Joe Hornday
When Honda announced more than two years ago that the company would be dropping a manufacturing plant into the relatively small town of Greensburg, it was met with different reactions.
But with the plant now operating and making cars, attitudes toward the massive manufacturer are becoming increasingly positive.
“When I first heard, I was excited for Greensburg,” resident David Bales explained. “We were the lucky ones to get it, the way I look at it.”
He added that it was likely to bring in more businesses to the town, though getting around the city may be tough for awhile.
St. Paul resident Joe Reardon echoed Bales’ concerns about traffic.
“I’m glad they chose Greensburg, but the increased traffic on 421 is the only bad thing,” he said.
According to Reardon, who lives near the traffic hot-spot, the morning and afternoon rush hours create throngs of traffic that he and his neighbors simply are not used to. Still, Reardon remained optimistic and hoped that the questionable state of the global economy does not scare Honda or the businesses it brings away.
“It should bring infrastructure and a good tax base, too,” he noted.
Like Reardon, Tim Brancamp of Napoleon is hopeful and cautiously optimistic about Honda in the current economic crisis.
“I think it’s going to be excellent for the city,” Brancamp said.
He went on to explain that the positive impact should bring about significant growth in the city as well as the surrounding communities. But Brancamp cautioned that the city needs to be aware of the types of jobs that may come in to bask in some of Honda’s success. Lower income jobs, he said, would not be beneficial.
Jennifer Linarducci, who said that the area could benefit from further development, thought the plant would be good for Greensburg, though concerns regarding potential traffic issues still were in her mind. Linarducci explained that she was hoping for a “domino effect,” where new hotels, businesses and strip malls ride along on Honda’s coattails to bring further growth to the county.
Dorothy Murray, who works in Greensburg, said that the Honda Manufacturing plant would help the Decatur County economy by bringing more housing and businesses.
“I was excited, I just think it’s wonderful,” Murray said. “When we heard it was coming to Decatur County, we felt like celebrating. We couldn’t believe it was coming here.”
