A ribbon cutting for AgLine Distributing & Equipment was held earlier this week with Mississippi’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson in attendance.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ industrial space in Leake County has received a facelift and a new tenant in the 120,000 square foot facility in Carthage.
Built in the late 1980’s, the three 40,000 square foot industrial buildings were once utilized by the Tribe’s then-booming automotive wire harness business. However, the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) saw the wire harness contracts move offshore, leaving the business to fold and the buildings vacant.
But the Tribe began the necessary process of updating the buildings’ infrastructure in 2022 in hopes of attracting new tenants. Investments were made in new roofs, HVAC upgrades, energy efficient lighting, and resurfaced roads and parking areas.
The Tribes’ focus paid off as AgLine signed a lease on one of the buildings and recently signed an option on another for parts storage and future expansion. The company is locating their manufacturing and assembly operations on the site.
“When we were looking for a tenant, Agline was looking for a facility,” said MBCI Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben in a statement. “The timing lined up and it was a win-win.”
Recently the Tribe implemented a new incentive program that could prove beneficial to AgLine’s future growth as well as aid other businesses looking to locate on the site. Choctaw Employment Advantage offers rental discounts to commercial tenants leasing Tribal buildings. According to the Tribe, businesses that lease space on Choctaw Tribal lands are eligible for rental discounts when they employ Choctaw Tribal members. Monthly rental payments will be reduced in increments of $500 for every five Tribal members with at least 90 days of full-time employment by tenants as of the date the monthly rental payment is due.
A ribbon cutting for AgLine Distributing & Equipment was held earlier this week with Mississippi’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson in attendance.
