City and auto industry officials held an opening ceremony at an assembly plant built on the former site of Kettering High School on Detroit’s east side today. The Dakkota Integrated Systems plant makes instrument panels for Jeep vehicles and employs 500 workers.
“And so to go to those hiring fairs where we pre-screened was amazing. Where the Detroiters would come in and we would say ‘these are hard jobs… you’re going to be on your feet all day… you’re going to have to pass a math and reasoning test… you aren’t going to get your first choice of shifts.’ And we sent people who were ready to go.” said Mayor Mike Duggan. He says the city helped recommend candidates for those jobs through the “Detroit at Work” program.
Officials with Dakkota Integrated Systems who’s founder is Native American say 90% of the Kettering plant’s current workforce identify as a member of a minority group. Company officials say they plan to add an additional 75 jobs at the site in the coming months.