Despite tight state budgets affecting grant and loan funding for infrastructure, the Golden Triangle Development LINK has continued to see sizable projects come to the area, according to Chief Executive Officer Joe Max Higgins.
“It has, the last couple years, been a little harder to put the deals together, and if it continues, I think it’s going to be problematic for us,” Higgins told Columbus Rotarians Tuesday afternoon during their regular meeting at Lion Hills Center.
He said the LINK has had to delve deeper into its own pockets to stay competitive in the economic development field.
In lieu of a speech Tuesday, Higgins held a question-and-answer session, addressing topics such as the progress of Yokohama Tire Corporation’s West Point plant and possible developments on a variety of LINK-owned properties.
“The majority of deals that are looking right now are still looking at the GTR park east or west of the airport (on Highway 82),” Higgins said. “We’ve got three very prominent, prestigious projects that are looking at west of the airport right now.”
He said two potential project partners are considering the Infinity Megasite at Hwy 82 and Airport Road, and an additional project is examining the Global Industrial Aerospace Park adjacent to the Megasite. Higgins said if the LINK can manage to contract one site, he thinks others will follow suit.
Touching on the progress of West Point’s Yokohama plant, Higgins said LINK representatives met with the corporation’s leaders two weeks ago, and the company reported it was still in the hiring process. Higgins said Yokohama is about 50 jobs short of its 500 job hiring goal, which it had hoped to fulfill by the end of 2016, according to previous reporting by The Dispatch.
“They’ve exceeded the (capital expenditure of $300 million required), and it looks like they’ll exceed the job creation,” Higgins said, “(There are) still problems in getting some of the kinks worked out in the plant.”
When the LINK asked Yokohama what the biggest complaint was, it replied shift work was a major deterrent for potential employees.
“They’re working those folks (for six days of 12-hour shifts) with three days off,” Higgins said. “The good news is they’ve got some high school (graduates) working for them that are making $80,000 a year. The bad news is you’re working six 12s to get it.”
Higgins said the plant is trying to solve the employee issue, while attempting to meet its production goals.
Following the meeting, Higgins told The Dispatch the Link will address Starkville’s Board of Aldermen July 18 to reveal development plans for a proposed 360-acre industrial park, on which construction was delayed due to a city zoning change earlier this year.
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