Business

Government-Backed Solar Company Lays Off Employees…After Promising Hundreds of New Jobs

Willard & Kelsey Solar Group LLC laid off about 40 people indefinitely at the beginning of January until changes to its production line are completed, according to Blade Business.

The layoffs were confirmed by WTOL 11 and Sophia Fisher, executive manager of the Northwest Ohio Solar Hub.

“I’d say pretty typical of the cycle these businesses go through and experience. It’s not uncommon,” Fisher told WTOL 11. Apparently, she believes Willard and Kelsey can make a comeback.

“Go in, make changes to production line improvements from efficiency and cost from a business perspective. Then you’ll eventually, in the near future, you’ll see them ramp up again for production,” Fisher said.

Michael Cicak, the company’s chief executive officer and chairman of the board, would not say when the changes would be completed or when the laid-off employees could return to work, writes Kris Turner of Blade Business.

“We have some technical people in here improving the efficiency of the assembly line,” Mr. Cicak said, adding that the Perrysburg-based facility still has about 30 employees.

When it’s fully operational, Willard and Kelsey employs a little over 80 people. So what made the energy company have to cut back on its numbers?

Apparently, the “start-up company has been plagued by a series of production and staffing delays since it was formed in 2008,” according to the Toledo Blade. However, despite these obvious managerial concerns, the company still “received millions of dollars in government loans and tax breaks” and was touted by Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland as a model of innovation and success.

See Vice President Biden’s 2009 praise for Willard & Kelsey:

And although Cicak said last week that the facility was “to reopen Monday after a period of adjusting its inventory,” reports from the Blade would imply that much more is going on behind the scenes.

“Only 15 cars were in the parking lot at 1:30 p.m. Monday. The office was devoid of activity, and the rows of desks were empty,” Turner writes. “A tour of the production line and the changes being made to it were not made available to The Blade.”

The cost of changing the assembly line was not released. Willard & Kelsey also does not release its quarterly earnings or its profit margin because it’s a privately held company, Mr. Cicak told The Blade.

So how much money has this company received through state and federal funding?

“As of early 2011, the company had received a $5 million research and development loan from the Ohio Department of Development, a $10 million loan from the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, a $3.3 million job creation tax credit, and a $701,000 grant to provide training for 50 current and 250 new workers [emphases added],” Turner reports.

Yet, despite this type of financial support, it looks as if the company is far from producing the 250 jobs it had promised back in February, 2011. And it looks like it’s even farther away from accomplishing its goal of producing “600 to 700 jobs in the next to two years and up to 4,000 in five or six years.”

Comments (107)

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  • 1947
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:56pm

    Obama does it again

    Report Post »  
    • nobull14
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:37pm

      Zimbabwe here we come!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:04pm

      Just another biz. getting government money (yours and mine) and closing their doors. Boy o boy, does Obama know how to pick ‘em. Sometimes I wonder if he can sleep at night making such poor and stupid calculated choices, but what the heck, it‘s only the people’s money, and we’re the 53% supporting all the other give-away programs while buying off defunct companies and false stimulus shovel ready jobs. And we’re sitting on our hands. What to do, what to do?

      Report Post »  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:45pm

      He does know how to pick’em. He has staff who keep lists of political donors. Valerie Jarrett tells him who is friends are.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 12:23am

      Hey, “We’re all socialists, now” — remember. More fruits of the planned economy.

      Report Post »  
    • marion
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 1:31am

      My money is on all these bad loans being a kickback for his political re-election campaign fund. It is time for someone to really look into this, there is just way too much of it going on, and where is all the money going if it isn’t going to the BHO re-election fund?

      Report Post »  
    • starman70
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 8:13am

      This is what happens when the Obama Slush Fund runs out. Americnas, WAKE UP! No more propping up companies under the guise of environmentalism!

      Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 8:36am

      Look up Nevada Thermal had 80 million in loans were bleeding capital and Harry Reid got them 90 million in stimulus money to create ZERO jobs and just pay off their loans. What Obama is doing and has done is criminal the American people No let me correct that THE AMERICAN TAX PAYERS ARE BEING ROBBED the half the pays nothing are Obama’s accomplices Helping him destroy the nation. These injustices can not stand actions must be taken…..CRIMINAL CHARGES MUST BE BROUGHT UPON OBAMA AND HIS ADMINSTRATION.

      Report Post »  
    • turkey13
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:24am

      You need to lay off the prsident. If he hadn’t started these Green grants no jobs would have been produced. As these people are laid off and another company starts up this will be more new jobs. Where in the rules does it say a new job has to be a continues job!

      Report Post »  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:42pm

    YAWN.. ..Another one? Big surprise

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:07pm

      So how can i get a half a billion, i gotta great idea…

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:10pm

      @Detroit paperboy
      Should we abbreviate the “Northwest Ohio Solar Hub”…. “NO solar Hub?”

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:12pm

      @Detroit paperboy
      Did you see my reply to your post on the “I hate Religion” article yet?

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • bhohater
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:24pm

      What a slugger that Obummer is, the hits just keep on coming.

      Report Post » bhohater  
  • castle.the.schmuck
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:36pm

    Obama is a real schmuck.

    Report Post »  
  • Netsurfer2
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:24pm

    It’s all been lies from the beginning that he took office! You remember the catch phrase “Yes We Can”??? He bailed out the Insurance industries by the “cash for cars” deal, while American’s went into even more debt buying a new car! I would have though you would of tried to decrease the debts that the average working American has, instead of driving it home to increase their debts! Health Care is another ridiculous sad story! He made sure some corporations and companies would be exempted from ever having to pay for government health care, while everyone else gets shafted! Taxes??? Yeah, it’s OK for the working class to pay all the taxes with no loop holes, but you give deductions (loop holes) to the wealthiest Americans (including yourself)! Why not cut all loop holes, no deductions and make everyone on each dollar that they make pay the same percentage??? I’m sick of tax brackets, while being shafted by those that are on welfare and get free hand-outs! They should pay taxes on those hand-outs as well. People in prison??? They should work to pay for their stay in prison! We the people should never have to pay a dime in taxes on these criminals! Unions??? Who ever said we have the right to a job??? Nothing is forever and you cannot call the shots without a decent education! Obama proved that, sorry to say! Lawyers have ruled our government from nearly the beginning, yet what about common people??? Why does it cost so much to run for president??? Sick

    Report Post » Netsurfer2  
  • Archstone
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:22pm

    Wait until you see how much we paid for his prayer rug.

    Report Post »  
  • Slayer
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:15pm

    Everything Obama touches turns to ruin. Liberalism truly is a mental disorder.

    Report Post » Slayer  
    • Outlaw_Josey_Wales
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:38pm

      I have a cure for liberalism. I’m going to start selling Doctor Miracle, do it yourself, mail order shock treatment kits.

      Report Post » Outlaw_Josey_Wales  
    • Puddle Duck
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:37pm

      Keynesian economics is a failed model no matter where it has been implimented. Green energy, as a workable concept in a country so vast,some of which can see 4 seasons, is a giant waste of taxpayer dollars, doomed to failure.

      Report Post » Puddle Duck  
  • Bonnieblue2A
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:12pm

    12 more disasters ready to make Solyndra look like chump change: $6.5 Billion in taxpayer money to Obama’s fraud of green venture fascism.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6jTOuUVSlg

    Report Post »  
  • ThePostman
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:02pm

    This is a MASSIVE improvement in the performance of Obama’s jobs creation efforts. In the past, it cost about 200K or more to create a single job. With this company, 20 million dollars UN-created 40 jobs. That’s 20,000,000/(-40) created jobs, or about -500,000 dollars per job created. In other words, since the number is negative, the american taxpayers actually made a half a million dollars for every job created. Awesome, Obama! You really have made some significant improvements since taking office!

    -Signed, Jay Carney.

    Report Post »  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:14pm

      @post
      Really, do you think they need any help, GOD help me but I bet they use this, and worse, the media will spin out propaganda making it better than sliced bread. Lol.( with bitter tears )

      Report Post »  
  • bikerr
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:01pm

    I hope whoever becomes the person to appose Obama will use this against him. I hope also that they don’t hold back and show no fear of being called “Racist’.

    Report Post »  
  • POdVet
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:00pm

    I wonder…if I promise to donate a few thousand $ to Obamacrats, can I pretend to open a solar panel plant and be given $19 million of taxpayer dollars?

    Report Post »  
  • jekllnhyde
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:58pm

    Collapse — right around the corner!

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:57pm

    Government Corruption; Business Fraud; Lies & Propaganda… just all part the Chicago Communist Plan!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:39pm

      You mean the “Chicago Community Communist Plan’? The CCCP?

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • MrMagoo
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:55pm

    This is being played out all over the USA.One of the biggest scams ever perpetrated has been ‘green energy’,all in the name of a HOAX called ‘man made’ climate change.By stupid and corrupt governments worldwide.
    2009…
    http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/layoffs-at-uni-solar/

    2011…
    State and local incentives helped lure the company to the Danish city, but the expiration of federal incentives has left the solar industry struggling.
    http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/184532/14/Greenville-Uni-Solar-plant-lays-off-workers

    During her 2006 State of the State address, former Gov. Jennifer Granholm predicted that within five years Michigan residents would be “blown away” by the success of the economic plans she was unveiling that night.

    Report Post » MrMagoo  
    • MrMagoo
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:04pm

      By the way,ex Gov.Granholm has her own show on Al Gore’s Current TV now.Maybe she‘ll be showing the whole country how to be ’blown away‘ with green energy’!!!

      Report Post » MrMagoo  
    • MrMagoo
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:21pm

      “State and local governments are also providing United Solar Ovonic with additional incentives to invest up to an additional $600 million for up to five more plants in Greenville and up to 1,000 new jobs.”
      “The project is expected to generate more than $600 million in personal income for Michigan workers over the life of the tax credit.”
      http://www.michigan.gov/granholm/0,1607,7-168-23442_21974-139022–,00.html

      Yipper.Can‘t get enough of that ’green energy’ !

      Report Post » MrMagoo  
    • BloodSweatandTears
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:45pm

      Birds of a feather?

      Report Post »  
    • NYHuguenot
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:36pm

      The only way Granholm could blow anything away is if she became a streetwalker.

      Report Post »  
  • jb.kibs
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:54pm

    where’s our freaking money?!

    Report Post »  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:11pm

      Redistributed into the hands of people who need it much more than we do, people who support and donate to Obastrd the indifferent.
      The Tuck Fard doesn’t even give it too the “ poor man ” with hands out and want to be halfwits fall for his empty rhetoric like moths to a light at night. Gotta get somebody elses money, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie it all!
      Lately he’s been seen at church, three times in a month. What he went six times in three years and now he and his propaganda ministers think people will belive he’s a Christian? Sadly, the greatest numbers of dolts will believe every ounce of manure he spews out, some come here and spread their form of “love” in caustic phraseology, and hyperbolic rage.
      As GOD said “ my people perish for lack of knowledge”, and how they most certainly do that.

      Report Post »  
    • bhohater
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:20pm

      The secret to happiness is to stop worrying and learn to love windmills, solar panels, Chevy Volts, Ethanol, and all the other costly and stupid green energy projects that don’t work.

      Report Post » bhohater  
  • jekllnhyde
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:44pm

    Joe BITE ME is an idiot!

    Report Post »  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:40pm

    Can’t wait to see how the little lib cheerleaders spin this to blame Bush.
    Everything this president does is so wrong.

    Report Post »  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:47pm

      Everything he touches turns to shite.

      Report Post » Armed Patriot  
    • db321
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:52pm

      Obama has that “Reverse Midas Touch – or is he doing this on purpose. To all of the little kids today, please forgive us for allowing our Government to run up a debt that your kids and grand kids will never be able to repay. We we all suffer because of our National Debt – but our next generation will never be able to experience the America we knew.

      When National Debt hit 1 Trillion, Reagan said if we do not get control it will not only Bankrupt America – it will cause our Dollar to collapse. People, you don’t even have a clue what a Monetary Collapse would look like – Imagine the Worst and see it 1000 worst than that.

      Report Post » db321  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:49pm

      @db321
      You have that completely correct.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:39pm

    When the Capitalist , “Bain Capital” went in and did virtually the same thing( with their own money) that Fisher was talking about, it was considered Vulture Cap. Now , the next thing you will hear is that MORE Taxpayer Money should be thrown at this green hole. And has anyone seen Joe Bite Me?

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:50pm

      I think I saw him holding a cardboard sign in the Walmart driveway that read, “Im not gonna lie to you. I need to buy beer. Donations appreciated.”

      Report Post » Armed Patriot  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 12:48am

      Yes, this is something that people need to realize. Bain used their own money for those investments. Obama uses OURS.

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
  • jekllnhyde
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:39pm

    Look at all the taxpayer money being wasted on Al Gore”s PHANTOM global warming

    Report Post »  
  • ProbIemSoIver
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:37pm

    “Backed by the Full Faith and Credit of the United States Government”

    That used to mean something. Now it is meanless and worthless.

    Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
  • tommyg524
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:35pm

    counter attack: Yet another GE operation is exported from the U.S. to Beijing China. All while GE paid -0- taxes last year. Thanks a lot GE, appreciate it.

    Report Post »  
    • Netsurfer2
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:35pm

      Why would GE care about jobs in America??? They are owned by the world government! Bought and paid!

      Report Post » Netsurfer2  
  • number9
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:35pm

    Yup. Just like that smart grid thingy. You know, the one that’ll create 2,400 or so jobs (so they claim here in Obamaland). Who care‘s if they’re just temporary jobs, as long as they have something to brag about. Stick a fork in me.

    Report Post » number9  
  • JP4JOY
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:32pm

    Making money the old fashioned way. If only we had a real Robin Hood to take back the taxes stolen from us by the Bureaucrats. Oh I forgot Harry Reid says those taxes we pay are voluntary.

    Report Post » JP4JOY  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:32pm

    Wow a heavily subsidized company is laying off employees? That’s a shocking turn of events because central planning never works and Barry proves it on a daily basis.
    Just keep burning through our money you Marxist POS,you’ll be fired in Nov.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • trolltrainer
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:31pm

    Go on take the money and run
    ooh ooh oooooooooooo

    Report Post »  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:29pm

    Another Obama success story……. Blame Bush.

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:00pm

      Should we abbreviate the “Northwest Ohio Solar Hub”…. “NO Solar Hub?”

      Report Post » The-Monk  
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