R.J. Siegel, LoPresti’s vice president of operations, told AVweb on Tuesday that officials in Manitowoc “are really nice guys with good intentions,” but it was clear early on that Wisconsin was not a lead contender for the Fury manufacturing plant. He added that he negotiated with about 75 communities across the U.S. to find the right place to locate his business, and secured non-disclosure agreements with each one, which was breached in only one case. “So unfortunately the process became public and of course political,” he said. “My job was to find the best deal for my company. I can only hope I did just that.” He added that New Mexico did not offer the biggest package. “In fact there were two other finalists with more cash and more resources. Our final decision was based on another factor — relationship. … In the case of New Mexico in general and Belen in specific, no one was better. Period.”
Buying Into An Idea
Key Takeaways:
- LoPresti's VP of Operations, R.J. Siegel, negotiated with approximately 75 U.S. communities to find a site for the Fury manufacturing plant, with Wisconsin being an early non-contender.
- The selection process became public and political due to a single non-disclosure agreement breach.
- The final decision to locate the plant in Belen, New Mexico, was based primarily on the strength of the relationship, rather than financial incentives, despite other finalists offering more resources.
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