'Our competitive business climate, outstanding work force and aggressive strategy to diversify our economy put us in a strong position to win this project and be the state that helps GM produce the cars and trucks that will help end our nation's dependence on foreign oil,' Granholm said in a prepared statement. GM will start building the 552,000-square-foot plant immediately with construction expected to finish in 2010. The investment is expected to retain about 300 hourly jobs. GM employs about 6,000 at five facilities in Flint, down from about 60,000 during its heyday. Two engines will be built here: A 1.4-liter turbo engine for the new Chevrolet Cruze, scheduled to debut next year, and a 1.4-liter naturally aspirated engine for the Volt. The engines are expected to play a role in GM doubling global production of small four-cylinder engines by 2011. Flint will be the exclusive North American engine plant for the Volt. The Flint investment brings the total amount of GM's investment in Michigan to more than $9 billion in the last 10 years and more than $42 billion in the U.S. The Volt is viewed as the most important vehicle being developed by a financially strapped automaker besieged by a consumer shift away from profitable pickups and sport utility vehicles. But it still must withstand engineering and product testing. It is expected to be available in November 2010 and cost as much as $40,000. The Volt relies on a lithium-ion battery that will let commuters travel up to 40 miles on electric power alone. It also has a four-cylinder, 1.4-liter engine that kicks in once the battery is depleted and powers a generator that recharges the battery and keeps the vehicle running for several hundred additional miles. When asked by reporters about GM's September sales, Wagoner said 'sales feel like last month. I can't say sales are worse than last month.' GM's August sales were down 20 percent from the same month in 2007. The automaker's sales are down 18 percent so far this year. Automakers will announce their September sales on Wednesday.