I would like to extend compliments to the Mountain Xpress for their presentation of material pertaining to government involvement in Linamar’s purchase of the old Volvo plant. The article is subtitled “An Inside Job,” and features a photo of Buncombe County Chair David Gantt posing like an excited Roman emperor.

The text begins by reminding the reader that Asheville taxpayers will be shouldering a shifted burden of $2.2 million in tax incentives, Buncombe County handed over $6.8 million from their taxpayers, and the state contributed $9 million in grants and incentives. Buncombe County purchased the plant, at Linamar’s request, for $7 million, and the county will hold it off the tax rolls until Linamar is in a position to buy it next year. The county will then, at no profit, flip the property, for which Volvo had been asking $10.75 million.

“This project didn’t happen because there was a jobs fairy that flew over Asheville and sprinkled some dust down and said, ‘You all deserve this,’” [Governor Beverly] Perdue declared. “It doesn’t work that way when 49 other states are competing for the same jobs.”

Linamar reportedly concluded to build in Buncombe County after County Commissioner K. Ray Bailey negotiated a lower selling price and Mayor Terry Bellamy gave corporate heavies a tour of the plant. Linamar’s CEO also visited the site with the governor.

Bellamy, sporting a Linamar ball cap for her speech, pledged the company “the full support of the city, the strength of our world-class work force, and the innovative and independent spirit of our residents.”