Video: Lowndes County, State Officials Talk KiOR Options

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LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — Lowndes County and state economic development officials have begun discussing in earnest what options they have if alternative fuels maker KiOR completely shutters its Columbus operation.

KiOR laid off 18 of its 73 workers Tuesday, and says more are coming in the next two months as it struggles to find financial backers.

The company remains current on its loan and tax payments, but deadlines are looming in two weeks that could better indicate whether it will file bankruptcy by late summer.

Local officials are trying to be both optimistic and prepared.

“We’re actually ahead of the game on the money thing,” Golden Triangle LINK CEO Joe Higgins said. “We just wish that the project would’ve worked, and they would’ve stayed around. Now, they’re still not dead. They’re still in their layoffs. Their money goes into August and we had a call this morning with the state and are working on a strategy of what we may or may not be able to do if worst comes to worst.”

KiOR still owes the state more than $69 million in loans.