JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Latest on Mississippi's efforts to recruit a tire plant to western Hinds County and a shipyard to Gulfport (all times local):
1:27 p.m.
The Mississippi Legislature has approved more than $275 million of incentives for a tire manufacturing plant and a shipyard. The projects are supposed to create 3,500 jobs, combined.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Joey Fillingane says a plant proposed for Hinds County would be the largest tire manufacturing facility in North America with about 2,500 employees.
Mississippi Development Authority director Glenn McCullough says the German firm Continental AG will build the tire plant.
Edison Chouest (SHWEST) Offshore plans to eventually hire 1,000 workers at the Topship shipyard in Gulfport.
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10:19 a.m.
The Mississippi House of Representatives has passed an incentive bill for a Hinds County tire plant and a Gulfport shipyard by a wide margin. The bill goes to the Senate.
Only three House members voted against the measure, which came up for consideration less than two hours after a special session began Thursday. It which would grant hundreds of millions worth of incentives to the companies.
The tire plant would cost $1.45 billion and eventually hire 2,500 workers. The Clarion-Ledger has reported the plant would be built by German firm Continental AG, but the company won't confirm that. Mississippi would borrow $263 million, plus grant property, income and franchise tax breaks worth much more.
Edison Chouest (SHWEST) Offshore plans to invest $68 million in the Topship shipyard and eventually hire 1,000 workers. Mississippi would borrow $11 million for Topship.
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9:30 a.m.
Members of the House Ways and Means Committee have unanimously approved a bill for Mississippi to grant hundreds of millions worth of incentives to bring a tire plant to western Hinds County and a shipyard to Gulfport.
The committee voted Thursday morning, after a special session began.
The tire plant would cost $1.45 billion and eventually hire 2,500 workers. The Clarion-Ledger has reported the plant would be built by German firm Continental AG, but the company won't confirm that. Ways and Means members do confirm the company is German-based. Mississippi would borrow $263 million, plus grant property, income and franchise tax breaks worth much more.
Edison Chouest (SHWEST) Offshore plans to invest $68 million in the Topship shipyard and eventually hire 1,000 workers. Mississippi would borrow $11 million for Topship.
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8:39 a.m.
Mississippi lawmakers are considering incentives for a tire plant in western Hinds County and a shipyard in Gulfport.
Gov. Phil Bryant set Thursday's special session, saying the combined deals would create 3,500 jobs.
Of those, 2,500 jobs are projected at a $1.45 billion tire plant. The Clarion-Ledger reports German company Continental AG will build the tire plant, although Continental says reports are "speculation at this point."
The Topship shipyard, part of Louisiana-based Edison Chouest (SHWEST) Offshore, is supposed to hire another 1,000 workers, investing less than $100 million.
State officials plan a number of incentives, financing some by borrowing about $275 million. Sen. John Horhn, a Jackson Democrat, says Hinds County would also contribute to the tire plant.
The incentives were filed in a 196-page bill (https://bit.ly/1SKvVAd ).