PRATTVILLE – The Montgomery Advertiser is reporting that Navistar, the major sponsor of the LPGA Golf Tournament, has pulled out from the event. This is but the latest in a string of ominous signs that the Lisle, Illinois manufacturing giant is in deep financial trouble.
Navistar leased the foundering National Rail Car manufacturing plant in Barton last year from Retirement Systems of Alabama. RSA had repossed the $650 million facility when National pulled out of Alabama before manufacturing a single product for sale. The deal came amid a huge incentive package from the State of Alabama, and a promise to Northwest Alabama that 2,200 hundred jobs would be created here within 5 years.
Today, the mile-long facility sits mostly idle, while The State and Navistar stay tight-lipped on future plans.
