MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - The future home of Next Autoworks is no more. The company was supposed to move into the former Guide Headlight Plant. Next Autoworks' second application for federal money was denied Tuesday.
Next Autoworks made a splash when it announced plans to build its small, gas friendly cars in Monroe. But the company needed help from the government to make that happen.
This week, the department of energy turned down the company's second request for a $321 million dollar startup loan.
Mayor Jamie Mayo says this dead deal will not keep the parish from moving forward.
"We're not discouraged because some of the same features that attracted Next AutoWorks, we still have them here," Mayor Jamie Mayo said.
Ouachita Parish taxpayers chipped in a one and a half million dollar incentive for the company originally named V-Vehicle. However, Ouachita Police Jury members decided to hold off on that tax this year and last year. Police Jury President Shane Smiley says taxpayers will get a full refund.
"We've already done our homework. We've laid the groundwork for refunding the taxpayers money and so we're going to look to do this in the most timely and efficient manner we could possibly do," Smiley said.
The owner of what was the future home of Next Autoworks says he's upset it took the feds so long for an answer. Ruston Businessman James Davison tells us he has not decided what to do with the empty building yet.
Next Autoworks promised to bring in more than 1400 jobs in Ouachita Parish.
