Business Facilities - September 2008 - (Page 8)

CORPORATE MOVES Mississippi By Bill Trüb TOYODA GOSEI SET TO BUILD IN BATESVILLE VUTEQ AND TOYOTA FORGE A PARTNERSHIP I n March, Toyoda Gosei North American Group announced plans to build a new automotive parts manufacturing plant in Batesville, MS. The facility will develop and produce interior and exterior plastic automotive components for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, Inc. Toyoda Gosei will invest approximately $19 million into the new 103,300-square-foot plant, located on 14.27 acres of land just off of Interstate 55. The company plans to begin production and employ 120 workers by 2010. The Mississippi Development Authority’s project team helped Toyoda Gosei narrow down the Batesville site from contenders in at least two other states. “The Mississippi Development Authority and Panola County Partnership have been a valuable resource for Toyoda Gosei as we begin building a positive relationship with the I Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour congratulates an official from Toyoda Gosei. Batesville community,” says Takashi Matsuura, president of Toyoda Gosei. “Both organizations also played a key role in introducing Toyoda Gosei to various incentive programs that include training for our future workforce.” Toyoda Gosei currently has manufacturing operations in six states, in addition to headquarters in Japan, Belgium, Thailand, and Troy, MI. The corporation’s worldwide employment numbers total more than 23,000 people throughout 16 countries. n 2009, Vuteq USA, Inc. plans to open a new manufacturing facility in New Albany, MS. The $31-million plant is expected to employ 130 people. Vuteq will provide Toyota with more than 50 injection-molded parts, as well as the assembly of the deckboard and various component parts. Vuteq will begin production next year to coincide with the start-up of Toyota’s new Highlander SUV plant. An additional 500 workers are expected to be employed by Vuteq to work at the Toyota SUV facility. Vuteq will supply parts and help assemble Toyota’s Highlander SUV. Oxford Wins Over Winchester I 8 SEPTEMBER 2008 PHOTO CREDITS: MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY n February, the Winchester Company of Olin, Inc., announced plans to relocate its military packaging operations to an existing facility in Oxford, MS. This $3-million investment is expected to create 100 new jobs. Formerly based in East Alton, IL, Winchester’s packaging operations will utilize about 85,000 to 90,000 square feet in its existing Oxford facility. Plant equipment will be moved from Illinois to Mississippi, and a new firing range will be built. The company says relocating will involve only minor modifications to its Oxford facility. Gov. Haley Barbour credits Mississippi’s development efforts for the successful relocation. “Vuteq USA’s decision to locate in New Albany further demonstrates Mississippi’s commitment to partner with automotive suppliers to create a winning situation for the company, the community in which it will locate, and the state,” says Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. “During the process of selecting sites, the overwhelming attribute of New Albany was its friendly and welcoming nature,” says Vuteq Canada President Chris Spence, who will oversee the new facility.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Business Facilities - September 2008

Business Facilities- September 2008 Contents First Word Snapshots Corporate Moves:�Mississippi Editor's Location Picks 2008 The Palmetto State Reaches Across the Sea Corporate Moves:�Tennessee Metro Spotlight:�Spokane, WA Biotech: Building Block for Development Wind Power Lifts Iowa Germany:�Europe's Economic Juggernaut California Here We Come Up, Up and Away in North Carolina Corporate Moves:�West Virginia Metro Spotlight:�Decatur/Greensburg, IN Advertiser Index Ask the Expert

Business Facilities - September 2008

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