Gov. Rauner expressed disappointment with the progress of the Rivian Automotive plant in Normal.
At a press gaggle in Springfield this week, Rauner told a reporter that Rivian’s plant should have well over 1000 people today and blamed the state’s high taxes and red tape for slowing the growth of businesses here as compared to the business climate in surrounding states.
Rivian bought the former Mitsubishi Motors plant in January 2017, with the aid of millions of dollars local and state incentives.
CapitolFax Blog transcribes that video press event:
“That plant should have well over 1,000 people today. And that plant should have brought hundreds of millions of dollars today,” said Rauner in a press gaggle. “We had to basically cut a deal on the hope, on a gamble that it might work out. And it’s the best we could do and hopefully that will become successful someday. But that should be generating tax revenue already today and should be hugely successful over the last five years.”
Rivian currently employs 40 people, with plans to eventually employ up to 1,000 workers. The company’s local and state tax incentives are tied to how many jobs it creates over the next several years.
The interview was captured by the state of Illinois’ media service.
