $7mil loss on his $18mil expected bonus...is he worth even $1mil? Boo Hoo!

America's military bases are the same way...true some are in prime real estate areas and they could better serve themselves if they turned over portions to "make better use" of their assets...but just closing so many down is not necessarily the best answer either. Balanced logistical movement and deployment of assets makes more sense than just closure in both cases. No reason to depress areas by pulling totally out, a phased approach I think is best...curbing exorbient salaries for non performing management is much more important, I don't think workers in the US deserve such poor treatment...how do you buy when unemployed or upside down in the real estate market. JMHO

 

[RetiredJake]

The Union will still be there.

The union may be there, but at a greatly diminished role. As stated, TN is a "right to work state." That means that even if a union exists at the plant, they can not force you to join. You are free to make up your own mind, and most Tennesseans do not join a union.

 

[Bud White]

after the tour we took of the york plant i cant see why they would close it sections are fairly new .. sure maybe the main touring plant could be rebuilt but why close it totally .. if they to its policital just like when gm does soemthing which state will give them the most tax breaks

 

[R. Lewis]

I just read about Harley looking for a new site for a new plant. I am shocked. I do know one thing, if they close the York plant and go south, I will not be buying a Harley on my next purchases.

Link
Harley-Davidson considers Kansas City for plant

Yes the company will still be in the US, but it will be moving from an area that has supported them for many years. I am proud to know that Harley is in our neck of the woods. It creates many jobs here and most of us know someone connected to the plant or in the suppliers, I also have family in the area of the plant and visit the plant from time to time. PA has been working with Harley and giving them incentive to rebuild and remain in PA, but it seems that they are ignoring the plea and continuing to look elsewhere. I am in the market for a new bike, but I will be sure to watch this closely, it surely affects my decision on my next ride. I would hate to ride something other than a Harley, but I would buy a Victory in a second if Harley pulls out of PA.

I'm SORRY - I thought you were speaking of maybe Mexico or somewhere like that when you said "south" But now I read your posts and you say if it's not in your back yard - you'll buy a Victory instead of supporting HD and the working families -if it moves at all - at the "new" shop !!!????? DUDE !!!?? True while the families in your "neck of the woods" will be laid-off,others at the "new" plant will get to go to work. Does it sound fair - NO on your side , YES on the "new" side.

 

[dawg16]

I just read about Harley looking for a new site for a new plant. I am shocked. I do know one thing, if they close the York plant and go south, I will not be buying a Harley on my next purchases.

Link
Harley-Davidson considers Kansas City for plant

Pick your new ride.....I'm from the midwest, Kansas, and you east coast folks that have an attitude that "if it doesn't fit the way I think " you can go to.......I don't know why you folks need to have that attitude. We can build things here in Kansas and don't need the corupt dealings with unions that you folks have in NJ. That whole state is about as crooked as any area in the US.....JMO

 

[dawg16]

A post like this is NOT the kind of thing that will endear you to our forum....rash negative and prejudiced generalizations of an entire state full of people, and yes, I'm one of them.

Be careful what you say next, as this type of attitude isn't tolerated well here.

Ok that is fine...but why does one individual have to say that if the plant moves somewhere else "he will buy somewhere else." Is that predudice??? I think maybe you are alittle sensitive your self.....JMO

 

[glider]

Pick your new ride.....I'm from the midwest, Kansas, and you east coast folks that have an attitude that "if it doesn't fit the way I think " you can go to.......I don't know why you folks need to have that attitude. We can build things here in Kansas and don't need the corupt dealings with unions that you folks have in NJ. That whole state is about as crooked as any area in the US.....JMO

Dawg

While some of your post does have some points to it, what is being said here is to take it down a few notches . We like to have a friendly forum here without anything that can be construed as flaming. That's all that is meant here.


Thanks

 

[IRONHEADFRANK]

New Holland used to have a plant in Belleville Pa.I hauled oversize farm equipment out of there.About a year and a half ago they started to tear down the various assembly lines and ship most everything including the dismantled buildings to Grand Isle,NE.I heard from a couple of guys that had been their for over 20 years that Harley was looking into that piece of land to build a plant on. I have not been there in over a year so I don't know who's on that site now.