MARSHALL COUNTY, Miss.–A new electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant is planned to locate in Marshall County, in fairly close proximity to the north Delta. It is expected to provide 2,000 jobs, announced Gov. Tate Reeves in a Tuesday press conference.
It is being sold as the second-largest economic development project in state history.
“It will further enshrine Mississippi as a national leader in the automotive industry,” said Reeves.
Jobs are expected to pay about $66,000 per year, plus benefits, on average, said Reeves. But, that does not mean all jobs will be high-paying ones, and many will require a four-year degree.
“Many of these jobs are going to span from executive leadership, engineering, all the way down to advanced manufacturing,” said the governor. He used the opportunity to talk about preparing Mississippians for such jobs, stating that Northwest Community College’s Batesville campus has said they are or will be able to train people for manufacturing jobs using the latest technology.
Reeves did not name the company, but said it is based in the U.S. and is a household name.
Taxpayers are putting up about $350 million to help seal the deal, which will be finalized in a special legislative session Thursday.
“I look forward to the legislature moving swiftly to finalize this deal,” said House Speaker Jason White. “All of the particulars seem to be in place.” Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who presides over the state Senate, indicated that lawmakers in that chamber also favored putting up the money.
