DETROIT -- General Motors announced plans Tuesday to weather a severe downturn in the U.S. auto market and turn around its North American operations.

VIDEO: Wisconsin Continues Review Of GM Grants | VIDEO: Job Center Helping Displaced GM Workers

One part of the plan is speeding up closure of factories in Janesville, Wis.; Moraine, Ohio; Ontario and Mexico.

Previously, GM planned to permanently close the Janesville plant by 2010. It's not yet clear how much sooner it will close.

GM and other auto companies have been hammered by high gas prices, the weak economy and a rapid shift in consumer tastes away from trucks and sport utility vehicles. GM's sales were down 16 percent in the first six months of this year, led by a 21 percent decline in truck sales.

GM said it also plans to cut 20 percent in salaried employment, cut truck production, suspend its dividend and borrow $2 billion to $3 billion.

GM said Tuesday the moves will raise $15 billion to help turn around its North American operations.

Chairman and CEO of GM, Rick Wagoner, announced the cuts to employees Tuesday. He said they are necessary to adjust to a declining U.S. market.

"We face these challenges with confidence and strength knowing that the progress we made in recent years positions us to address them straight on, and that the momentum we've built throughout the business will allow us to emerge from the current market conditions as a stronger and more dynamic company in the U.S. and around the world," Wagoner said.

Said Waggoner, "Our goal is to change the company for the long haul, to structure GM for sustained profitability and growth."

GM forecasts total U.S. sales of 14.7 million vehicles this year. That's down from 17 million three years ago.

Wisconsin Continues Review Of GM Grants

Wisconsin state officials said they are continuing to review whether any of the $10 million given in grants to General Motors for improvements at its Janesville plant can be recouped.

State officials are still reviewing what can be done to get some of the money back, but all but about $700,000 has been handed out.

The car company announced in June that it would close the plant by 2010. GM said Tuesday that closure will come sooner, but did not say when.

Wisconsin gave GM four grants totaling $10 million in 2004 and 2005 to help with a $175 million plant overhaul and worker training.

Gov. Jim Doyle's spokeswoman Carla Vigue said state officials still believe some money can be recouped, but it is not clear how much. She said that may not be known until closer to when the plant closes.

The largest grants, for worker training, came from the state Department of Commerce. Officials there are still seeing what can be done. Even if money can be recouped, it may take months or years.

Vigue said state officials are continuing to work with GM to maintain a presence in Janesville.

The Rock County Job Center has already increased resources to help displaced workers in the area.

Officials said, in recent months, the number of residents looking for assistance has doubled.

While the center expects numbers to continue rising, officials don't feel Tuesdays developments will have an immediate impact, WISC-TV reported.

"We really don't project that there's going to be a day that all the sudden, at four o'clock in the morning, people lined up and wrapped around the building," said Shannon Moe, the job centers manager. "We see that it's going to be a progression, it's going to grow, and we will continue to add the resources and people we need to make sure it's handled correctly."

Job center officials are confident they will be able to offer the training and resources to help displaced workers find jobs.

Some employees are expected to wait until their job is eliminated before moving on and with no date set for the plant's closure, the job center will be preparing for the worst, while hoping for the best, WISC-TV reported.