On August 31st, all of the production at the Shreveport General Motors plant will stop.  For years, city, parish, state leaders, and the UAW have worked hard to prevent the complete shut-down.  The plant even scaled back in production in hopes of delaying or even preventing a full shut-down.  It's hard to overstate GM's economic impact to the Shreveport/Bossier area. At one time 3,000 employees were on the payroll - that's two production shifts and a maintenance crew turning out vehicle after vehicle. Over time, the workforce decreased to just one shift - 800 workers. And unlike other plants, it was a gradual reduction.  Two million dollars in federal grant funding will be used to help those plant workers, and it's suppliers who are affected by the closure.