It’s not often a company turns down and, especially, gives back free money. But in an unprecedented move guided by “conscience,” Alex Fairly, President of Fairly Consulting Group in Amarillo, did just that.
On Wednesday, Fairly told Amarillo Economic Development Corporation board members of his decision to end a $1.8 million incentive deal between the AEDC and Fairly Consulting Group. Finalized in 2017, the deal provided the company funds, derived from tax dollars, in exchange for hiring 100 new employees and increasing payroll by $6 million over 15 years.
Fairly explained that that the deal weighed on his conscience and he didn’t feel comfortable taking money from taxpayers when the company didn’t need it to succeed.
“We’re doing fantastic and the reality is we can continue doing what we’re doing without help from the AEDC,” said Fairly. “I feel really strongly about taxpayer money … and frankly I just couldn’t take the money … We needed to stop before it got any bigger.”
In addition to ending the agreement, Fairly announced his intention to return the $27,000 already received from the AEDC, saying that it was very important for him, personally, to do so.
“These moneys aren’t mine or yours, they belong to everyone in our community,” Fairly stated. “And we can do what we’re doing without them.”
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