Last year E-One's parent company Federal Signal announced major cuts at E-One. Now they're selling and those instrumental in making the sale happen say the employees should be happy.

"The bottom line is it's still here in Ocala, and 1300 plus employees are still at work," said City Council Member Kent Guinn.

Over a year ago, Guinn voted in favor of the city ponying up 4.6 million dollars to keep the fire apparatus manufacturer in town.

"It's a production based contract so they're going to have to produce in order to make it work," said Guinn. "We would've gotten our money back over a period of time so I think it was a good investment for the city, county and state to make."

City council member Kyle Kay along with Charles Ruse voted against it.

"I didn't think it was appropriate then, and I don't think it is appropriate now," said Kay.

In the end, E-One rejected the funds and decided to stay in Ocala anyway. But, with the sale to American Industrial Partners, will they stay in ocala or go?

WCJB put a call into their CEO Peter Guile. He referred us to their parent company Federal Signal, and they have yet to return any of our phone calls. However, we were able to speak to an employee who didn't want to go on camera to be interviewed, but she says she's a little nervous. E-One hasn't said anything to the employees about the sale. She believes the 20 million dollar sale price is a small indication that they're looking to reduce their workforce.

"Any new acquisition involves looking at the current workforce, looking at their products and then a determination will be made," said Ocala Chamber of Commerce Spokesperson Jaye Baillie.

The acquisition will officially take place within the next 30 days.