itawamba
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Trends
Volume 2, Number 10,
Oct. 2010
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Third Quarter 2010 Figures Show Thousands of Jobs Created
more investment committed to the state in announcements made in the first three quarters of 2010 than we saw in all of 2009.”
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Business expansion announcements in 2010 have come from both large and small companies and from businesses across a wide range of sectors.
espite continued challenges resulting from a still-weak national economy, the State of Mississippi’s efforts to create jobs and attract investment are yielding considerable results. More than 5,000 jobs are being created by economic development projects that were announced in the first three quarters of 2010 and received assistance from the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), the state’s lead economic development agency.
Several furniture companies have chosen to expand their operations, including Lane Furniture, which is adding more than 150 jobs in Lee County, Southern Motion, which is creating at least 200 jobs in Pontotoc, and Max Home LLC, Townhouse Home Furnishings and Jamco Furniture Industries, which together are creating 125 new jobs.
State-assisted business location and expansion projects announced this year represent corporate investments of more than $1.36 billion.
Chicken processor DG Foods is adding 200 new jobs at its Copiah County facility. Outdoor power equipment producer MTD is adding 107 jobs at its Tupelo operations, and global automotive supplier BorgWarner is creating 120 new jobs in Yalobusha County.
These job and investment figures only include economic development projects that received assistance from the State of Mississippi and which were actively supported by MDA; they are not the only jobs created by businesses in the state during this period.
“I am very proud of the MDA team. Our staff has been working hard to create new jobs in a very difficult economy,” said Gray Swoope, MDA executive director. “Our agency’s refocused attention on our state’s existing businesses and the judicious use of the state’s resources are key reasons why we are ahead in new jobs announced in 2010. Mississippi is well-positioned for further job creation and investment as the economy
“In 2008, when the national economy was in the throes of a recession, credit markets were tightened and many businesses were struggling, Mississippi certainly was not immune to these stark economic realities,” Governor Haley Barbour said. “While our state did see numerous economic development announcements last year, especially from existing businesses expanding their operations, we already have seen more jobs created and ITAWAMBA TRENDS
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rebounds.”
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
McKesson and Hamilton Beach Brands, have announced they are locating distribution operations in the state. Mississippi is now home to two Fortune 20 healthcare companies, Cardinal Health and McKesson, both of which have looked to the state for their distribution needs.
In addition to its work in supporting existing industry and business, MDA remains focused on recruiting new business and investment to the state. These recruitment efforts have resulted in a number of new business location announcements this year that involve significant corporate investment and are creating thousands of jobs.
“While we have a long way to go to fully recover from this recession, I am heartened by the number of businesses that have announced they are either locating or expanding in the state in the first three quarters of this year,” Governor Barbour said. “We continue to look to the future and are always working to bring additional jobs and investment to the state, but the projects that have announced this year, to date, are creating thousands of high-quality, high-paying jobs for Mississippians and will help strengthen the economic fiber of our communities, making a lasting impact on the state in the years to come.”
Four days into 2010, Wilh. Schulz GMBH, a high-tech German pipe manufacturer, announced it would be building a new advanced pipe manufacturing facility in Tunica County. The facility, which will be the company’s first North American manufacturing plant, is creating 500 jobs and represents a $300 million company investment. Dennen Steel is locating a manufacturing facility in Tishomingo County, and downstream steel processors New Process Steel and Mississippi Steel Processing announced locations in Columbus, where they will further process steel produced at Severstal’s steel mini mill. Severstal announced it is expanding its operations, as well, to double its crude steel production capacity.
The business locations and expansions listed above represent only a few of many stateassisted economic development projects that have announced in 2010. For more information on the projects mentioned, or to view information about other projects, please visit MDA’s website at www.mississippi.org
The state has seen growth in the renewable energy production sector in 2010, as well, with announcements by Twin Creeks Technologies, a solar panel manufacturer, and KiOR, a biofuels producer, that they would be locating production facilities in the state. Twin Creeks’ new $175 million facility in Tate County will be the state’s first solar panel production plant and will create 512 jobs, and KiOR is locating five biofuel production facilities in rural communities around the state and will utilize Mississippi’s ample renewable resources in producing its renewable crude oil substitute. KiOR has selected Columbus, Newton and southwest Mississippi for its first three facilities and is creating 1,000 direct and indirect jobs and investing half a billion dollars in the state.
GRAND OPENING
In July, San Jose, Calif.,-based Soladigm announced it was locating its first full-scale production facility in DeSoto County. The plant will produce the company’s highly energyefficient dynamic glass, which changes from clear to tinted on demand.
Kim Graham representing ICDC is shown with Trudy Brumley owner of This N That Thrift Shop on South Adams Street.
Over the past few months, a number of companies, including Siemens, Fiskars, ITAWAMBA TRENDS
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THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
The council welcomes the new Holiday Inn Express and Suites to Itawamba County. This state-of-theart four-story facility to the Itawamba County business community. This beautiful hotel is a welcome addition to the business community. ITAWAMBA TRENDS
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THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
information about the tournament contact the council.
MORE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES PHOTOS
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he council would like to thank the following for their membership renewals during September: David Brown, Tommy Chamblee, Itawamba Investments, The Meadows and Bobby Walker. The council depends upon membership donations to carry out our goals with the promotion of Itawamba County worldwide.
GOLF TOURNAMENT PLANNING UNDERWAY
The 2010 Annual ICDC Golf Tournament is turning out to be a huge success. The maximum number of teams playing has already been met and this year players have a chance to win a new Ford Mustang, free auto insurance for a year and 1,000 gallons of gasoline. The tournament dinner this year is being sponsored by BancorpSouth, Bluefire Renewables and Wanzek Heavy/Industrial Contractors. Many door prizes have been collected that will be awarded at the tournament dinner. This year’s tournament will be on October 25 at the Fulton Country Club. Each year the golf tournament is a major source of donated income for the council. For further ITAWAMBA TRENDS
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THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
ITAWAMBA TRENDS
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