WFR moving forward after Golden LEAF approval

“The last approval component was accomplished last week when Golden LEAF approved the three year job commitment and lease document.” according to Cathy Scott of Progressive Resources and Opportunities.  With those words it appears that Window Fashion Resources long journey to open a new facility in Littleton may be coming to an end.  It has seemed that way many times before, but this time Tony Brown, Halifax County Manager is fairly confident that everything is in place to make it happen. 

This latest approval came from the Golden LEAF Foundation.  The Foundation provided the largest single funding for the former Littleton Apparel building to be up-fitted to house the new business, a total of $376,150.

After the Counties most recent approval the project had to make sure it met all the requirements from the Golden LEAF Foundation.  Two of the final points that were worked out were the number of jobs required under the agreement and the duration of the lease.

According to Scott the jobs requirement is generally something that has to be worked out with most projects of this nature.  This is a multi funded project and with that there were various requirements for jobs that had to be generated. There was also a correspondence early on in the process that indicated the company was hopeful it could generate 200 jobs over five years 

Other than that early indication, no public statement made used that high of an expectation.  Public statements generally used figures of 100 full time jobs.  In the end the Foundation agreed to 104 jobs over a three year period.

The agreement calls for the creation of a total of 104 new jobs, representing 34 new jobs at the end of the first year of operation, 68 jobs by the end of the second year, and a total of 104 jobs at the end of the third year. 

As required by State law, there are clawbacks to Halifax County for any shortfall in job creation by the company. According to an online definition clawbacks are distinguished from repayments or refunds as they involve a penalty in addition to a repayment.

Window Fashion Resources is also required to provide 50% cost for employee only health insurance for each full time employee.  For the purpose of the agreement a full time job is one that provides 1,500 hours or more per year of work.

The next step of the process is for the Golden LEAF Foundation to send the new grant to the county, they will present the final lease document to Window Fashion Resource for execution.  Window Fashion Resource will then have possession of the facility to move forward with their plans to manufacture custom blinds and shutters.

There was some hesitancy about when the final process will be complete but all parties’ concerned hope it will be very shortly.  A process that started with a Golden LEAF Foundation grant approval in 2003 may now be on track for completion in 2008.