Andy BerkeChattanooga Mayor Andy Berke today called on Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to "immediately" put state incentives back on the table for a potential expansion at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant.
"The first line created over 12,000 jobs in our area. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and watch this opportunity go elsewhere," Berke said in a statement.
Berke also said that after the state withdrew its incentives offer earlier this year, he informed VW that the city's incentives were still available to the German automaker.
"Over the last year I have worked hard to bring a second automobile line to Chattanooga. Even after the State withdrew its incentives package, I let Volkswagen know the City of Chattanooga is committed to expanding production here and that our incentives were still available.
The state offered nearly $300 million in incentives to VW to put in a second vehicle line at the plant.
See more in Tuesday's Times Free Press.