GM Work Bound for Mexico to Head for Spring Hill Instead

General Motors plans to divert work that was headed to Mexico and build two mid-size cars in Spring Hill. The assembly lines will restore 1,700 jobs in Tennessee.

The new positions are part of a contract agreement between the United Auto Workers and GM. Ratification of the deal will take place next week.

Roughly 2,000 employees were laid off in 2009 when the assembly line in Spring Hill was idled. Among them was Mike Proctor. He recently took a temporary position at a GM plant in Texas. Talking on his cell phone, Proctor says he’s already on the road, headed back to Tennessee.

“That’s my home, and that’s where I’m trying to get back to.”

Hundreds of GM employees scattered around the country. Proctor, who has a fiancé and home in Columbia, says he’s been waiting two years for the Spring Hill plant to restart.

“It’s a great feeling. It’s a feeling of relief too.”

According to a summary of the agreement, GM will spend $60 million on one of the car lines, creating 600 jobs. More than $350 million will be invested in another assembly line that will employ 1,100 workers.

Plants in Michigan, Missouri and Indiana are also getting new products as part of the new UAW contract.