Pocono News Section

Dealership Fights General Motors, Saves Dozens of Jobs

Dealership Fights General Motors, Saves Dozens of Jobs - Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 3:20PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009 @ 03:20pm EDT
STROUD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY -- An area car dealership fought a major corporation and won.

The staff at Gray Chevrolet thought General Motors would put the brakes on their jobs. General Manager Ed DeFebo said, “We were devastated.”

In May General Motors sent the dealership a letter. It said as part of the company's restructuring plan the owner would have to lock the doors in fall of 2010. Owner WIlliam Rinehart said, “I was flabbergasted.”

Rinehart wasn't willing to close. He said, “We were a successful productive business.”

So he and his staff of about forty people fought back. They gathered facts about how the business helps the community. They wrote letters to General Motors. They asked lawmakers for help. DeFebo said, “Everybody jumped in and said we’re gonna fight this to the end.”

Then, after all that hard work the owner called a staff meeting on Friday to let all of his employees know, he got another letter from General Motors. Rinehart said, “We were delighted this week to be informed by General Motors that they had reconsidered.” DeFebo added, “It was very emotional, I will tell you that.”

Now the dealership will remain open. More than forty people will keep their jobs and it looks like Gray Chevrolet of the Poconos will drive off into a positive future. DeFebo said, “We’re pumped. We’re ready to sell cars and make customers happy. That’s our goal.”