Are you hinting that MDC would give away confiscated tax dollars to a company that was not licensed to produce their product?

The impression from the beginning (at least in Media reports and Economic Development Press Releases) was that this technology was ready to go and locating this engine maker in Midland would quickly create over 100 jobs related to the production of engines from the shop here for use all over the world.

The impression wasn't wrong, because last year they had to get an extension, or modification, to their economic development agreement. Which means, they probably underestimated the time to be certified for production, and in turn oversold their readiness for production to the ED folks.

They have always had a product, but our ED dollars seem to have been used to get Trace past a bunch of licensing and certification hurdles, not to staff up an assembly line for engines....yet.

However, maybe everyone just turned out lucky. Staffing was a problem last year, and our current economic climate should make hiring machinists and engineers with V-8 engine experience whole lot easier now.

Trace had a booth at Airsho...and was a sponsor. So our tax dollars go to the CAF? I thought we already did that when the CAF came here from Harlingen (not intending to open a new can of worms here).

I am not impuning the need for advertising at a big aviation venue. But. We are supporting a going concern that really didn't need our money. Just like Susie's South 40. And the Odessa trailer company. And. And. And.

I know my head is not screwed on straight, but I sensed a nose thumbed in my direction when I walked past the Trace booth...

It's always a relief when soomene with obvious expertise answers. Thanks!

d61oRp etyckeczahhn

akfoiv