CLARION LEDGER
By Natalie Chandler
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
BALDWYN PULLS IN TOYOTA SUPPLIER
Ellen Prentice is not quite sure how Toyota will change Baldwyn, the small northeast Mississippi city she calls home. But she's ready to find out.
"These are jobs that will mean a lot better things for the people around here," said Prentice, the city's chamber of commerce director.
Toyota Auto Body Co. Ltd., which in July became the automaker's first announced supplier, said Tuesday it would build its plant in Baldwyn. The plant will produce stamped parts, body weld parts and plastic parts for the $1.3 billion auto assembly plant under construction in Blue Springs.
The supplier is expected to break ground on its $200 million plant before Christmas at a 100-plus acre site less than 30 minutes from the manufacturing plant. The facility will open in 2010 and employ 400 people.
Baldwyn's proximity to the manufacturing plant, its easy access to main thoroughfares and the area's quality work force attracted the supplier, said David Rumbarger, president and chief executive officer of Community Development Foundation. His agency worked with the state to lure the facility. ...
Baldwyn leaders predict more businesses will move in with Toyota. Several developers have expressed interest in bringing more housing to the area, Mayor Danny Horton said. He also expects more convenience stores and restaurants in the future.
"Baldwyn already had a solid growth pattern," [Rumbarger] said. "This is just going to continue to leverage them into the future."
In February, Toyota announced it would invest $1.3 billion in the facility near Tupelo, creating 2,000 direct jobs. Almost 5,000 indirect jobs are expected to be created.
Last month, Toyota Boshoku announced plans to build another supplier facility that will employ 500 people when it opens in fall 2009 near Fulton in Itawamba County.
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