By Greg Halbleib
NORMAL – Rivian Automotive did not receive all of the incentives the company requested according to Normal Mayor Chris Koos.
“They didn’t want more money or more tax incentive or rebate,” Koos told WJBC’s Scott McCoy. “They wanted it up front, and we said no, that’s just not going to happen. Even if (Rivian) had the deed to the plant, we’re not going to do that. There are performance measures you have to meet before we we’re going to accept.”
Koos said Rivian had better financial offers from at least two other Midwestern cities, but the company was swayed by the good condition of the former Mitsubishi plant and the Bloomington-Normal community in general.
“The COO said, ‘I’ve been in a lot of auto plants and auto communities,’ and when one is shuttered, it’s usually a tired old building built in the ’20s or ’30s and there’s not much there,” said Koos. “It kind of turned their head.”
“It’s kind of refreshing that even though we weren’t the best offer out there that they did choose this location,” Koos said. “I think the modern plant had something to do with it, and they were very vocal that they liked the community.”
Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].
