A lawn and garden supplies manufacturer will invest $17 million in a plant in Rankin County, an investment county officials hope will spur economic growth.
ScottsMiracle-Gro Co. will create 95 full-time jobs and 50 seasonal jobs at its Gulf Line Road location. It's expected to open in January 2011.
"We worked with them throughout the process to ensure Pearl would continue to be high on their list," said Tom Troxler of Rankin First Economic Development Authority. He said the company considered several Southern states.
Troxler said the county and city of Pearl courted Columbus, Ohio-based Scotts for 15 months. Both local governments tossed in 10-year tax exemptions. The Mississippi Development Authority added funding for training.
"We grant that (tax exemptions) routinely to companies that meet certain criteria," Troxler said of Rankin's first significant new industry in several years.
The Board of Supervisors approved the tax exemption Monday, and Pearl aldermen are expected to approve one as well.
"This shows when you work together what you can do," said Pearl Mayor Brad Rogers.
The 292,000-square-foot facility will manufacture Scotts, Ortho, Miracle-Gro and Roundup products.
"The associates working in our new facility will produce some of the most recognizable consumer lawn and garden brands in the world," Dave Swihart, Scotts senior vice president of Global Supply Chain, said in a news release.
Troxler said Rankin was successful in luring the plant because of its skilled work force and its location near Jackson-Evers International Airport.
Scotts will locate in a facility formerly owned by the Clorox Co. Clorox ceased production last at the 64-acre site iin 2009.
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Information from: The Clarion-Ledger, http://www.clarionledger.com
