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Bright, city seek loan in Washington

Bright Automotive representatives and city officials took their case to Washington D.C., on Wednesday as they met with the president’s “car czar” to discuss Bright’s application for a stimulus loan.
About 16 months ago, Bright applied for a $450 million low-interest federal loan through a program designed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The company hopes to use the funds to build manufacturing facilities for its 100-mpg utility van.

On Wednesday, Bright’s Lyle Shuey and Dave Lauzun joined Anderson Mayor Kris Ockomon, Economic Development Director Linda Dawson, Flagship Enterprise Center President Chuck Staley and Anderson/Madison County Corporation for Economic Development Director Rob Sparks in talks with Ed Montgomery, President Barack Obama’s appointed director of recovery for auto communities and workers. The group discussed Anderson’s automotive past and how Bright would fit into its future, Dawson said.

“We basically discussed Anderson’s past and its relationship with the automobile industry and the fact that we are rebounding,” Dawson said. “We have done everything the right way. We have created the incubator program to help us diversify the economy, and one of the shining stars has been the Bright Automotive Group.

“We feel like this loan would be a very good investment in the future of our community. That was the message we were carrying to Washington.”

The group asked Montgomery for advice on how to be awarded the loan and why it has been 16 months since Bright’s application without a word from Washington.

“Dr. Montgomery is a highly respected individual in the Obama administration, and we feel like he’s the right person to be carrying the message that the Bright manufacturing facility is the start of the recovery for Anderson,” Dawson said.

Officials have said the mass producing the utility van, the Bright Idea, could employ thousands of workers.

Montgomery received Bright’s message well, Dawson said.

“We felt like he understood our situation and wanted to absorb as much information that he could and we felt like he was going to look further into the situation on our behalf,” she said.

Bright and city representatives hope to hear back from the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers within a few weeks with any suggestions of the next steps to take in securing the loan, Dawson said.
Contact Aleasha Sandley: 640-4805, aleasha.sandley@heraldbulletin.com.