FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): The Allen County Council has agreed to move forward with a 10-year tax abatement for General Motors, allowing the company to potentially invest $1 billion and improve their manufacturing plant.

GM could possibly save more than $15 million, but they have yet to decide whether to move forward with the investment. City Councilman Roy Buskirk told the Journal Gazette the tax phase-ins are just a delayed start of any property taxes for the building project. “The tax-phase-ins are of no benefit unless GM does something.”

The tax incentives are not meant to create new jobs but instead, help secure the futures of the employees who are already working at the plant.

If GM moves forward with the improvements, the company will construct a new body and general assembly plant and upgrade machinery.