Last night, we learned local company AVL was going to produce a 125% return on the $301,047 the government was going to give it from the magic stash. Don Yelton indicated companies like this are likely multimillion corporations. Since money is not fungible, we might assume the money the company gets from sales is just as multiplicable as the money it gets from government. In other words, a company doing $2 million in business would generate $250 million for the economy. Now, we would not be credible if we did not allow for the option that “but for” a few million dollars a multinational conglomerate like GE would pack up and go to Sri Lanka. Still, if all companies multiplied like government-subsidized companies,* we would be up to our ears in cash long ago. But the fact is, they don’t. Private companies tend to multiply better than the subsidized companies because they have to stay smart and efficient to survive. AVL is actually recidivating, and I dare say if the county’s Health and Human Services Department had a program with as high a recidivism rate as the Economic Development program, it would be under review.

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*We know this is not possible because somebody has to pay for all the multiplication.