A megaproject promising to bring 1,500 factory jobs to Parrsboro appears to be in jeopardy.

Residents had been told their small town on the Minas Basin would be headquarters for a board game empire, but they learned Tuesday the project's champion has resigned.

(CBC)

Headz Gamez International, which produces sports-themed board games, now says it's reviewing its Nova Scotia operations following the resignation of its president and majority owner, Kerry Martens.

The company also says it has decided not to buy the old post office it had been renovating into an office.

Parrsboro Mayor Doug Robinson said he knew something was up when several staff members were laid off and the renovation work stopped.

"It's not progressing maybe as rapidly as initially advertised, but that doesn't surprise me because it seemed to be a very ambitious plan," Robison told CBC News earlier Tuesday.

There was a lot of fanfare last summer when Headz Gamez announced it was moving its operations from Richmond, B.C., to Parrsboro.

Martens said he fell in love with the town when he visited while he was a teenager stationed in Halifax with the navy.

Company executives said it would be cheaper to work out of Nova Scotia than B.C., and they would not be seeking grants or tax breaks from the government.

Housing development

They announced they would build a factory and housing development — including a swimming pool — and expected to create 1,500 jobs.

Neither the town nor the province spent any money in preparation for the expected complex, so Robinson said nothing has been lost.

"At this moment, I don't see too many negatives for Parrsboro," he said. "I think most people realized this was something that may or may not happen."

The Headz Gamez office in Parrsboro remains open and the mayor expects the company to make a statement about its future on Wednesday.