Sturgis-Coldwater News

State Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-MI-35) said General Motors (GM) expansion in Indiana, rather than its home state of Michigan, is due to Indiana having a “better all around” business climate.

Her comments come after she voted for a proposal that would end longstanding Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) tax credits granted to GM and other in-state auto manufacturers.

"Unfortunately for Michigan, Indiana’s tax and insurance structures are better all around,” Wortz told Sturgis-Coldwater News. “It’s something Michigan could and should learn from.”

Supporters of the proposal to end the MEGA tax credits say it would help fund road construction in the state. 

The proposal would raise the auto manufacturers’ business tax rate from 4.95% to 30%, potentially eliminating $500 million in refundable tax credits. Originally enacted in 2009 to stabilize the auto sector, these credits were set to continue through 2030. 

The Michigan Manufacturers Association said the proposal would results in a “506 percent increase” in taxes, and Sandy Baruah, president for the Detroit Regional Chamber said “the proposed tax increase will do nothing but jeopardize the state's ability to do business.”

Meanwhile, GM is increasing output of its full-size pickup trucks at the Fort Wayne Assembly plant in Indiana, with the company hiring up to 250 temporary part-time production workers to meet growing demand. Job listings indicate a starting wage of $16.67 per hour and availability requirements include weekends and holiday shifts. 

“We continuously update and revise production schedules as part of our standard process of evaluating and aligning to manage vehicle inventory,” GM said in a statement to Fox Business. The company said the Ft. Wayne expansion will “support current manufacturing and business needs.”

The positions involve assembly line work and may lead to full-time roles. Interested candidates are being recruited through GM’s careers portal.

GM maintains major facilities in Michigan, including its Detroit headquarters and the Factory ZERO EV plant in Hamtramck, but the company has already committed a $632 million new investment at the Indiana facility to modernize tooling, update conveyors, and support the next generation of internal combustion engine (ICE) light-duty trucks. 

These upgrades are part of a longer-term trend: GM has invested nearly $2 billion in the Fort Wayne plant since 2013 and more than $2.8 billion in its total Indiana operations, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Wortz began representing Michigan’s 35th House District in January 2025 after a victory in the 2024 general election, where she secured 74% of the vote . The district includes Hillsdale and Branch counties, as well as the city of Hudson in Lenawee County . Worth is a Michigan State University graduate, and she and her husband, Nate, own and operate Central Grace Farms. She previously served on the Quincy Community Schools Board of Education and led the Branch County Moms for Liberty chapter.