By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Local economic developers say they continue to see interest in the now-closed Mitsubishi Motors plant, contrary to what Gov. Bruce Rauner might think.
During a stop in Bloomington to discuss education funding this week, Rauner said the state’s business regulations were turning away prospective buyers.
“Our administration has worked hard to find a buyer, another manufacturing firm that would come and take over that plant because they could virtually get it for free and there’s already trained people to work in it,” Rauner said. “Nobody is interested because of our regulations.”
Mike O’Grady, Vice President with the McLean County Economic Development Center, said not so fast.
“We are cautiously optimistic,” O’Grady said. “Is it tomorrow? No. They are private, these are quiet conversations. These things don’t happen overnight.”
O’Grady told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin the EDC gets multiple calls every week from interested parties and in some cases, there have been follow up conversations.
The plant officially closed last week.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
