In Feb. 2023, multinational automotive manufacturer Stellantis halted production of the Jeep Cherokee at its Belvidere Assembly Plant.
The decision to indefinitely idle the plant was accompanied by the layoff of around 1,300 employees, spelling broader economic uncertainty for the city of Belvidere.
In the years since the decision, the State of Illinois and the United Auto Workers have negotiated with Stellantis to facilitate the plant’s re-opening…