Extreme Machine 2000 Inc., a Leavenworth, Wash.-based company, appears to have suspended or scrapped plans to open a facility here to manufacture all-terrain amphibious vehicles.


The startup company and the Spokane Area Economic Development Council announced in May 2003 that Extreme Machine had leased about 28,000 square feet of space at the Spokane Business & Industrial Park and planned to start production of its all-terrain amphibious vehicles there the following month.


Now, Dean Stuart, director of marketing for Crown West Realty LLC, which operates the Spokane Business & Industrial Park, says that Extreme Machine hasnt leased space there and hasnt been in touch with anyone on Crown Wests staff there recently.


Dick Ewing, CEO of Extreme Machine, didnt return phone calls, but says in an e-mail that Extreme Machine currently isnt operating and hasnt located funding to move ahead with its plans.


Extreme Machines Web site appears to be inactive.


Stan Key, the EDCs business-development manager, says the EDC last contacted Ewing about five weeks ago. Key says Extreme Machine hasnt secured the financing it needed to purchase equipment and set up the manufacturing facility here.


Extreme Machine didnt move because it didnt have the money, he says. At this point, its not manufacturing anything. As far as I know, it basically has a prototype and is looking for the financing to move beyond that stage.


Key says he doesnt know if Ewing still is considering moving the company here, but the EDC will continue for now to stay in contact with him until he decides what he will do.


Extreme Machine planned to make 500 vehicles annually at the facility here, Key says, and reportedly believed there was market demand for 30,000 vehicles a year. Ewing said in May 2003 that the company would employ about 40 people at first, and expected that number to grow to about 140 if sales went well, he says.


The EDC said in a press release then that the company expected to hire people for vehicle-assembly, management, computer-technician, machinist, and office-support positions, and would contract out to local companies for many of the vehicles parts.


Also in that release, Extreme Machine said it would market its vehicles to outdoor enthusiasts, the military, law-enforcement agencies, state governments, and resorts in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana.


Ewing reportedly said the vehicles could maneuver on land or in water, and said the company had tested the vehicle in 7-foot waves in the Puget Sound.