Video: West Point Welcomes Yokohama

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WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI)- Hundreds gathered at the Ritz Conference Center in downtown West Point Monday morning as Governor Phil Bryant joined other national, state, and local leader along with executives from Yokohama Tire Corporation to officially announce the company will locate a commercial truck tire plant in West Point.

The new plant will create five hundred new jobs intitially. Potential future expansions will bring total employment up to two thousand jobs.

Governor Phil Bryant praised the work of the Golden Triange Developement Link and other entities that came together to seal the deal.

“Your representation here from the county, the link worked hard. Joe Max Higgins and his team, your legislative delegation; they all came together. It was so encouraging to hear them talk about the teamwork that they saw here. That’s what impressed them.”

U.S. Congressman Gregg Harper said, “It’s been a difficult few years for the city and county in this area, but there’s nothing but excitement and joy. It was a very festive day and I think it’s something we will remember for a long, long time.”

Groundbreaking for the plant is set for June. Construction will begin in September with production set to start at the plant in 2015.

Yokohama also has operations in Salem, Virginia and has seventeen thousand employees worldwide.