Business Facilities - December 2007 - (Page 34)

Many companies have already taken advantage of Mississippi’s top-notch business climate. In April, Toyota announced the location of its eighth North American automotive manufacturing facility in Blue Springs, MS. The $1.3 billion facility will have the capacity to produce 150,000 Highlander SUVs annually. Both Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. and Toyota Boshoku-America recently announced that their companies would build plants in North Mississippi totaling $260 million in investments. This is the first U.S. investment for both companies and it represents the first announced Tier I suppliers to Toyota’s new facility. These suppliers join roughly 90 other automotive manufacturing, distribution, and supplier companies located in Mississippi. In addition, PACCAR broke ground in July 2007 for its $400million diesel engine plant in Columbus, MS—the first in the United States. Read on to discover two prime locations in Mississippi that could make great destinations for your next business investment. OPPORTUNITY IN WALTHALL COUNTY When MultiCraft decided to shut down its plant in Walthall County, MS, the Walthall County Board of Supervisors purchased the 60,000-square-foot facility, located on a 26-acre site in Tylertown, MS, to help generate economic development for the area. The county hopes the facility will attract a company to replace the 350 jobs (ranging from assembly line workers to top-level design engineers) lost when the MultiCraft plant, which manufactured plastic-injected molded wiring harnesses, closed its doors. Being the only available “Class A” facility in Southwest Mississippi, the Walthall County Board of Supervisors has high hopes for locating a supplier for nearby auto manufacturers or other quality companies. Although Tylertown is a small community, it is easy to fulfill the workforce needs of a large company locating there, as over 630,000 people live within 55 miles of Tylertown. On top of MultiCraft’s recent plant closing, Walthall County has gone from approximately 400 dairies to less than 30, resulting in plenty of available labor with a strong work ethic. As of September, unemployment in the county was at 6.6%. In addition, a large percentage of Walthall County’s workforce has a higher skill set than is needed for the positions that they currently fill, meaning there is a workforce with underutilized skills to take advantage of as well. LOCATION advantage HAS ITS www.embdc.org • 90 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL • 90 miles from Jackson, MS • Within 1 day’s drive of 55% of U.S. population • 2 Interstates, 4 US Highways, and 3 Rail Carriers • Wadley Donovan Labor Study • Available buildings and sites Meridian, MS Tel: 601.693.1306 • info@embdc.org #2005 at www.BusinessFacilities.com 34 DECEMBER 2007 Not to mention, the county’s manufacturing wage is 29% less than the Mississippi average and 55% less than the national average. With all this in mind, it is easy to see that Walthall County and the surrounding area has a loyal, non-union, hardworking, cost-effective workforce to offer prospective employers. So, if you’re interested in finding a quality facility in a convenient location with an aggressive lease/ purchase structure, potential payroll savings, tax advantages and benefits, and a dedicated local community, be sure to put Walthall County on your radar screen. For more information on what the county has to offer your company call 601-876-2680 or visit www.availablefacility.com You’ll be glad you did. A S P E C I A L A D V E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N O F B U S I N E S S FA C I L I T I E S PHOTO CREDIT: WALTHALL COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY http://www.embdc.org http://www.availablefacility.com http://www.BusinessFacilities.com

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Business Facilities - December 2007 Contents First Word Snapshots Metro Spotlight: Albuquerque, New Mexico Corporate Moves: North Carolina 2007 Ecomonic Development Deal of the Year Awards State of the Year Seeking Supply Chain Solutions Mississippi Means Business Corporate Moves: South Carolina Biomedical Momentum in Florida's High Tech Corridor Trends in Offshoring Metro Spotlight: Stillwater, OK Metro Spotlight: Atlanta, GA Advertiser Information 2007 Salary Survey

Business Facilities - December 2007

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