The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce now owns the
first-issued press kit for the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, which was
unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show on January 14. The press kit is a coveted
memorabilia item for Corvette enthusiasts. General Motors produced just 2,014
copies, which were distributed only to media and invited guests at the auto
show.
“The Corvette is part of our DNA in Bowling Green,” said Ron
Bunch, CEcD, Chamber president and CEO. “We’re excited to be internationally
known for this icon of the automotive world and to be owners of the first press
kit. It’s a great testament to our business climate as GM brings millions of
dollars in investment and hundreds of new jobs to South Central Kentucky, and
I’m confident that this momentum will continue to grow in 2013.”
Housing the No. 1 Corvette Stingray press kit at the Chamber
is not just for a display. It serves as a reminder of the significant impact
that the Corvette makes in South Central Kentucky.
Having manufactured the Corvette in Bowling Green since
1981, General Motors announced in 2011 that it would enhance its Bowling Green
facility for the production of the next generation Corvette, the Stingray. In
the announcement, the company stated that the project would bring an investment
of more than $131 million and plans to hire 250 new employees. Company leaders
attribute this significant investment and job creation to the positive,
business-friendly environment in Bowling Green and South Central Kentucky.
“I’m proud to tell anyone across the globe that Bowling
Green and South Central Kentucky are a terrific place to do business,” said
Dave Tatman, plant manager at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. “I’ve worked for
GM in several other states and countries, and this is the best place to do
business in my experience because the entire region supports the growth of this
economy.”
“It is an understatement to say that the Corvette plant is
an asset to South Central Kentucky,” said Bunch. “As we market the region,
we’re able to tout the success and tenure that the plant has had in this
region. Alongside the abundance of automotive suppliers in the region, this is proof
that we are an excellent location for the automotive market.”
He continued, “As the buzz grows for the new Corvette, more
people are taking notice of Bowling Green and all that we have to offer. We’re
also poised for significant growth in the motorsports industry because of the
new motorsports park in development by the National Corvette Museum and the
companies here that are part of the high-performance and racing segments, such
as Holley Performance Products, Quick Fuel Technology, and RC Components. This
is all because of the great partnerships that we have with these companies, the
National Corvette Museum, and our stakeholders.”
Wendell Strode, executive director of the
National Corvette Museum, agreed. “By partnering together, we’re exponentially
growing our network of Corvette and motorsports enthusiasts. This is a true
example of how we’re all committed to one goal: to grow businesses, create more
jobs, and bring more dollars to South Central Kentucky.”
The Chamber purchased the press kit at auction, and General
Motors will donate the proceeds to fund breast cancer research through the
American Cancer Society. Bunch remarked, “This purchase was a statement about
the pride we have in the Corvette, as well as a way for us to support a worthy
cause. I commend General Motors for using the sale of this press kit as an
opportunity to bring more awareness to breast cancer research.”
