KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The on-again, off-again deal between the State of Florida and Colt Manufacturing to bring more than 60 jobs to Kissimmee appears to be on-again; just not anytime soon.
Representatives from the firearms company have been in Osceola County meeting with county leaders to discuss the building the county paid to renovate for the company and Colt’s contractual obligation to the state to hire 63 workers with an average wage of $45,060.
On Dec. 31, 2013 Colt was forced to repay the state $50,000 when missed its first benchmark when it failed to hire 10 full-time workers. According to the company’s contract with the state, Colt needs to hire 10 more workers (for a total of 20) by Dec. 31, 2014 to avoid paying back another portion of the $250,000 the state paid to the company through Florida’s “Closing Fund.”
“We're frustrated by the slow pace, but the Colt folks are frustrated as well," said Osceola County Manager Don Fisher who has been having meeting with Colt’s leadership. “I am optimistic, they flew in for face-to-face meetings and looked me in the eye, said they would meet the obligation of the agreement."
The agreement between the State of Florida’s Department of economic Opportunity and Colt was originally signed on Dec. 22, 2011. The agreement, signed in 2011, called on Colt to hire all of its full-time workers by Dec. 31, 2014, however, according to state documents obtained by Eyewitness News, the deal with Colt was amended on Jan. 9, 2013 moving the hiring deadlines back.
“They've told us that they plan on complying with the agreement and they still have over a year, we did share that in the community, the building not being occupied, has been difficult" said Fisher.
Osceola County, which along with the state paid to renovate the building in Kissimmee for Colt, says it has been approached by other companies interested in moving into the facility. However, the county is unable to lease out the empty building due to the agreement with Colt.
Eyewitness News has attempted to contact Colt for a timeline, but as of yet has not heard back.
WFTV
