Biden spotlights Belvidere Assembly Plant and Belvidere workers in State of the Union speech

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELVIDERE — President Joe Biden called Belvidere “a great comeback story” during his State of the Union address Thursday night before a joint session of Congress.

The president used part of his address to tout his administration’s efforts, along with the United Auto Workers, to reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant after it had been shuttered a year ago.

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Now, Stellantis — with the help of state, local and federal tax incentives — plans to reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant as a parts distribution center, build a new assembly plant for a mid-sized pickup truck and build a new electric vehicle battery plant.

“The UAW worked like hell to keep the plant open and get these jobs back, and together we succeeded,” Biden said.

The battery plant isn’t expected to come online until 2028, and production of the mid-sized truck would begin in 2027. Late last year, Stellantis brought about 165 laid off employees back to the plant to begin parts distribution work.

“To the folks of Belvidere I say, instead of your town being left behind your community is moving forward again,” Biden said. “Instead of watching auto jobs of the future go overseas, 4,000 union jobs with higher wages are building the future in Belvidere right here in America.”

Biden also put a spotlight on Dawn Simms of Belvidere during his speech. Simms is a third generation worker at the plant. Her grandfather started working there in 1965. Simms has worked at the Belvidere Assembly Plant since 1999.

“Today Dawn has a good job in her hometown, providing stability for her family and pride and dignity as well,” Biden said.

Simms, who previously joined UAW President Shawn Fein on stage in November during President Biden’s visit to Belvidere, was an official guest of the White House and sat in the viewing box during the speech.

UAW Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen was also invited to the speech as a guest of Congressman Bill Foster.

Biden said Belvidere was a symbol of the strength of union workers and America’s resiliency.

“When America gets knocked down we get back up,” Biden said. “We keep going. That’s America. That’s you the American people.”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas