The Fort Smith commercial property, which Gov. Sarah Sanders drew attention to because of her pre-investigation concerns, was found to be connected to Chinese communists and had no connection to a “prohibited business controlled through foreigners. “
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said Tuesday (Aug. 13) that his investigation into the new owners of Trane’s former production plant near Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith had not revealed any prohibited connections.
“In my investigation of the assets at 4811 S. Zero Street in Fort Smith, I have determined that there are no violations of Act 636 of 2023. 4811 S. Zero Street, LLC is not owned or controlled. through or related to any ‘has prohibited corporations controlled through foreign parties. »Griffin said in a statement. “I thank the Secretary of Agriculture for alerting me to this challenge and the owners of 4811 S. Zero Street, LLC for their cooperation in the investigation. I also commend the diligence of my workplace attorneys and agents who handled this matter.
Griffin’s declined to provide details about the property.
Construction at 4811 S. Zero St. es the former Trane production facility that closed in 2017 and was recently sold at auction. The construction and assets were sold for $5 million, according to Sebastian County Assessor Zach Johnson.
The 378,700-square-foot building, near Fort Smith Regional Airport, once housed more than 500 employees producing residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning products. About 250 more people were hired at the plant when it closed.
Ebbing, which houses the 188th Wing at Fort Smith and is co-located with Fort Smith Regional Airport, was selected in March 2023 by the U. S. Air Force to be the long-term pilot education center supporting the F-16 and F-35 fighters. jets. purchased through Singapore, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Finland and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program.
Prior to the Griffin labor investigation, introduced July 23 by Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward, Governor Sanders issued a call to raise awareness about the call for an investigation.
“Communist China is the greatest adversary of the United States. I will not allow them to buy land near our military installations and spy on our country’s defenses. I once expelled a CCP state-owned company, and I will do so back to Arkansas’ Ebbing Air National Guard base. “, the governor said on social networks.
The Arkansas legislature passed Act 636 in 2023 to prohibit a “foreign-controlled corporation” from obtaining assets in the state. In the letter, Ward asks Griffin to “take appropriate legal action” if he determines that the company is controlled through a China-based company. Interests.
“It is the Governor’s priority to investigate any potential violations of Arkansas law and make sure our farmland, our military bases, and all Arkansans are protected against hostile foreign adversaries,” Sanders’ spokesperson Alexa Henning said after Griffin’s finding was made public.
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