General Motors has had a big impact on small town America. Automobiles have long been known as a dominate industry in many small towns throughout the United States. Now, that appears to be changing.
Glen Bruckert is the owner of Bruckert's Chevrolet in Bunker Hill, Illinois. He took over ownership from his father. Now his son Greg and grandson Chris has slowly started to take over the business. They have been under the GM sign as long as I can remember. That all came to an end last Friday. Knowing that this day was coming, Glen had started days ago looking to opt out of his General Motors contract. So losing his dealership with GM came as no surprise.
Over the past view years, Bruckert's has done whatever it took, to keep his business vibrant. He has lost some personnel, but also added some. He has worked to keep his client base strong. If someone doesn't want a new car, he would send people to the car auction in St. Louis, to bring back what a person wants. His used car business is just as strong as his new cars.
Losing his General Motors affiliation, means no more warranty work for GM. This will undoubtedly hurt his business. Still, Bruckert has pledged to continue on. He has a parts and service department and a great body shop as well. Those areas of his business and a strong used car business should help Bruckert's survive.
Bunker Hill recently lost a lumber yard because of the bad economy. Many jobs were lost. Sales tax money, for the town, has dwindled. Then game the automobile crisis. Bunker Hill doesn't have too many tax revenue businesses. With one business gone and one barely hanging on, city officials are wondering how far they will plunge, if Bruckert's fall. Hopefully, they won't have to find out.
The impact, that a major corporation miles away has on small town America, is tremendous. Jobs are provided, sales tax comes in to the city that pays for police protection, better streets, clean water, and waste removal. Parts are needed for vehicles. Those parts have to be made and delivered. So if you take that all away, you are affecting thousands of lives, not even working under the GM logo.
Glen Bruckert is the owner of Bruckert's Chevrolet in Bunker Hill, Illinois. He took over ownership from his father. Now his son Greg and grandson Chris has slowly started to take over the business. They have been under the GM sign as long as I can remember. That all came to an end last Friday. Knowing that this day was coming, Glen had started days ago looking to opt out of his General Motors contract. So losing his dealership with GM came as no surprise.
Over the past view years, Bruckert's has done whatever it took, to keep his business vibrant. He has lost some personnel, but also added some. He has worked to keep his client base strong. If someone doesn't want a new car, he would send people to the car auction in St. Louis, to bring back what a person wants. His used car business is just as strong as his new cars.
Losing his General Motors affiliation, means no more warranty work for GM. This will undoubtedly hurt his business. Still, Bruckert has pledged to continue on. He has a parts and service department and a great body shop as well. Those areas of his business and a strong used car business should help Bruckert's survive.
Bunker Hill recently lost a lumber yard because of the bad economy. Many jobs were lost. Sales tax money, for the town, has dwindled. Then game the automobile crisis. Bunker Hill doesn't have too many tax revenue businesses. With one business gone and one barely hanging on, city officials are wondering how far they will plunge, if Bruckert's fall. Hopefully, they won't have to find out.
The impact, that a major corporation miles away has on small town America, is tremendous. Jobs are provided, sales tax comes in to the city that pays for police protection, better streets, clean water, and waste removal. Parts are needed for vehicles. Those parts have to be made and delivered. So if you take that all away, you are affecting thousands of lives, not even working under the GM logo.
Comments
Moving stuff.
The impact of these closing will be felt all over the country. It is sad.
It's unfortunate how these closures affect small towns. I went to high school in Steubenville, OH which, along with Pittsburgh, was a prime area for making steel. Hearing about what the area used to be like compared to how it was when I lived there is amazing. It's unfortunate how the troubles of a large industry can have such drastic consequences throughout the country.
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