GM's year commitment includes use of historic Durant-Dort Factory One site

FLINT, MI--December 9, 2013: Building on recent announcements to increase investments in the Flint area, General Motors will boost its support of the annual Back to the Bricks car show and cruise.

GM and Back to the Bricks officials recently agreed to a five-year deal under which GM will provide financial support and various assets to support multiple Back to the Bricks activities throughout the year.

“Back to the Bricks is a terrific car show and cruise, but it's more than that – it’s also an economic driver that brings visitors and money to the greater Flint area,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. "It's something GM is happy to support."

Back to the Bricks typically attracts more than 500,000 visitors and several thousand classic vehicles during the annual show and cruise each August.

GM is not disclosing the financial terms of its support for Back to the Bricks, but the company plans to offer support to the non-profit throughout the year.

GM’s support of Back to the Bricks activities includes:

Annual promotional tour (now called the Michiana Tour) June 20-24, 2014: 150 classic vehicles touring Michigan and Indiana cities to promote the annual show and cruise in Flint Tune-Up Week the week of Aug. 3, 2014: Several communities in the Flint area host special events leading up to the annual show and cruise Back to the Bricks car show and cruise Aug. 12-16: Activities include rolling cruises, drive-in movies and the annual car show in downtown Flint

Earlier this year, Reuss announced GM had purchased the historic Durant-Dort Factory One building and planned to create a multi-use facility showcasing Flint’s carriage and automotive history. Given its proximity to the Back to the Bricks show in downtown Flint, Buick car enthusiasts used the parking lot near the factory to display their cars during the 2013 show. It is expected to host similar vehicle displays in the coming years.

“With the development of Factory One and now our support of Back to the Bricks, our hope is more people will join us in investing in and supporting the redevelopment of Flint’s historic Carriage Town district,” Reuss said.

To date, GM has invested more than $1 billion in its Flint manufacturing operations since early 2009, recently completing a $328-million investment in Flint Assembly to launch its redesigned heavy-duty pickups. It is in the process of investing $215 million in Flint Engine to update its engine production capabilities.

GM’s Flint-area operations employ 7,500 people. In addition to assembly, engine, stamping and tooling operations, GM’s Customer Care & Aftersales operation is headquartered in Grand Blanc Township. CCA also operates two processing centers in Genesee County.