Toyota picks Mississippi for next plant – Site in Chattanooga falls short
Mississippi was chosen in a competition with Tennessee and Arkansas.
Production is set to begin by 2010 and employment is projected at 2,000. The company said it expects to build 150,000 vehicles a year.
The plant will be built on a 1,700 acre site at Blue Springs, land that has been promoted for economic development.
Gov. Haley Barbour and two Toyota manufacturing executive vice presidents, Gary Convis and Ray Tanguay, announced the project in an auditorium at Tupelo High School.
?Toyota is the world?s premiere auto manufacturer and our state will be the best partner the company has,? Barbour said in prepared remarks.
Tanguay said several factor?s led to the decision to build in Mississippi over the other proposed sites.
?On my visit to northern Mississippi, I have talked with area companies and observed their work force,? Tanguay said in prepared remarks. ?What I observed were people who are educated, ethical and friendly with a strong work ethic ? a perfect match for the Toyota way.?
Lawmakers told The Associated Press that Barbour will call a special session for Friday at 1 p.m. to address an incentive plan for Toyota.
?Chattanooga made a great effort to land a major auto plant and, sooner, rather than later, will be rewarded,? said U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander. ?Chattanooga is too attractive a city and too good a site to be passed by for long.?
The plant will be the second automaker to locate in the state. Nissan Motor Corp. opened its assembly plant north of Jackson in 2003. The 4,000-employee plant produced about 278,000 vehicles last year.
Officials in three Wellspring area counties ? Pontotoc, Lee and Union ? had been trying to market the 1,700-acre site as a possible location for an auto manufacturing plant.
The site is about 10 miles northwest of Tupelo. It?s next to U.S. 78, a federal highway that?s scheduled to be designated as Interstate 22
That puts the plant about 80 miles southeast of Memphis, Tenn. Considering its distance from Tennessee, the plant won?t provide a direct boost to the Tennessee workforce. However, Gov. Phil Bredesen is optimistic the plant will provide indirect jobs.
?It?s important to realize this project will have a regional economic impact,? said Bredesen. ?The close proximity of the site to Tennessee has the potential to positively impact Tennesseans and the hundreds of automotive suppliers who already call our state home.?
Other sites that Toyota considered were in Marion, Ark., just across the river from Memphis and in Chattanooga, Tenn.