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The payroll projection does not include any jobs that might be added at the Navistar Plant in West Point – the recipient of a $751 million defense contract for production of 1,050 advanced armored vehicles destined for service in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The additional jobs are either announced or firmly expected at MTD (107), Martinrea Automotive (50), both in Tupelo-Lee Industrial Park South; Max Homes (100) in Fulton; Townhouse and Jamco (25) in Smithville and Belmont; and Southern Motion’s 70 jobs in Pontotoc.
The recent employment growth announcements do not replace the thousands of jobs lost in the region’s economy since the recession started in December 2007, but it’s heartening that efforts to win new business and grow the existing work force remain a viable way to increase prosperity and profit.
It is significant and noteworthy that federal and state governments’ investments mix strongly in the formula for some of the jobs growth in industries.
While some scoff at the notion of the government’s role in the economy, the largest investment announcement last week was a $751 million contract from the Department of Defense for the Navistar plant in West Point. It was announced by U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, ranking member of the Appropriations Committee and of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee.
The MTD jobs, while not officially confirmed by the company, were linked to a $300,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for a connector road, announced by U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, plus $1.2 million from the Mississippi Development Authority. More than $5 million in private funds will be invested by MTD.
In addition, a new program called Rapid Advanced Manufacturing Placement program, or RAMP, financed through $500,000 in federal “stimulus” (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) money will help manufacturers find qualified employees. The $500,000 program, which launches in March, will be implemented though a partnership involving Three Rivers Planning and Development District and other agencies.
Politicians in both parties can look at the long term history and see government partnering with the private sector, frequently solidifying enduring good jobs.
The backbone of a strong economy remains the private sector, and it includes major employers like military contractors and technology developers largely dependent on government contracts for the products they sell. Last week alone, $2.29 billion in defense contracts were awarded nationwide.
However, the best economy is one with a strong mix and balance.
Northeast Mississippi, despite the temporarily delayed Toyota assembly plant, is moving toward a manufacturing mix dependent on private, individual prosperity as much as the government’s requirements for materiel.
All the sectors of the economy will prosper best with a highly educated work force that can support and will attract the best-paying jobs.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2008, 2 percent or less of people with doctoral or professional degrees were unemployed. The lowest education achievers even in that part of the recession were at almost 10 percent unemployment. The professional and doctoral degree holders made three times as much on average as workers with less than a high school diploma.
Across Northeast Mississippi, professional economic developers and civic leaders remain unrelenting in pushing more education for better jobs in a global economy.
The recession is disheartening for almost everyone, but the encouraging economic news like the jobs announcements of recent days proves that smart work and perseverance pay off in many different and tangible ways.
I did grow up working in the cotton fields.
Free enterprise works fine as long as they are allowed to operate without cumberson government regulations and taxes. Many of these companies going overseas have been taxed and regulated out of business..including the massave spendelous bill passed by congress.
The govenrment has taken so much revenue out of the business sector they cannot continue to operate in USA.
I think some of the jobs will soon return to USA because our dollar will be so worthless that even the chineese will not work for American dollars.
No business will remain in business if they do not make a profit.
Slavery is slowly returning to America. At the rate we are going we will all be slaves to the federal government SOON!!
Perhaps you could explain to Black people that slavery is just private enterprise at work. Or, you could explain it to people who stood in line to get a cup of soup during the Great Depression. The people that elected Roosevelt to 3 terms might be interested in what you have to say.
I guess all that is just distant history now. But what about the empty factories in Lee,Prentiss,Alcorn,Tippah and Ponotoc counties? Maybe you could explain to my wife that her losing her job of 17 years, as it went to China, is the way that private enterprise is supposed to work.
Last week Mr Childers made a speech using his Obama talking points stating that 17,000 jobs have been created or saved in Mississippi.
My question Mr Childers..show me the jobs created or saved. Perhaps it was government jobs created or saved!
Why not cancel the balance of the spendelous money and let the private enterprise work as is has for the last 200 years.
Huge deficits will not create one job..in fact it is a jobs killer.