VIDEO: A $50 Million Project And 300 Jobs Could Soon Be On The Way To Clay County

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI)-A potential industrial development project could bring a big economic boom to Clay County.

West Point selectmen and Clay County supervisors met in a joint session Tuesday morning to discuss details of a deal that could bring roughly 300 jobs to the area.

It’s called Project Polar. The $50 million would be located where the empty Americold Logistics building currently sits.

“It just makes me feel better about our town because I knew that freezer services building had been vacant for a while and it started to look dormant, but now it’s going to be a driving part of our community,” said Wesley Taylor, long-time West Point resident.

Despite being retired, Taylor said he was pleased to hear about this potential economic opportunity for his hometown.

“I was very excited and happy for the community because in today’s economy everybody needs to be working if they can,” Taylor expressed.

“Listen, the jobs will be very much appreciated, they sure will,” said West Point Mayor Robbie Robinson.

Robinson said this potential project could have a huge economic impact on area.

“We feel we’ve done our part,” he said. “We’ve offered industrial ad valorem tax exemptions for this new industry that we’re pleased with, and think we’ll be able to bring them here to West Point and Clay County.”

The deal would also include purchasing the empty Americold Logistics building and making various upgrades.

During Tuesday’s meeting, city leaders passed an industrial sewer and water rate on the project.

“Also a 10 year tax exemption for certain ad valorem taxation, of course the trade off of there and the benefit to the community is 300 jobs in a four-year span of time.”

The city and county are partnering with the Golden Triangle Development Link to bring in the project. CEO Joe Max Higgins said the actions the city and county made on Tuesday were needed during this stage of the process.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with community leaders in West Point and Clay County to make our region a better place to work and live,” said Higgins.

“The next step is to wait and hear from Project Polar and see if they are going to be coming, and I think they are,” said Robinson.

At this time, the name of the company that’ll be coming to the area won’t be released until everything is finalized.