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Mayor Unveils Living Agreement to Show Flint's Commitment to GM

24 September 1997

Mayor Unveils Living Agreement to Show Flint's Commitment to GM

    FLINT, Mich., Sept. 24 -- Mayor Woodrow Stanley, leader of
Flint's Billy Durant Automotive Commission, has presented to General Motors
Corp. "A Living Agreement" -- a formal document produced by the
Durant Commission, outlining a community-wide collective effort to demonstrate
the city's ongoing commitment to GM.
    Stanley met with G. Richard Wagoner, Jr., Executive Vice President of
General Motors and President of General Motors North American Operations in
Warren recently, and formally presented the 15-page document.
    The Durant Commission, a partnership composed of Flint community leaders
from both the private and public sectors, was formed a year ago, specifically
to examine what the community has to offer business and industry, in general,
and GM specifically.  Members put their heads together to identify ways the
Flint community could make contributions to GM, in hopes that the automotive
giant will recognize inherent benefits of maintaining operations and doing
business in Flint.
    "With this Living Agreement, we continue the dialogue with GM at the
highest level," Stanley said.  "We have firm commitments from higher education
institutions; the City of Flint and Genesee County; health care institutions;
private business, and the organized labor and cultural communities.
We want to entice GM and other businesses to stay here, and we'd also like to
see new businesses consider Flint."
    The Living Agreement is divided into five different components: labor,
education, health, government and culture, with each area defining a major
initiative or investment designed to meet a specific need of General Motors.
    Added Stanley, "This document represents over a year's worth of work --
intense research, numerous meetings, and a lot of brainstorming.  We've put
together a comprehensive plan that shows we are serious about our commitment
to General Motors, but we'd like to see GM express a commitment to Flint as
well."

SOURCE  City of Flint