Golf cars building renovation under way

Workers are continuing renovations on the Port Authority’s Maintenance Building in preparation for the manufacturing of state-of-the-art, lithium ion-powered golf cars.

“Right now, we’re still renovating the Maintenance Building and expect to build some orders by December,” said Jon Hoster, one of the company’s founders.

Recently, the company secured a grant for $152,000 that will allow for the renovation of the building that will be used to manufacture electric cars to be used on golf courses.

“As long as we have 21 employees within two years, we don’t have to pay the grant back,” Hoster said. Hoster carefully defined his product as golf cars. Golf carts, he said, are pushed or pulled and carry a golfers bag of clubs.

Hoster said Sunday he expects to command a sales list through the end of the year and build an order by the end of January in time for full production.

“We’re aiming to begin hiring at the end of January or February,” Hoster said. “We hope to have 20 to 30 employees by the end of the second year.”

Hoster said he will notify the Kootenai Job Service Center on Mineral Avenue when the company will begin hiring.

On May 1, Hoster pitched his plan to Lincoln County commissioners, who signed off on a state-funded Community Development Block Grant.

The company, LiV Golf Cars, Inc., received  $368,000 for the project through the CDBG.

Kootenai River Development Council Executive Director Paul Rumelhart has said Hoster and his investors have the potential to have a positive impact on the area.

Rumelhart said the job numbers are conservative estimates.

“(If anything), those numbers are pessimistic,” Rumelhart said. “They are on the low end.”

According to a presentation by KRDC Assistant Director Brigid Burke, positions would include a production supervisor, assembly persons, sales people, discharging staff, marketing and accounting staffers, purchasing, materials acquisition and service technicians.

Hoster said the $1.169 million project includes a $220,000 investment from himself and co-founders Urson Russell and Jason Ouimette, $581,030 from a Small-Business Association loan and the CDBG funds. The name of the company — LiV Golf Cars, Inc. — represents Lithium-Ion Vehicle Golf Cars.

Hoster said Libby is uniquely qualified to produce the LiV golf cars.

“This area is positioned perfectly for the Southwest and California,” Hoster said.