BSP Filing Solutions has extended a lease with Starkville for production space at Airport Road’s South Hangar from two to five years, Oktibbeha County economic development representative Joey Deason confirmed Thursday.
The company also recently began bringing in equipment for the almost $1 million investment, and hiring processes are already ongoing for the 25-40 workers the company will employ, he said.
BSP’s venture represents the second major economic development investment landed in Oktibbeha County by the Golden Triangle Development Link since it began handling industrial enticement last year.
In November, Finally LLC, a filing and folder products manufacturer, announced it would relocate a purchased, Virginia-based competitor to Starkville’s airport facilities and entered into a lease with the city for property near George M. Bryan Airport. Then, Deason, Oktibbeha County’s representative with the Link, said the operation could see possible expansion depending on market conditions.
Several entities, including the city, Mississippi Development Authority and Appalachian Regional Commission, contributed about $300,000 for infrastructure and sewer improvements associated with the project.
The company is expected to retain its operations in Kosciusko, where it employs about 100 people.
“We are excited about the potential that Starkville has to offer, and we are looking forward to expanding our operation there,” Steve Frank, BSP Filing Solutions chief executive officer, said in a release on the heels of the Link’s November announcement.
One month prior, the Link announced its first major economic development get for the county: C Spire will construct a $20 million data-processing center in Thad Cochran Research Park. The company ceremonially broke ground on the 23,800-square-foot facility in November. Once completed in November 2014, it is expected to be one of only 52 Tier 3 or 4 U.S. data centers as rated by the Uptime Institute.
C Spire’s project is expected to spur about 100 temporary construction jobs and create five or six high-paying, permanent jobs – about $50,000-$60,000 per position. Plans include the potential for at least two additional expansion phases that could create similar job numbers.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.