Published: July 20, 2006 02:20 pm      

EMBDC: Welcoming new businesses

Meridian is in the midst of an economic revival that will continue to enhance the richness of our community for decades to come.

The East Mississippi Business Development Corp. is focused on the long-term economic diversification of our community and is steadily engaged in recruiting new industries.

Meridian’s prime location makes the city attractive to new businesses wanting to relocate while taking advantage of the many incentives Mississippi has to offer. Along with our Southern hospitality, Meridian has available land for development and is close to interstates and institutions of higher learning.

Our newest neighbors in Meridian, Loblolly Industries and Tower Automotive, will play a significant role in the advancement of Meridian’s economic progress. Not only will they provide jobs for our community, they will ensure that our homegrown industries thrive as well.

Loblolly Industries’ new site in Lauderdale County, at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Industrial Park, is under construction.

The site has been cleared and Lauderdale County is preparing to issue bonds in support of the new 335,000-square-foot facility. The plant, expected to open in early 2008, will create 140 direct jobs and 160 indirect jobs throughout the area.

The project is backed by Shuqualak Lumber Co., one of Mississippi’s largest privately-owned timber companies. Loblolly Industries will produce Scrimtec, a remarkable new structural engineered wood product made from immature pine trees. Scrimtec is made with the patented TimTek technology, which uses pine forest thinnings to produce lumber-like products.

The location of this plant will ignite the pulpwood market by creating an additional outlet for local timber growers in the Meridian area and ensure the future of the state’s lumber industry. Local farmers, who have been seeking additional revenue options for their small diameter trees, will soon be able to realize immediate economic benefits.

Tower Automotive, now located at the former Delco Remy building in South Industrial Park, is a leading global designer and producer of structural metal components for the automotive industry.

Company officials chose Meridian, known as the strategic center of the south, because of its proximity to Tower customers and other facilities. Tower’s new automotive parts facility was scheduled to begin limited production this month. Tower Automotive is currently hiring and is expected to provide 200 initial jobs for our community.

Meridianites will soon realize that the economic success of both ventures will eventually translate into benefits for the entire area.

Providing new opportunities while nurturing our existing industry is a primary goal of the East Mississippi Business Development Corp. And, the EMBDC staff is always preparing for tomorrow.

Working with city, county and state officials, the EMBDC is constantly talking to prospects and promoting the area with the intention to bring businesses and industries to East Mississippi. The Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors played a major role in facilitating both Tower and Loblolly projects.

The team at East Mississippi Business Development Corp. remains focused on its mission and is excited about Meridian’s potential.



Andrea Maloof is communications and research coordinator for the East Mississippi Business Development Corp.



FIND OUT MORE

In February 2001, Wade C. Jones was named president of the East Mississippi Business Development Corp., the chamber/economic development

organization for Meridian and Lauderdale County. Jones is a active volunteer in local area civic and community development organizations. He and his wife, Wanda, have five children and live in Meridian.

The EMBDC office is at 1901 Front St. in downtown Meridian. The phone number is (601) 693-1306. For more information, or to read the latest newsletter or request a new resident package, visit www.embdc.org.