Governor Phil Bryant is calling an extraordinary session of the legislature to create incentives for two new economic projects that could bring thousands of jobs to the state.
Lawmakers will head to work a little early today. Governor Phil Bryant issued a proclamation yesterday, calling for a special session to be held this morning at eight o’clock.
The Governor and other state officials have not offered any comment on special session at this time, but the proclamation itself says the aim of the session is to include tire, rubber and other automotive manufacturing plants as well as certain maritime manufacturing facilities into the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Act.
Republican Senator Joey Fillingane of Sumrall is the Chair of the Finance Committee.
“I believe there will be some tax incentives. There’ll probably be some bonding requests by the companies. It’s really still in the purview of the MDA, so I can’t get into specifics. I can tell you it’s a large economic development project, and we’re very excited about it.”
Fillingane also declined to name what companies would benefit from the special session. However, many people in the halls of the Capitol believe the companies include a new $1.45 billion tire plant proposed for Hinds County and a $68 million shipping outfit destined for Gulfport.
Freshman Democratic Representative Kathy Sykes of Jackson is happy economic development is coming to her county but worries not everyone in the state is being offered incentives.
“There are a lot of small businesses that have worked and toiled in this state for years,” says Sykes, “They’re not getting any type of special attention, so we just need to find balance. We do need theses multinationals to locate in our state, but we shouldn’t forget the small businesses that are the backbone of our community as well as our economy.”
If the tire manufacturer and shipping operation are the subjects of the special session, then the businesses could bring as many as 35-hundred jobs to the state.
