Ultium Cells becomes largest employer in Trumbull County

Ultium cells has taken over as the number one employer in Trumbull County.

With more than 2,200 employees pumping out millions of electric vehicle batteries the plant is gaining momentum.

“Ultium attained this leadership role by growing as opposed to somebody else closing or shrinking," Guy Coviello, President of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber said. 

The success of the plant helps out the Village of Lordstown by bringing in an income tax and jobs that they lost when General Motors closed their plant in 2019. 

“The pendulum is starting to swing back the other way,” Jackie Woodward, the Mayor of Lordstown said. “…and now were able to spend a little bit more to work on things within the village”

Ultium is one of two facilities in the United States that makes the batteries to power all of GM’s electric vehicles. As GM gains more success in the EV industry, the plant also thrives. 

“There's certainly a vision in Ohio to be a part of the next generation of technology,” Tom Gallagher, the Vice President of Ultium cells said. “Mahoning Valley [is] also attempting to kind of project itself as voltage valley has a vision and we’re proud to be a significant part of that.”

It's an industry that's bringing people back to the village while establishing a new backbone in the valley.

“It's not the factory floor that my generation and older is known for, these are very high tech jobs,” Coviello said. “We are heading very quickly into a high tech manufacturing economy.”

Ultium Cells surpassed the Youngstown Area Reserve Station by about 100 employees in just the past few months to become the top employer in the county's private sector.