Concerns over the apparent lack of movement on the development of the former Hidden Hitch plant to a southern Ontario company have reached the region’s Member of Parliament.

Tony Clement, MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, said this week he has heard grumblings from the community about no news regarding the plant’s opening and the subsequent hiring process.

Aero Defence Products Ltd., a company based in Georgetown, Ont., announced Jan. 22 it was finalizing a deal that day with Cequent Towing officials to buy the former automotive towing parts manufacturing facility.

Paul Colacci, president of Aero Defence Products Ltd. — a subsidiary of Mississauga-based Aerofoam Metals Inc. — made the announcement of the sale, which is just more than one million dollars.

Clement said that he has received communications from the company’s officials that everything is still on track.

“I had heard the same rumblings. I have contacted Aerofoam a couple of times on this. I have been told that their plans are going to move forward and they are committed to moving into Huntsville. I have to take them at their word at this point,” he said.

Colacci said the facility will be used to supply a variety of armoured vehicle types and styles for homeland security and first responder markets such as police departments, strategic sites, border patrol and ambulances.

However, since the announcement last month, little has been made public about the deal and the hiring process that was expected to begin by this time. Training was to begin next month, according to Colacci, with the operation to start manufacturing in April.

Clement said staff in his office were in contact with Aerofoam officials last Wednesday.

“Obviously I am quite hopeful that this (project) will come to fruition because it will be great for the community. All I can do now right now is take them at their word.”

Calls to Colacci at the Aerofoam offices were not returned by press time.

The Hidden Hitch plant, an automotive towing parts manufacturing facility, closed its doors at the end of last year when its American-based owners Cequent Towing decided to amalgamate its operations with its Indiana facility.

More than 160 people were out of work as a result of the plant closure.