To continue contributing to this community after 73 combined years of service, Collins Chevrolet and Patterson GM are merging into one location.

Lee Collins and Paul Patterson announced Thursday evening cars from both dealerships will be sold from the Collins Chevrolet location beginning soon under the banner of Patterson-Collins Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC Cadillac.

“We feel like for the two to become a stronger company, it’s in our best interest to put together and operate as one strong company,” said Collins. “Paul and I both have worked day and night on the merger for months and are so excited about this coming together. We have for weeks been wanting to introduce this.”

A great deal of hard work and planning during the past five months has gone into getting the merger approved by General Motors, the parent company of both dealers, as well as to coordinate moving the cars from Patterson’s lot to Collins’.

“We’re going to bring to our customers the cream of the crop employees to their service in a state of the art facility with the best sales and best service that can be offered, and we’re just really excited to be part of it,” said Collins.

With General Motors consolidating across the country and focusing on concentrating their brands into single locations, Patterson and Collins are merging to maintain their employment base and keep jobs in Surry County.

“Our two separate operations are merging into one for more stream-lined, efficient, cost-saving measures. This is a way to continue to provide jobs in our community as well as provide a tax base in the community,” said Collins. “We don’t look at it as 30 to 40 jobs, we look at it as 30 to 40 families we help support in the community.”

Patterson pointed out that many people do not realize that sales tax collected on automobiles go back to the county in which they were sold. By keeping the dealerships local and providing a place for residents to purchase automobiles, they are contributing more money to Surry County.

“Our employees do business here and support this community and county, so we call on the community to support us,” said Monica Collins.

The newly merged dealerships will have an open house on Monday for Patterson employees to visit Collins and get to know their new home as well as meet Collins’ employees.

“We’re just excited for it to take place. We’re ready for it to take place and provide jobs for the community,” said Patterson.

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.