By Staff
CHANGING HANDS  The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation has taken an option to lease the former Delco Remy building from the city of Meridian. The move is part of a project officials say could attract as many as 300, high-paying automotive manufacturing jobs. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star.
By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Aug. 8, 2001
Lauderdale County's chief economic development agency is courting an automotive manufacturing company that could locate in Meridian and create up to 300 high-paying jobs.
Officials with the East Mississippi Business Development Corp. on Tuesday declined to name the company or say if it might supply components for the Mercedes plant in Vance, Ala., or the Nissan facility near Canton, or both.
EMBDC was awarded an option on the vacant Delco Remy America building, which closed in 1997 throwing some 600 workers off the job. The city-owned building, with 310,000 square feet of space, has been advertised for lease at $1 a year.
The lease option arrangement with EMBDC, approved by the city council, effectively takes the building off the market while negotiations with the unnamed company proceed privately. EMBDC has until Oct. 31 to close the deal.
Deweese said local economic development and political officials have worked quietly behind the scenes for months to negotiate a deal to attract the automotive manufacturing company. The availability of the Delco Remy building at such a low cost was reported to be one of the most attractive incentives.
Other officials said some specialized work on the building would likely be necessary before the company could actually move in.
Ward 3 Councilman Barbara Henson said the new jobs could be a much-needed economic boost, especially with city leaders considering a property tax increase next year to offset sluggish revenues.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3226, or e-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.