Mississippi Manufacturers Association

MADE IN MISSISSIPPI: The TM1000 from  Taylor Power Systems  in Clinton recently won the inaugural Mississippi Makers' Challenge Sponsored by  Hancock Whitney . We detail its design and capabilities, as well as all of Taylor Power's offerings, in this month's edition of Made in Mississippi. 

OCEAN SPRINGS (Courtesy: PFG Precision Optics)  – Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) toured PFG Precision Optics earlier this week to see first-hand the operations of one of the highly regarded participants in the optics and photonics industry. During the site visit, Senator Wicker and his wife Gayle met with technicians, engineers, and management to learn about the manufacturing of high precision optical components, which PFG Precision Optics provides to the defense, semiconductor and medical industries as well as to scientists at universities and national laboratories around the country. “It was a privilege to host Senator Wicker at PFG Optics today,” stated PFG Precision Optics President Travis Green. “We appreciate his interest in our company and the photonics industry. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase the impact that our optics technology has on our everyday lives.” PFG Precision Optics has made high-quality, high-precision optics in the US for more than four decades. Ex

JACKSON (Courtesy: Mississippi Development Authority)  – Carpenter Pole and Piling is expanding in Mississippi by locating a pole mill in Waynesboro. The project is a nearly $3.57 million corporate investment and will create 15 jobs. Carpenter Pole and Piling specializes in utility poles for power companies and foundation and marine pilings for new construction. The company currently has a treating plant in Wiggins, where it employs 43 workers, and a treating plant in Picayune, where it employs 12 workers. The new Waynesboro mill also will specialize in utility people and piling production. The Mississippi Development Authority and Dixie Electric Power Association, Cooperative Energy’s local electric distribution member, are providing assistance for the project. Carpenter Pole and Piling expects to begin operations at the new pole mill by the end of August and fill the new jobs within one year following the completion of construction. QUOTES “I appreciate the Carpenter Pole and Piling

  JACKSON - The Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA) is pleased to announce Sandy Crist as the Executive Director of the MMA Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). Crist replaces James Williams, who served as Executive Director from 2019 to 2021. The MEP is a private-public cost-share program that helps small and medium-sized manufacturers develop new products and customers, expand and diversify markets, adopt new technology, and enhance value within supply chains. "I am excited to join the MMA-MEP team," said Crist. "I look forward to expanding resources and services to support our state’s manufacturing community to ensure high-quality American-made products can compete in the global marketplace." Crist spent the last ten years with the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) and was most recently the Assistant Executive Director for Workforce, Career-Technical, and Adult Education. Prior to that, she served as the State Director for Adult Education a

JACKSON - The winner of the inaugural Mississippi Makers' Challenge Sponsored by Hancock Whitney is the TM 1000 from Taylor Power Systems in Clinton. The Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA) presented the award today during a luncheon at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson. The TM 1000 is a container-based portable generator that is powered by twin 500 kW tier 4 final Volvo Penta engines. The two engines are paralleled for the total 1000 kW but can be separated for redundant 500 kW use. It is utilized by equipment rental companies, first responders, hospitals, manufacturing facilities, and any other business that needs a considerable volume of immediate power. In the three-round bracketed competition, the TM 1000 received 25,524 of the 121,469 votes. Including the Initial Voting Round, there were 134,441 votes cast over the course of the contest. The other finalists are listed below: Cacklebee Farms (Forkville) - TWISTER and BANTAM Fence Tool Legendary Lighting (Flowood) - Atl

JACKSON (Courtesy: Mississippi Development Authority)  – Upholstered furniture manufacturer Albany Industries is increasing its presence in Mississippi by locating manufacturing and shipping operations in Calhoun City. The project will create 85 jobs. Albany Industries currently also has manufacturing operations in New Albany, where the company was started in 1995 with 15 employees. Today, more than 700 employees produce the company’s upholstered furniture at four factories in three states. Albany Industries’ new Calhoun City operations will be located in a 52,388-square-foot facility, which the  company will lease the facility from the city. The Mississippi Development Authority and Appalachian Regional Commission are providing assistance for building renovations. The city also is assisting with the project. Albany Industries plans to begin production in Calhoun City and fill the 85 new jobs by the end of this year. QUOTES “These 85 new jobs are the product of Mississippi’s pro-growth

JACKSON (Courtesy: Mississippi Development Authority)  –  Gov. Tate Reeves announced today that wood biomass producer Enviva is opening its fourth Mississippi facility by locating manufacturing operations in Bond in Stone County. The project represents a corporate investment of $250 million and will create approximately 100 direct jobs and more than 250 indirect jobs. The plant will have an annual economic impact of more than $250 million in the region. Enviva is a leading global energy company specializing in sustainable wood bioenergy. The company is the world’s largest producer of wood pellets, which provide a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels. In addition to the new Bond operations, Enviva has manufacturing operations in Amory and Lucedale, as well as a deepwater marine terminal at the Port of Pascagoula, which serves as a shipment point for pellets produced in the Gulf Region. From the marine terminal, Enviva ships wood pellets to customers across Europe and Asia. The Mississ

JACKSON   – The Mississippi Manufacturers Association announced the products advancing to the Round of 4 in the inaugural Mississippi Makers’ Challenge Sponsored by Hancock Whitney. The products are listed below. Click here for a picture and description of each. Legendary Lighting (Flowood) – Atlas Gas Lantern Taylor Power Systems (Clinton) – TM1000 McNeely Plastics (Clinton) – Naked Truth Bag Cacklebee Farms (Forkville) – TWISTER and BANTAM Fence Tool There were over 63,000 votes in the Round of 8, and there have been over 124,000 votes throughout the duration of the contest as we continue our search for the Coolest Thing Made in Mississippi. “Our goal with this competition was to showcase the incredible range of products made here in Mississippi and to highlight the talented individuals and companies that make that possible,” said MMA President & CEO John McKay. “These top four products are a great representation of Mississippi manufacturers and I look forward to celebrating with