DATE: Aug. 31, 2011
PACKAGE TO BRING ALMOST 1,800 JOBS TO STATE TO BE CONSIDERED BY
LEGISLATURE FRIDAY, GOV. BARBOUR ANNOUNCES
JACKSON – Gov. Haley Barbour today announced Mississippi lawmakers will
consider incentive packages for two high-tech economic development
projects that would create almost 1,800 new jobs in Mississippi.
Gov. Barbour will ask legislators to consider a $75 million package to
bring Calisolar to Columbus with a private capital investment of at
least $600 million and 951 direct full-time jobs with an average annual
salary of $45,000 plus benefits. Calisolar’s Columbus facility will
produce silicon to be used in a number of industries, including
automotive, energy (including solar panels), electronics and consumer
industries.
Lawmakers also will consider a $100 million package for HCL CleanTech,
which is planning to invest $1 billion to establish the company’s
headquarters in Olive Branch, build a small-scale commercial facility
and research and development center in Grenada, and construct three
large-scale commercial plants that the company intends to locate in the
Booneville, Hattiesburg and Natchez areas. The company will create 800
jobs with an average salary of $67,000 plus benefits. Later, HCL
CleanTech will relocate its existing pilot facility to Mississippi. HCL
CleanTech converts biomass to sugars that can be utilized as industrial
bioproducts.
“Calisolar and HCL CleanTech are examples of how Mississippi has become
a top site for high-tech, high-skilled manufacturing,” Gov. Barbour
said. “I hope the Special Session will be short and productive as we
continue the business of creating new, higher-paying jobs for
Mississippians.”
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Magnolia Tribune
