Local News
Related Photos
-
Tony Huffman
Discussion
Clunkers program was local success
EFFINGHAM — With the recession still in full swing, much has been written about efforts to stimulate the economy through government and taxpayer funded programs.
While programs like the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus package, and First Time Home Buyer program have seen smaller success in a slow market, the recent conclusion of the Cash for Clunkers program has car dealers singing its praises.
“It was definitely a huge success,” said Jim Hecht, general manager at Dan Hecht Chevrolet Toyota. “We had over 50 clunkers traded in for new vehicles.”
Nationwide, the $3 billion program created more than half a million car sales. Through that success, government repayment remains as a focal point after the program’s conclusion.
“We sold a lot of cars but we haven’t seen any money,” said Mark Goeckner, owner of Goeckner Bros. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Sprinter “I’ve talked to a couple of dealers that have gotten money back, but we haven’t seen any yet.”
With Goeckner Bros. selling over 20 vehicles, the widespread surge in sales has dealerships with several empty spaces.
“The cash for clunkers definitely cleared out a lot of our inventory,” said Goeckner. “In our case, Chrysler had its plant closed for a couple of months.”
“They are back and running and we have a bunch of 2010’s coming in,” he said.
According to Hecht, the Cash for Clunkers program has people interested in buying vehicles, and sales are up. At his dealership, they have been continuously selling highly rated mile per gallon vehicles like the Chevy Cobalt and Malibu, along with the Toyota Corolla and Camry.
As for disposing of the clunkers, both dealerships are taking the same approach. Until money starts coming in on the traded vehicles, the clunkers are sitting on their lots.
Now that the program has ended, dealers remain hopeful they will receive their money. According to The Associated Press, recent information indicates the U.S. Transportation Department has “reviewed and processed more than 150,000 applications and approved just $140 million in payments to dealers, a fraction of the program’s funding.”
“Overall, I think this went very well,” said Goeckner. “Now we would like our money.”
Tony Huffman can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 135 or tony.huffman@
effinghamdailynews.com.
- Local News
-
-
A dream come true
The Early Learning Center in Effingham has two new additions to its playground this year, and it’s not shiny new slides or colorful jungle gyms.
-
T-town village donates to school programs
Teutopolis hasn’t had a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program for more than a decade, but the village still had a fund for donations that had been made to the program.
-
Alcohol sales stir up extra revenue
Since voters allowed liquor sales in Farina earlier this year, village officials and store owners have noticed a change — and it’s positive.
-
Police release 'person of interest' sketch in Schmitt murder investigation
Effingham police released a sketch Tuesday of a "person of interest" in the June murder of Effingham resident Jack Schmitt.
-
Elderly couple escapes burning house thanks to neighbor
An elderly Shumway couple was able to escape a house fire unharmed Sunday night thanks to a neighbor who alerted the fire department and came to the aid of the husband and wife.
-
Giving Back
In many ways, Autumn Worton is like many other 21-year-old women.
-
Making a Difference
Mack Myers of Kinmundy has lived with a hereditary neurological disorder his entire life, and he credits the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) for helping him cope with the disorder that’s affected him since 1947.
-
Area unemployment inches higher
Unemployment rates increased in nearly every area county last month, according to monthly statistics released this week by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
-
Local historians want to preserve, relocate bowstring bridge
The old Flensburg bridge is a rare glimpse into days gone by, though the modern-day resident has to use some imagination to see the bridge’s historical significance.
-
Drug checkpoint questionable
Motorists traveling southbound on Interstate 57 near Kinmundy Tuesday morning drove through a drug interdiction checkpoint — the first-ever in Marion County — even though the U.S. Supreme Court has taken a dim view of similar efforts.
- More Local News Headlines
-
