Getting your money back when the batteries run out.

• Position: Weak demand for nickel-hydride batteries forces 3C Alliance LLP to close plant in Mebane, NC

Little Mebane, population 5,535, has a thing or two to teach the state about doling out cash to attract new industry.

The town, Alamance County and the N.C. Commerce Department agreed in 1994 to pony up $2.5 million to entice 3C Alliance LLP to build a battery plant in Mebane. But the joint venture of Japan's Toshiba Battery Co., Germany's Varta Batterie AG and Connecticut-based Duracell Inc. is closing the plant at year-end, a year and a half after it opened.

It was supposed to create 575 jobs, but only 152 people were put to work making 3C's nickel-hydride batteries for laptop computers, cell phones and camcorders. With not enough demand to support the 240,000-square-foot plant, the partners are shifting production to a Toshiba plant in Tokyo.

The Commerce Department chipped in $575,000, no strings attached. Mebane agreed to give $600,000 - but in four installments. Alamance County pledged $1.3 million, also in four payments, over three years. In contracts, the town and county specified employment and investment goals the company had to meet or else repay the cash.

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