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By John Peters
Editor
Although Littleton area residents may have noticed some work being done outside the Window Fashions plant, Halifax County Manager Matthew Delk said a contract for refurbishing the building has not been inked.
But, he hopes that action is close.
The county and town of Littleton had assembled a funding package of $776,150 for renovating and upgrading the building through a combination of grants and state money. Whatever the cost of the work, the county would apply that money toward it, and the rest of the tab would be picked up by Window Fashions.
The board of commissioners in January approved spending the money, and since then the county has received architectural and engineering studies to show work is needed, and received bids on the project.
“We got a low bid in, and it was more than the $776,150,” he said, though Delk said he could not release the actual bid. “We’re in a negotiating process between the contractor, the county, and the owner of the company. I wish I could say more than that, but that’s where we are right now.
“We’re very close … it’s close and we’re trying to come up with a project that will be satisfactory for all involved.”
Because of the money and other tax incentives the firm is receiving, Window Fashions is obligated to create at least 85 jobs within one year of the contract signing, and to maintain those jobs for at least three years.
In January, Delk said he was hopeful the company would eventually employ even more people than that, but even then he said the work needed to get the plant open could be slow.
At the time, Delk was hopeful the contract negotiations would be a speedy process, but he said it could still be a year before the plant opened, possibly even longer.
The project was first announced in 2003, and town officials have been enthusiastic supporters of the plant. Earlier this year Mayor Mason Hawfield said not only ar ethe 85 jobs important, but he felt the plant, once up and running, could help spin off new business development in Littleton, such as restaurants and shops.
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