Invest In Our Economy March 2020 | Page 2

HIGHLIGHTS GM UNVEILS NEW SUBURBAN, TAHOE BUILT EXCLUSIVELY IN ARLINGTON The eyes of the auto world were on Arlington as General Motors unveiled the all-new 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban in late December. The full-size SUVs are made exclusively at the Arlington Assembly plant, which employs about 4,000+ workers. The plant, which opened in 1954, runs six days a week and will occasionally add a seventh day, based on demand. GM has invested more than $1.4 billion dollars in the plant since 2015 to expand the paint and body shops and add high-tech inspection systems. The company says those upgrades helped improve production-efficiency and build-quality of the new 2021 models. “More than the physical changes, the Arlington upgrades increase assembly flexibility in the plant, allowing for more model and trim variations,” said Arlington Plant Executive Director Bill Kulhanek. The City of Arlington worked with GM in 2015 to make the investment possible, creating a reinvestment zone and tax abatement plan. With the expansion, the Arlington Assembly now covers more than 5.75 million square feet. The 2021 Tahoe and Suburban will be on sale in mid- 2020. Six Flags Finalizes Move to Globe Life Park Six Flags Entertainment Corporation—the world’s largest regional theme park company and the largest operator of waterparks in North America—finalized an agreement with the Texas Rangers to occupy the Centerfield Office Building at Globe Life Park in January. The company signed a 15-year lease and will be relocating its world headquarters in the first half of 2020. “Six Flags and the Texas Rangers share a long history as the original venues that made up the Arlington Entertainment District. We are thrilled with today’s announcement which brings that relationship full circle,” said Six Flags President and CEO Mike Spanos. “Arlington is a fantastic city with a strong commitment to community and public service and our team is excited to work, live and play here. We want to thank the Texas Rangers, Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams and the City Council for bringing the world’s first regional theme park company back to where it all began.”