What will Nissan plant mean to the Delta?

Jobs forthcoming or is region being forgotten—experts comment An analysis by Jack Criss DBJ Executive Editor Hyperbole or economic fact?

A REASON TO CHEER: Musgrove and Carlos Ghosn of Nissan celebrate opening of plant in Canton.

By now, most everyone knows about the Nissan plant in Canton, Mississippi. The much-heralded, enormous automotive manufacturing project was announced in November, 2000. Initial plans for a $930 million, 2.5 million-square foot plant that would produce 250,000 cars a year were soon superseded by the 2002 announcement of an additional $500 million investment for a one million square-foot expansion. The staggering numbers involved in what the Nissan plant will do—and what the state of Mississippi offered to get it—are nothing short of mind-boggling. .FULL STORY

Washington County leaders take to the streets

Series of community meetings hailed as “tremendous effort”

Dismayed by a slow economy and seeking to ignite a new sense of community unity, Washington County leaders have embarked on an economic “tour.” The brainchild of County Supervisor, Al Rankins, these series of meetings consists of public and private leaders and local citizens getting together on a regular basis to voice concerns and, more importantly, find solutions to those concerns.
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