Business Facilities - February 2009 - (Page 20)

Automotive Systems, Johnson Controls, Tower Automotive and others. BMW officials touted the state’s proximity to major transportation corridors and air transport hubs and a pool of highly qualified workers as major factors in their site selection decision. The state’s transportation systems—railways, roadways, airports and waterways—are fully integrated to maximize transport options. Mississippi highways were ranked as the fourth best in the country in a national transportation study. Mississippi also is home to 75 airports, 17 rail systems and 15 ports, including two deep water ports on the Gulf Coast that provide access to worldwide commerce. These options offer many logistical efficiencies and, more importantly, significant cost reduction. Mississippi’s labor force is reliable, with a low 3% absenteeism rate and only a 5% turnover rate. This reliability and stability help ensure the success of any business located in the state. In addition, Mississippi is a right-towork state with low labor costs, which ease the overall cost of doing business in the state. Mississippi also is building educational capacity in this sector by Mississippi has a reputation for a skilled and qualified workforce developing unique that is enhanced by the state’s customized training programs within its college and university system. research and development partnerships between ing its university resources to supautomakers and the state’s universi- port Mississippi businesses and ties. Efforts like the Centers for enhance the state’s already robust Advanced Vehicular Systems at Mis- high-tech base. The University of sissippi State University in Starkville Mississippi in Oxford is making and near the Nissan plant in Can- preparations for its newest addition, ton, MS, and the Polymer Research the Center for Manufacturing ExcelInstitute at the University of South- lence. The center is a result of the ern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS, university’s partnership with Toyota demonstrate how the state is utiliz- and the Blue Springs, MS plant (currently under construction) and will “The finest Business Park between Dallas and Atlanta” offer degrees in engineering with an emphasis in manufacturing along with other industry-relevant, crossRANKIN COUNTY is strategically located within a day’s drive of many of the nation’s most lucrative disciplinary studies. markets throughout the Southern Sunbelt region “Mississippi’s university system and the industrial Midwest. In addition to the and its research and development advantages afforded by our excellent location, programs have been particularly Rankin County is in a position to offer you an important to the automotive sector impressive list of state and local economic incentives: for supporting manufacturing opera• U.S. Customs Port of Entry tions,” says Gray Swoope, executive • Foreign Trade Zone director of the Mississippi Develop• Right to work state ment Authority. “Research is an • Property tax exemptions important part of the industry as • Favorable state financing, sales tax exemptions & companies strive continuously to discounts develop new and better-designed cars and trucks, as well as new materials The East Metropolitan Center, a newly and processes for vehicle production. developed multi-use business park in We are focused not only on manufacRankin County, MS, has been targeted as potentially “the finest business park turing vehicles here, but growing between Dallas and Atlanta.” The R&D support as well.” Center’s infrastructure provides all the Working with the state’s network amenities to make it an excellent choice of two-year and four-year institufor corporate headquarters, incubators, tions, businesses also have resources light and heavy industry, distribution centers and other businesses. to assist with training efforts and develop more efficient manufacturPHONE: 601/825.2268 • FAX: 601/825.1977 ing processes. In particular, the state 101 Service Drive • PO Box 129 • Brandon, MS 39043 • www.rankinfirst.com has joined forces with local commu#2007 at www.BusinessFacilities.com 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 A N D WA R D ’ S A U T O W O R L D A-4 PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY http://www.rankinfirst.com http://www.rankinfirst.com http://www.BusinessFacilities.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Business Facilities - February 2009

Business Facilities - February 2009 Contents First Word Snapshots Corporate Moves: Ohio Governor's Report Growth Magnets Industry Focus: Automotive International Report: Luxembourg Corporate Moves: Tennessee Cream of the Crop in North Carolina Advertiser Index Ask the Expert

Business Facilities - February 2009

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