By Staff
DEADLINE n Mississippi Development Authority's Steve Pittman announced in Meridian Tuesday potential Nissan suppliers must file applications by Jan. 29. Photo by Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star.
By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Jan. 24, 2001
Under tight time deadlines, Nissan is searching for a few good companies to help supply a number of products and services needed by its truck manufacturing plant in Madison County.
Officials of the Mississippi Development Authority were the messengers Tuesday, helping the company get out the word.
Pittman was part of a whirlwind tour across the state as state officials encouraged possible supplier companies to fill out the packets, which includes a 3-page company application.
Interested companies must return the information to Nissan by Jan. 29, and Nissan will select those to be invited for a suppliers' conference in Jackson the week of Feb. 19.
State officials also visited Hattiesburg, Tupelo, Gulfport, Greenville and Southhaven.
According to Pittman, Nissan's presence in Mississippi will provide an opportunity to improve the quality of life in the state.
Nissan asked the state to notify the initial companies, according to Pittman, because they initially qualified as suppliers of Nissan or Nissan's primary supply companies.
Nissan will be seeking suppliers of every kind, from machine tools, audio equipment to janitorial supplies.
Although many companies didn't receive a packet, Pittman said more detailed information and applications can be found online at www.
mississippiandnissan.com or at www. governor.state.ms.us.
Nissan intends to use the applications as a screening process to identify suppliers which could provide the mass quantities of goods and services needed for production. It is unclear when Nissan plans to make a decision regarding which companies are finally selected as suppliers.
The plant is scheduled to open in the summer of 2003. When operational, the two million square-foot plant will manufacture minivans, trucks and sports utility vehicles.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.