WFR on hold – again!

It might remind you of the old adage that as soon as you think you have all the answers they change the questions. Earlier this month we reported that Window Fashions Resource (WFR) lease agreement was just days away from being signed.  That was then this is now.   

According to Halifax County Manager Tony Brown they are not sure when the final agreement will be ready to be signed.  In a phone conversation with Brown on Monday he told the Observer that it is in the hands of Golden LEAF Foundation.  At this time all parties are working to make sure the foundation has all the information it needs to make a final decision.

The problem seems to be that the Foundation itself is not sure who should be approving the final agreement at their end.  If it is determined that the full board must approve the final documents then it could be June before a final decision may be reached.  According to their web site the next board meeting will be Thursday, June 5.

When we asked Brown about the question that arises every time another delay is announce –are the new owners trying to back out of the deal?  “Absolutely not,” Brown stated, “we’ve [the county] been working well with the Mr.   Yauger.”  “He is anxious to get going,” Brown added. 

All the parties involved with this project are working hard and moving forward to finalize the agreement.  Kathy Scott from Progressive Resources, Ron Baker executive director of the Halifax County Economic Development Commission, the county and Yauger are all doing whatever it takes to provide the Foundation with the information it needs to finalize a project they thought had been completed.

Non the less, rumors continue that the present downturn in the economy, especially the housing market make this a bad time to open. The Observer has been told that WFR products are marketed to new homebuilders and buyers as well as people remodeling and remodeling contractors.  According to reports the remodeling business is improving as people are not willing to take the risk to buy a new home.

For now, according to Brown it is a wait and see game.  The next decision to be made has to come from the Golden LEAF Foundation and they have not indicated when or who within their organization will make it.