WENTZVILLE (KMOX) – General Motors is expected to make official Thursday morning that it’s adding a second shift of full-size van production and investing millions for new production of a mid-size pick-up truck.

The additional shift of G.M.C. Savanna production should add 400 jobs, mostly formerly laid-off workers, as soon as January. The $380 million investment to expand the plant to allow for assembly what’s believed to be the Chevrolet Avalanche should add at least 1,400 new jobs.

“That trickles down all the way to the waitresses and restaurant servers,” Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi said. “Every business in the region is going to impacted.”

From plant suppliers to gas stations, Lambi said each new job at an automotive plant typically results in the creation of ten jobs elsewhere in the community.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and local officials will join G.M. executives and representatives from the United Auto Workers for an 11 a.m. announcement at the Wentzville plant.

Copyright KMOX Radio