Toyota provides hope during economic downturn

By Amanda Ward

Fall 2011 will bring hope to the local economy as Toyota moves forward with plans to complete its Mississippi production plant.

With back-and-forth discussion about opening a new plant in Mississippi, there has been much excitement about the future of local, as well as state, economy.

The Toyota plant, located in Blue Springs, will bring at least 2,000 direct jobs, said Sally Williams, representative for MDOT Public Relations.

“We could use some industrial employment in the county,” Alderman Brad Mayo said. “That’s something I really encourage.”

Lafayette county posted a 7.8% unemployment rate in 2009, according to createfoundation.com, a 2.7% rise from 2008 statistics.

That is 1,750 unemployed citizens in the county.

Though Oxford itself will only be mildly affected by the plant, some of the plant offi cials may be drawn to the lifestyle Oxford has to offer, although it may be a bit of a commute, Mayo said.

Original estimated indirect jobs, or jobs created because of the plant, are 2,000 as well.

Williams said this number was published at the time when Toyota planned to put out the Outlander in Blue Springs, and did not change when Toyota announced that it would be producing the Prius instead.

These jobs would have been created by 6 unnamed Toyota suppliers.

“The Toyota company is still talking to these suppliers to make sure they are still on board,” Williams said. “We anticipate those suppliers will still be locating here.”

The annual estimated payroll for direct employment is $122 million, according to projection statistics Williams had on file.

Possible estimated indirect payroll is $328 million. However, that number is contingent on suppliers moving into the area.

The plant will also have an impact on local infrastructure. According to the Mississippi.org press release, improvements have been funded by the state through MDOT by creating a 5.5 mile, fi ve-lane frontage road along with 0.5 miles of threelane and two-lane frontage road, improvements to interchanges located in front of the plant and a few other road additions in regards to the plant itself.

Williams said Toyota has not yet started rehiring for the Blue Springs plant, but there will be an announcement made in the next few weeks about employment opportunities.

However, employment is expected to reach the 2,000 mark by time of production in 2011.

Once Toyota makes the announcement about employment, jobs will be available to be applied for through Mississippi Department of Employment Services at their website, www.jobcentral.org/ms.

Read more here: http://www.thedmonline.com/article/toyota-provides-hope-during-economic-downturn
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