Filling a labor gap in the New South and defining the center of the new automotive universe, Wellspring Project marks the exact location from which success will emanate. As a top ten site in the Southeast, Wellspring Project is one of four remaining certified sites in the seven-state Tennessee Valley region and the last certified automotive megasite in the state of Mississippi.
The Wellspring Project:
· Consists of approximately 1,700 acres with a 1,200-acre core site.
· Contains an ideal rectangular shape with a 2:1 ratio (about 4,750 feet by 9,454 feet) and is balanced from a "cut and fill" standpoint which improves both the timeframe and cost to develop a finished building pad.
· Features preliminary site plans developed for a 6 million square-foot building pad with room to double that size for future expansion.
· Located adjacent to Interstate 22 (US 78) near the Blue Springs interchange in Northeast Mississippi, approximately 10 miles northwest of Tupelo and is only 60 minutes from Memphis International Airport.
· Holds signed option agreements for the entire site.
· Completed phase I environmental, wetlands delineation, cultural resources, and endangered species studies.
· Concluded there are no environmental concerns regarding the site.
In addition to being a top quality site, Northeast Mississippi knows what it takes to succeed in today’s competitive global environment. The driving force behind our success is a highly skilled and educated workforce. Pathfinders, Inc., out of Dallas, Texas, completed a Wellspring Project Workforce Study in August 2005. Pathfinders cites that in terms of workforce, the Wellspring Project site is a prime location for an automotive assembly operation needing a strong, skilled labor force. The study area included a 60-mile radius around the Wellspring Project site with a civilian workforce of about 276,500. In addition to about 28,300 unemployed workers in this area, 30,700 currently employed workers have an interest in changing jobs. Those workers possess the skills, experience, and education that qualify them for an automotive industry position upgrading their pay rates.
Another advantage of the Wellspring Project site is the close proximity to Tupelo/Lee County. As a regional retailing, medical, transportation, and financial hub of North Mississippi, Tupelo/Lee County is approximately 10 miles from the site and home to more than 50 Fortune 500 and/or national/international companies. With a manufacturing base that consists of a broad mix of industries, Tupelo/Lee County serves as home to many large industries, including Cooper Tire & Rubber, Hunter Douglas, Lane Furniture Industries, MTD Products, Sara Lee Foods, and Tecumseh Products. Access to low cost, reliable Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power, nine area industrial parks, existing available buildings, a skilled workforce with training programs, and other economic development resources have made this region the number one manufacturing area in the state of Mississippi.
Admission into the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone creates a greater competitive advantage for the area when it comes to providing value-added products. With an abundant supply of industrial properties and greenfield sites with full infrastructure, the Wellspring Project is destined to become home to an automotive supplier. Gary Herman, vice president of manufacturing for ThyssenKrupp Fabco, a tier-one automotive stamping facility, stated, “We were determined to get the best workforce that we could, and the best location that we could, and that’s why we chose Tupelo/Lee County.”
For more information on Wellspring Project contact us at 662.842.4521 or by E-mail at info@wellspringproject.com or visit our website at www.wellspringproject.com.
