JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The technology is called NEO and it can potentially change the way diesel engines impact the environment.
That's just one of the reasons this new technology caught the eye of one our area's most influential business leaders, Jaguars owner Shad Khan.
It took local inventor and president of L&J Diesel Services, Omar Cueto, five years to develop the NEO. But it wasn't until recently he got the call he was waiting for.
"The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce reached out to us and set up the meeting and we presented our technology and they really liked it," said Omar Cueto, President of L&J Diesel Services.
It was a meeting to pitch his idea to one of Khan's executives.
"The next day he came to our facility, saw our facility, and really liked what he had to see and wanted to move forward," said Cueto.
Cueto's new technology would allow engines to be more environmentally friendly by using a more precise method of measurement of diesel fuel injectors.
Khan, who is no stranger to the automotive field himself, saw potential in Cueto's invention and loaned him more than $1 million for his research.
"To have someone like Mr. Khan and his team come in and assist us with this development and take it to the next level in order to put it into the automotive after market is a dream come true," said Cueto.
Cueto now hopes, that by having a cheerleader like Khan on the sidelines, he'll be able continue growing his family-owned business.
"We're hoping that we'll be in full operation in about four months in our new facility, with our new equipment and running strong and providing jobs for Jacksonville," said Cueto.
In addition to Khan's loan, Cueto also received a $200,000 loan from Jacksonville City Council and a $100,000 grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
