This story from the Courier Post Online is truly shocking
One company turned down earmark
Global Delta LLC, a small, Washington D.C.-based business, got an earmark last fiscal year, but ultimately decided not to accept it.
The company and its subcontractor, Kyocera of Japan, are focused on developing high-resolution radar equipment that doesn’t cost millions of dollars to buy, said Jack Albertine, the company chairman.
In fiscal year 2008, Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo, R-N.J., joined Reps. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, Jo Ann Davis, R-Va., and James Moran, D-Va., in sponsoring a $1.6 million earmark that listed Global Delta as the recipient.
…”We think it has tremendous potential for port security and border security, really national security,” Albertine stated. “There are bridges to nowhere and then there are projects like this one that make a lot of sense.”
He said Global Delta started the project in 2004 after it competed for and won a $4.3 million U.S. Navy contract, information that’s supported by data on www.usaspending.gov, a Web site the federal government runs to inform people how it’s spending money. When the money ran out, the company began requesting federal earmarks to keep the project moving forward, Albertine said. It got them in fiscal years 2006 and 2007, he said.
…Ultimately, Global Delta decided not to pursue the earmark, Albertine said. The Office of Naval Research confirmed the information and noted a contract has not been awarded.
To take the project to the next level, the company needs more than $1.6 million, Albertine explained. Rather than take the money and hope to get future earmarks, which is never certain, Global Delta decided to go after private funds, he said.
“We have never gotten a penny nor will we ever take a penny from it,” Albertine said. “The money will either stay in the Navy or go back into the Treasury.”
Wow, what a novel idea! You have a product that you think will succeed in the marketplace and instead of running to the government for a free handout, you compete for a grant and then look to the private sector! Let’s hope more companies follow their lead.
Filed under: Earmarks, In The News
