| Regional materials news 2008 |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
MAY 2008
Chevron moves to new digs
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Chevron has vacated its downtown New Orleans office building and
moved into its new regional headquarters in an office park south of Covington in St.
Tammany Parish. A national firm, Cushman & Wakefield, will be selling the New Orleans
office building at 935 Gravier Street. (Source: New Orleans Times Picayune, 05/08/08)
Louisiana nabs Albemarle headquarters
BATON ROUGE, La. – Albemarle Corp., which has had a big presence in Baton Rouge for
a half-century, said it will leave Richmond, Va., to make Louisiana’s capital its permanent
headquarters. The global specialty chemicals maker already employs 600 people at an
administrative center in downtown Baton Rouge and a research and production center.
Albemarle will bring another 30 executives and professional support staff from the current
Virginia headquarters. (Source: Baton Rouge Advocate, 05/01/08)
APRIL 2008
High tech company picks Port Bienville
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. – High-technology company MAC LLC has chosen Hancock County’
s Port Bienville Industrial Park as its research, development and light manufacturing
location, creating up to 50 jobs when fully operational. MAC develops and produces
proprietary, lightweight ammunition technology for military applications. The new
technology offers weight savings of up to 25 percent, while retaining key characteristics of
conventional, brass ammunition. The company is leasing facilities from Hancock County
through the Port & Harbor Commission that were vacated after Hurricane Katrina. The
state’s award to Hancock County of a $1.99 million grant for use in repairing and
improving the county-owned property was a factor in the company choosing Hancock
County. (Source: Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission, 04/09/08)
MARCH 2008
Tindall to unveil new plant in Moss Point
MOSS POINT, Miss. – A new Tindall Corp. concrete plant in Moss Point is set to be
unveiled Wednesday. The event marks a rebirth for the company, whose original plant in
Biloxi was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Spartanburg, S.C.-based Tindall used
about $23 million of tax-exempt Gulf Opportunity Zone (GO Zone) financing to rebuild the
$26 million facility. The plant employs about 140 people. (Source: Mobile Press-Register,
03/07/08)
FEBRUARY 2008
Wellman files for bankruptcy protection
Wellman Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, but a company
spokesman says it will continue to be business as usual at all locations, including the
Pearl River Plant in Hancock County. Wellman manufactures and markets polyester
products, including PermaClear brand PET (polyethylene terephthalate) packaging resins
and Fortrel brand polyester fibers. The company’s corporate headquarters and several
other manufacturing facilities are in South Carolina. The filing was made Friday. (Source:
The Sun Herald, 02/26/08)
Baton Rouge nanotech company sold
BATON ROUGE, La. – NanoMatrix Inc. has been purchased by Organogenesis Inc., a
regenerative medicine company based in Canton, Mass. Organogenesis bought
NanoMatrix for its technology, which makes it possible to mimic the three-dimensional
architectural structure essential to the body’s natural growth and repair processes.
Organogenesis said it is the first company to successfully mass-produce living
regenerative medicine products. (Source: Baton Rouge Advocate, 02/25/08)
Wicker gets overview of advanced materials role
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The interim replacement for Trent Lott, Roger Wicker, was in
Hattiesburg Monday to hear about the crucial role of advanced materials research at the
University of Southern Mississippi. Wicker, named in December to replace Lott in the U.S.
Senate, was told among other things that metal corrosion cost the Defense Department
$20 billion last year. He was told contractors like Boeing and Northrop Grumman may wind
up hiring more polymer scientists then metallurgists because of the growing importance of
advanced materials. (Source: Hattiesburg American, 02/05/08)
Biodiesel plant in the works
PENSACOLA, Fla. – A Florida businessman wants to build a $21.5 million biodiesel fuel
plant in either Escambia or Santa Rosa county. Rick Higdon, owner Agri-Source Fuels, is
considering several sites in both counties. The plant would produce about 20 million
gallons of biodiesel annually. Last year, Higdon established his first biodiesel plant in
Dade City. Agri-Source Fuels’ local operation would employ up to 25 people and produce
biodiesel 24 hours a day. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 02/02/08)
JANUARY 2008
Gulfport-Biloxi among the fastest growing metro areas
The three-county Gulfport-Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area is ranked 9th fastest growing
small metro areas, according to the latest list in Forbes. The metro area’s gross
metropolitan product – the value of goods and services produced – is expected to grow
23.12 percent between 2007 and 2012. Its population alone will increase by nearly 17
percent. Forbes looked at the nation’s 363 metro areas and split the list between large
and small metro areas. Forbes used projections by Moody’s Economy.com. Topping the
list of small metro areas was Mobile. The GMP for Mobile will rise 34 percent between
2007 and 2012. The top large metro area was Austin, Texas. (Source: Tcp, 01/30/08)
Albemarle to invest $26 million
BATON ROUGE, La. – Albemarle Corp. will invest $26 million in Baton Rouge capital
projects the next two years, expanding its production of plastics catalysts, building a new
chemistry laboratory and overhauling 10 floors of one of downtown Baton Rouge’s tallest
structures. The company is a key supplier of intermediate chemicals for the refining,
plastics and pharmaceuticals sectors. Albemarle’s nearly $2.5 billion in annual business
has doubled in the past decade. (Source: Baton Rouge Advocate, 01/27/08)
Mississippi tax system gets high marks
A new report lists Mississippi with high marks for having a mechanism in place to review its
tax systems in light of the changing economy. A study by the Pew Center on the States
says effective tax systems are important for a state’s competitiveness. Good ones provide
stable revenue, efficient tax collection, transparent information about incentives and give
localities a say in how tax dollars are used. The study says many state tax systems fail on
these measures and lack the ability to support new economic engines. In addition to
Mississippi, other states with effective systems are Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska,
New Jersey, Texas and Utah. (Source: Governing, 01/08)
Mississippi No. 2 in R&D earmarks
The top 10 state recipients of R&D earmarks receive nearly half the total, according to an
analysis by American Association for the Advancement of Science. Mississippi received
$250 million, second only to California. Excluding earmarks divided among three or more
states, the 10 states receive 44 percent of all R&D earmarks in 2008 by value. The 10
represents a mix of the most populous states and smaller states with members of
Congress in key appropriations committee chairmanships. Congress inserted nearly $4.5
billion in federal R&D earmarks, spread over 2,526 projects, in spending bills for fiscal
year 2008, according to AAAS. The earmarks are for projects not included in agency
budget requests. After a one-year moratorium in the 2007 fiscal year for most domestic
earmarks, Congress resumed the practice for the 2008 fiscal year with new disclosure
requirements. (Source: AAAS, 01/07/08)
Chevron moves to new digs
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Chevron has vacated its downtown New Orleans office building and
moved into its new regional headquarters in an office park south of Covington in St.
Tammany Parish. A national firm, Cushman & Wakefield, will be selling the New Orleans
office building at 935 Gravier Street. (Source: New Orleans Times Picayune, 05/08/08)
Louisiana nabs Albemarle headquarters
BATON ROUGE, La. – Albemarle Corp., which has had a big presence in Baton Rouge for
a half-century, said it will leave Richmond, Va., to make Louisiana’s capital its permanent
headquarters. The global specialty chemicals maker already employs 600 people at an
administrative center in downtown Baton Rouge and a research and production center.
Albemarle will bring another 30 executives and professional support staff from the current
Virginia headquarters. (Source: Baton Rouge Advocate, 05/01/08)
APRIL 2008
High tech company picks Port Bienville
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. – High-technology company MAC LLC has chosen Hancock County’
s Port Bienville Industrial Park as its research, development and light manufacturing
location, creating up to 50 jobs when fully operational. MAC develops and produces
proprietary, lightweight ammunition technology for military applications. The new
technology offers weight savings of up to 25 percent, while retaining key characteristics of
conventional, brass ammunition. The company is leasing facilities from Hancock County
through the Port & Harbor Commission that were vacated after Hurricane Katrina. The
state’s award to Hancock County of a $1.99 million grant for use in repairing and
improving the county-owned property was a factor in the company choosing Hancock
County. (Source: Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission, 04/09/08)
MARCH 2008
Tindall to unveil new plant in Moss Point
MOSS POINT, Miss. – A new Tindall Corp. concrete plant in Moss Point is set to be
unveiled Wednesday. The event marks a rebirth for the company, whose original plant in
Biloxi was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Spartanburg, S.C.-based Tindall used
about $23 million of tax-exempt Gulf Opportunity Zone (GO Zone) financing to rebuild the
$26 million facility. The plant employs about 140 people. (Source: Mobile Press-Register,
03/07/08)
FEBRUARY 2008
Wellman files for bankruptcy protection
Wellman Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, but a company
spokesman says it will continue to be business as usual at all locations, including the
Pearl River Plant in Hancock County. Wellman manufactures and markets polyester
products, including PermaClear brand PET (polyethylene terephthalate) packaging resins
and Fortrel brand polyester fibers. The company’s corporate headquarters and several
other manufacturing facilities are in South Carolina. The filing was made Friday. (Source:
The Sun Herald, 02/26/08)
Baton Rouge nanotech company sold
BATON ROUGE, La. – NanoMatrix Inc. has been purchased by Organogenesis Inc., a
regenerative medicine company based in Canton, Mass. Organogenesis bought
NanoMatrix for its technology, which makes it possible to mimic the three-dimensional
architectural structure essential to the body’s natural growth and repair processes.
Organogenesis said it is the first company to successfully mass-produce living
regenerative medicine products. (Source: Baton Rouge Advocate, 02/25/08)
Wicker gets overview of advanced materials role
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The interim replacement for Trent Lott, Roger Wicker, was in
Hattiesburg Monday to hear about the crucial role of advanced materials research at the
University of Southern Mississippi. Wicker, named in December to replace Lott in the U.S.
Senate, was told among other things that metal corrosion cost the Defense Department
$20 billion last year. He was told contractors like Boeing and Northrop Grumman may wind
up hiring more polymer scientists then metallurgists because of the growing importance of
advanced materials. (Source: Hattiesburg American, 02/05/08)
Biodiesel plant in the works
PENSACOLA, Fla. – A Florida businessman wants to build a $21.5 million biodiesel fuel
plant in either Escambia or Santa Rosa county. Rick Higdon, owner Agri-Source Fuels, is
considering several sites in both counties. The plant would produce about 20 million
gallons of biodiesel annually. Last year, Higdon established his first biodiesel plant in
Dade City. Agri-Source Fuels’ local operation would employ up to 25 people and produce
biodiesel 24 hours a day. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 02/02/08)
JANUARY 2008
Gulfport-Biloxi among the fastest growing metro areas
The three-county Gulfport-Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area is ranked 9th fastest growing
small metro areas, according to the latest list in Forbes. The metro area’s gross
metropolitan product – the value of goods and services produced – is expected to grow
23.12 percent between 2007 and 2012. Its population alone will increase by nearly 17
percent. Forbes looked at the nation’s 363 metro areas and split the list between large
and small metro areas. Forbes used projections by Moody’s Economy.com. Topping the
list of small metro areas was Mobile. The GMP for Mobile will rise 34 percent between
2007 and 2012. The top large metro area was Austin, Texas. (Source: Tcp, 01/30/08)
Albemarle to invest $26 million
BATON ROUGE, La. – Albemarle Corp. will invest $26 million in Baton Rouge capital
projects the next two years, expanding its production of plastics catalysts, building a new
chemistry laboratory and overhauling 10 floors of one of downtown Baton Rouge’s tallest
structures. The company is a key supplier of intermediate chemicals for the refining,
plastics and pharmaceuticals sectors. Albemarle’s nearly $2.5 billion in annual business
has doubled in the past decade. (Source: Baton Rouge Advocate, 01/27/08)
Mississippi tax system gets high marks
A new report lists Mississippi with high marks for having a mechanism in place to review its
tax systems in light of the changing economy. A study by the Pew Center on the States
says effective tax systems are important for a state’s competitiveness. Good ones provide
stable revenue, efficient tax collection, transparent information about incentives and give
localities a say in how tax dollars are used. The study says many state tax systems fail on
these measures and lack the ability to support new economic engines. In addition to
Mississippi, other states with effective systems are Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska,
New Jersey, Texas and Utah. (Source: Governing, 01/08)
Mississippi No. 2 in R&D earmarks
The top 10 state recipients of R&D earmarks receive nearly half the total, according to an
analysis by American Association for the Advancement of Science. Mississippi received
$250 million, second only to California. Excluding earmarks divided among three or more
states, the 10 states receive 44 percent of all R&D earmarks in 2008 by value. The 10
represents a mix of the most populous states and smaller states with members of
Congress in key appropriations committee chairmanships. Congress inserted nearly $4.5
billion in federal R&D earmarks, spread over 2,526 projects, in spending bills for fiscal
year 2008, according to AAAS. The earmarks are for projects not included in agency
budget requests. After a one-year moratorium in the 2007 fiscal year for most domestic
earmarks, Congress resumed the practice for the 2008 fiscal year with new disclosure
requirements. (Source: AAAS, 01/07/08)