Contractor Gets Extension for CalStar Work

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — Weathers Construction now has until the end of May to complete renovations and expansions to the former Lowndes County industrial spec building that’s being converted into a manufacturing site for CalStar.

Supervisors granted the extension Monday. County officials say a cold, wet winter has thrown the contractor behind, resulting in the request for a 30-day extension.

CalStar Products, based in Racine, Wis., makes environmentally friendly bricks, pavers and other building products. The 23-acre site is on the edge of the county’s Global Aerospace Park across from Stark Aerospace.

Weathers Construction has a $3.1 million contract to convert the shell building into a manufacturing plant.

The plant will have 17 employees when it opens and within three years has to employ 58, according to a contract between CalStar and Lowndes County.