LITTLETON — The three- year odyssey of Window Fashion Resource landed on the rocks this past week when the company abandoned its efforts to open a new factory in the refurbished sportswear factory on Main Street.

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In September 2004, Gov. Mike Easley led the bandwagon in announcing Window Fashion Resource’s plan to bring a $1.55 million manufacturing enterprise to the Valley making custom blinds, shutters, drapes and other window accessories.

Easley said the plant would create “100 good-paying jobs for 100 hard-working North Carolinians.”

Friday, it was confirmed the California firm decided not to go forward with the project despite the thousands of dollars, much of it in grant or government money, spent on refurbishing the building for the business.

Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott said company owner Don Yauger “has decided that the economic climate is just not right to start up a new business.”

In the beginning, Yauger wanted to expand the business to the East Coast and decided the Littleton location was perfectly situated for that purpose.

The on-again, off-again project has been the subject of rumors as it dragged forward into a fourth year. The deadline for Yauger to take possession of the building came and went last month, but county leaders held out hope Yauger would come through.

Halifax County Manager Tony Brown maintained a wait-and-see attitude about the project as rumors of Yauger backing out of the deal swirled. In October, Brown told The Daily Herald that Halifax County and the Golden Leaf Foundation, who financed the bulk of the economic development project, had done everything promised to Yauger.

“What’s the worst thing that could happen if Window Fashion Resource backs out?” Brown responded when asked about the project. “We’ve got a beautiful, completely refurbished building, ready for someone to move into immediately. It is still perfectly situated for any number of businesses to operate next to Interstate 95. We believe someone will show interest.”

Scott agreed with Brown saying, “This is not the end of the project, it is just the end of Window Fashion Resource. We will simply move on and begin actively marketing the building, as we are every other economic development project going on in the county.”

“While we are disappointed Mr. Yauger has decided not to bring his business to Halifax County, we wish him well and wish him the best of luck. Now we turn our attention to finding someone else and we are very confident and optimistic we will find the right person for that building,” Scott said.

She added a sign would go up at the building on Monday offering a for rent or sale option.