SPRING HILL, Tenn. -- Local leaders aren't wasting any time to deal with a massive job loss.

In November, 2,500 workers at the General Motors plant in Spring Hill will be idled as part of the auto company's restructuring plan.

Sen. Bill Ketron said he wasn't giving up on keeping GM in Tennessee.

"I think this is a real gut check for this county and our state," said Ketron. "We have to be willing to show that we want it."

Maury County leaders began to brace Friday for the impact.

"This is more than just a Maury County issue; it's a region issue," said Rep. Ty Cobb. "It's going to affect Lawrence County, Marshall County, Lewis County (and) Williamson County. So it's a region issue."

Maury County Mayor Jim Bailey hosted a meeting Friday morning to begin planning for the job loss and find a way to keep the Spring Hill plant in operation. The focus was on concerns and possible action plans to minimize the impact of the plant's idling.

That includes other businesses who depend on the GM workers.

The panel fielded ideas from county and city leaders on how to entice GM to build its new small car in Spring Hill. Friday's meeting also looked ahead to better prepare if GM eventually decides to close the Spring Hill plant altogether.

"We have a county-owned hospital, and I think we're going to have to start looking at benefits and how health care costs are straddling and killing American businesses," said Debbie Matthews of the Columbia City Council. "That may be the thing that can differentiate Orion and us."

Auto race team owner Roger Penske has agreed to buy the Saturn brand and will take over the parts and distribution plant at Spring Hill.

Under the deal with Penske to buy the Saturn brand, all 13,000 Saturn employees would be able to stay and new franchise agreements would be reached with dealerships.

There is no word whether the plant might also be involved in the deal.

The state hopes to know what's happening with the GM bankruptcy by July 1.