MUNCIE – When Brevini Wind's ambitious goal of hiring 450 people to build wind turbine gearboxes in Delaware County was announced in October 2008, the community desperately needed something to be hopeful about.
The plan to close Muncie's BorgWarner Automotive plant in April 2009 had already been announced. BorgWarner was the last of the community's industrial giants, considering that the local Chevrolet plant had been closed in 2006.
While smaller plants — including some that have grown in the years since — remained, the plans for Brevini sounded like a second chance for manufacturing here.
It was not to be. As most Delaware County residents know, Brevini's promised 450 jobs have only amounted to a little more than 50. The national recession and stymied nature of the wind-for-power industry meant there was little market for Brevini's giant turbines.
Last week, the company agreed to pay Delaware County $375,000 for failing to create promised jobs. Another $800,000 could be forthcoming in the future, repaying some of the county's $2 million-plus investment. Officials point out that Brevini's 50 workers do generate local salaries and the company has invested $36 million in buildings and equipment.
But besides the job opportunities lost, it's likely that Brevini's failure led to greater skepticism of subsequent economic development announcements.
And the Brevini project directly led to two instances where Delaware County lost millions of dollars.
VAT debacle felt
The most visible financial loss connected to Brevini — besides the failure of the Brevini Wind project itself — is the mile-long railroad spur that Delaware County built to connect the new plant to a rail line.