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Commissioner’s $2.5 Million Question To Planned Century Electric Car Company
November 21, 2008
Escambia County’s newest commissioner has a $2.5 million question for the backers of a proposed electric car plant for Century: What exactly is it that you want?
Last week, officials from LHS EV told the Escambia County Commission that they needed $2.5 million in capital incentives from the county to locate in Century. They even presented a written proposal asking for $2.5 million in “start-up capital”. That amount would be in addition to the standard tax incentives that have already been approved by the county.
““They want cash, but we need to figure out how we can do this with something like building or capital improvements. We don’t just hand out cash,” Larry Newsom, the county’s economic director told NorthEscambia.com after that meeting.
Thursday, Newsom told commissioners that Jay and Nash Patel, owners of LHS EV and several local hotels, did not want cash from the county. Rather, Newsom said, they want a $2.5 million grant from the state. Newsom said the Patels will put up $34 million of their own money.
At Thursday morning’s agenda review meeting, Commissioner Wilson Robertson questioned just what it was that the Patels wanted. He said he was irritated that they had not made it clear just what it is they want from the county. The item was not on the agenda, but was brought up by Robertson at the end of the meeting.
Previous incentives provided to LHS EV, if they should choose Escambia County, include total of $39,000 in rebates for local fees and taxes ranging from $2,250 to $9,750 per year through 2014 and support for state tax breaks. The Town of Century has approved selling or leasing 25 acres of land in the town’s industrial park to the company.
The company says their plant, which will assembly an electric car manufactured overseas, would provided about 250 jobs in the first year, 585 within three years and ultimately up to 1,100 jobs in five years.
Comments
4 Responses to “Commissioner’s $2.5 Million Question To Planned Century Electric Car Company”
Ignorance runs amuck on these posts. 2.5 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the billions we all waste every day, applying 2.5 mil to more free handouts to the unemployed isn’t the answer, but putting it towards making jobs for the unemployed to get is the answer. Try positive thinking for once, and maybe you can help overcome the ingnorance. Stop self pity, and start self help.
They are putting up 34 million of their own money? this is a high startup cost.. I hope the state feels pretty good about this company…..It just doesnt add up in my eyes…
Personally, I think the Commissioners need to help the already established companies or people that have lost their jobs. One plant has just layed off over 700 local employees. Can this car company be trusted? Do they just want the cash and then vanish? HELP needs to be given to local people in need.
I’m glad Wilson Robertson questioned what the Patels really wanted from the County, but discussing items that aren’t on the agenda ia a big no-no. I hope that doesn’t become a habit.