Clarke County welcomes new industry

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
June 27, 2002
Less than a month after Clarke County posted the state's highest unemployment rate, officials are expected to announce today that a North Carolina company will open a plant in Enterprise later this year.
Paul Mosley, president of the Clarke County Board of Supervisors, said that Duke Energy Co. of Charlotte, N.C., will open a plant in the Enterprise Industrial Park. The company will hire 12 -15 employees.
Duke Energy is the nation's largest producer of natural gas liquids and has more than 25,000 employees worldwide. It generated revenues of more than $59 billion in 2001 in delivering both electricity and natural gas to customers around the world.
In May, Clarke County's jobless rate soared to 19.3 percent the highest in the state. Unemployment stood at 6.7 percent in neighboring Lauderdale County, 6.8 percent in the state and 5.5 percent for the nation.
Clarke County's economy took a big hit earlier this year when its largest employer, Burlington Industries, closed its Stonewall plant leaving more than 800 workers without jobs.
The loss forced the Mississippi Employment Security Commission to open an office in Clarke County to help residents find jobs.
Mosley said he and other Clarke County officials are also talking with at least two prospective businesses to replace the Burlington plant in Stonewall.