Every year for the last 20 years Area Development hands out platinum, gold and silver shovel awards for a few select states that have been granted substantial funding in economic development.
Mississippi, with about 3 million residents, is awarded around $12 billion to develop and modernize in various tech and defense industries, as well as furniture and even whiskey. $12 billion is a lot of money and due to the hype of propaganda supporting this investment and this illustrious award that comes with it, one would assume just about every unemployed person in the state would have an opportunity to find employment with such a large infusion.
Not so.
Only about 4,500 jobs will be created as a result of this massive economic build-out. And most, if not all, of those 4,500 jobs will not be offered to Mississippians. Construction crews, outsiders with experience and backgrounds in defense contracting, tech innovation, sales and marketing, European manufacturing, renewable battery storage, and cloud computing will be offered these jobs.
The best any Mississippian can hope for is maybe they can mow the lawns, clean the houses or serve food or coffee to these 4.500 individuals who might be moving into your local communities. But even that is doubtful as many of these individuals will choose to remain in their home states and home countries and work remotely.
Let’s take a look at the companies and do a quick analysis of what Mississippians can expect.
Amazon Web Services will provide 1,000 jobs (likely remote jobs) for those with cloud computing backgrounds. The build-out of the AWS facilities spans across two industrial parks in Madison County outside of Jackson, MS. These buildings will store the data of thousands of companies across the world that utilize the suite of AWS online/cloud-based products. The $10 billion infusion will be seen by the construction company building out the actual infrastructure and perhaps the maintenance crew who has to clean the buildings and a handful of IT and tech maintenance workers but the bulk of that $10 billion will go to remote workers who can manage client needs and any cloud-based technical issues that arise. Amazon isn’t really known for sharing its $1.3 trillion in yearly profits to outside workers but they will certainly build their ugly buildings across your empty fields, Mississippi.
Amplify Cell Technologies is awarded approximately $2 billion and will provide 2,000 jobs at their manufacturing cell battery facility in Marshall County, MS. Battery manufacturing involves handling materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other toxic metals, as well as acids, solvents, and electrolytes. Battery manufacturing can release toxic dust particles into the air, including lead, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum particles. Lithium-ion batteries can experience thermal runaway, a dangerous chain reaction leading to fires and explosions, particularly if cells are damaged or improperly assembled. Workers can be exposed to harmful chemicals during the manufacturing process, potentially leading to respiratory issues, skin conditions, and other health problems. Repetitive tasks in battery manufacturing can lead to musculoskeletal disorders among workers. Improper handling, storage, and contamination can lead to accidents and fires. Let’s hope those workers have good health insurance benefits, but I doubt they do. Known toxic events and known human harm has been well documented in every cell battery manufacturing facility so they already know the cost of insuring a sick human will actually cost more than just rebuilding at some other location. The permanent and irreperable damage these cell manufacturing companies do to waterways, air pollution and the lasting and long term side effects of exposure to this toxic form of life will impact many generations. I will expect to see a quick rise in cancer diagnoses, and other disorders in Marshall County for years to come. Who said electric vehicles aren’t cleaner than gas powered vehicles!
PCC Gulf Chem is awarded a $540 million investment for a whopping 84 jobs and will be operating in DeLisle, MS just about a 30 minute drive downwind from where I currently live in Biloxi, MS. New plastics production plants and expansion projects are expected to significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollutants, potentially burdening communities. There have been numerous “chemical incidents” like flaring and explosions, releasing significant amounts of air pollution. Lentil-sized plastic fragments called “nurdles” can pollute waterways and contribute to microplastic contamination. Chemical emergencies and natural disasters pose a significant risk of pollution. The expansion of petrochemical facilities is raising concerns about environmental and economic impacts. Many of these facilities have violated pollution permits, often without facing significant penalties. Gulf Coast residents have expressed concerns about the lack of sufficient EPA action on toxic air pollution.
Liebherr, a German-Swiss company, a multinational equipment manufacturer primarily known for its construction machinery and refrigeration products is establishing a new logistics center and expanding its North American operations in Tupelo, Mississippi. The company will invest $176 million in a state-of-the-art logistics center, part of a larger campus development, and aims to create 180 new jobs in the area. It stands to reason the bulk of that $176 million will go to the (most likely) German construction company to build out the German facility so that German or European workers who have specific knowledge of how this German-Swiss company manufactures its construction equipment, can be hired. But, this expansion will strengthen Liebherr’s presence in the Americas. Something tells me Tupelo might be seeing an infusion of German Swiss workers occupying their cafes, hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues as operations begin in the region. So, hey you Mississippians might not see the benefit of this $176 million infusion but not to worry, Germans are traditionally really good tippers.
Koch Foods expansion in Morton, MS will see approximately $145 million translate to 126 additional jobs. Koch Foods faces criticism for several reasons, including allegations of anti-competitive practices, workplace discrimination, and food safety concerns. The company has faced antitrust lawsuits for allegedly suppressing competition by imposing penalties on chicken farmers who switch to other processors. Nothing says America like punishing and suing American farmers who want to explore a competitive American market. Additionally, Koch Foods has been accused of discrimination and retaliation against Hispanic workers, leading to a settlement with the EEOC. There have also been recalls of Koch Foods products due to potential contamination with foreign materials and undeclared allergens.
Ashley Furniture, which already has a substantial footprint in Mississippi, is expanding its operations in Verona and Saltillo, MS. The company is investing $80 million in these expansions, which will include the purchase and renovation of a neighboring facility in Verona, the construction of a new facility in Verona, and a substantial investment in equipment and operations at the Saltillo plant. This expansion is expected to create at least 500 new jobs. Additionally, Ashley Furniture is also expanding its footprint in Ecru, MS with a new 35,000-square-foot truck maintenance facility. This expansion is creating 100 new jobs. Once those construction crews take their cut out of the $80 million, what types of salaries can the 500 or 600 new plant employees of Ashley Furniture expect to see? Personally? I’d rather see Mississippi open an IKEA than yet another Ashley Furniture. But, these are manufacturing jobs it seems, not retail jobs so this will provide better salaries and job security for those Mississippians who qualify.
Anduril Industries, a subsidiary of Palantir is the one that gives me nightmares. Founded by Palmer Luckey, the incel with behavioral social disorders, who is also behind the virtual reality company Oculus, this company will allegedly create 60 jobs out of a $75 million investment. Anduril Industries is expanding its operations in McHenry, MS specifically at the Mississippi Solid Rocket Complex. They are acquiring a 125-acre industrial site to increase production of tactical-scale solid rocket motors. The expansion will increase production capacity from 600 to over 6,000 motors per year. Anduril and Palantir are partnering to create a consortium aimed at enhancing the US government’s AI capabilities for national security. This collaboration focuses on addressing data readiness challenges and facilitating the flow of critical national security data from the tactical edge to the enterprise, ultimately enabling faster development and deployment of AI-powered military and national security solutions. Because we are all American domestic terrorists now, utilizing the weapon social media to dangerously affect each other with our volatile thoughts, and opinions it’s very important Anduril work with Palantir to assess our threat level. I feel safer already. 🫶🏻
Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, kicked-off a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, MS. The project will expand the facility by 50,000 square feet, renovate 40,000 square feet of existing space, and add new automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies to support Aurora’s growing aerosystems business. This is a $44 million expansion project that will create a staggering 68 jobs! Maybe we should be asking why Aurora is experiencing a surge in demand for its composite components used in various aircraft, including executive jets and the MQ-24 Stingray. The claim is that this expansion is necessary to meet their growing customer demands. What kind of customers need Stingrays and Executive jets? (Hint: The US Military)
Gulf States Canners is expanding its facility in Clinton, Mississippi, with a $41 million investment that will create 19 new jobs. Gulf States Canners had to improve their wastewater treatment system to meet stricter environmental standards from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Their previous wastewater was significantly stronger than typical municipal wastewater and had a low pH, making it difficult to meet MDEQ discharge limits. The previous system also produced a large amount of sludge. Let’s hope the 19 jobs that are created out of this expansion investment are part of the team of professionals who will bring the canners up to code. Nobody wants sludge in their canned peas after all.
Owl’s Head Alloys has built out a facility in Clay County, Mississippi. The project entails a $29 million investment that will create 68 new jobs. Owls Head is an aluminum recycling company that melts down and processes scrap aluminum, returning it to customers in various forms (sow, ingot, or molten) for re-use in manufacturing. They are known for their employee ownership structure, commitment to quality and environmental standards, and their role in the circular economy for aluminum. A circular ecnomy means that a company prioritizes re-use, recycling, and re-manufacturing by minimizing waste and conserving natural resources. Along with this company’s commitment to employees not just working at the facility but also owning it, this represents an independent economic structure that every small business should be incorporating into their business practices.
Superior Optical Lab is based out of Ocean Springs, MS and will invest around $12 million to create 188 jobs in Jackson County, MS. The Mississippi based company is a wholesale optical laboratory that manufactures eyeglasses, primarily serving the Veterans Administration (VA) and independent eye care professionals. They specialize in digital lens processing, Crizal processing, and offer a wide range of lens types, coatings, and frames. The company is a certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business and a member of the National Veteran Small Business Coalition.
Rosedale Distilling Company, saving the best for last, will create 57 jobs out of a $23 million investment in Rosedale, MS. Founded by Jack and Elizabeth Coleman, Rosedale Distilling Company will produce premium and super-premium spirits and now introduce high-quality Mississippi-crafted products to the national market. With what some Mississippians might be facing as these expansion projects cause such an overwhelming toxic environmental impact, with hardly any real local jobs to show for it, they’re going to need a stiff drink to cope with the difficulties ahead.
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