Video: Yokohama Tire Plant One Step Closer to Grand Opening

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WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) — The start of production at the Yokohama tire plant in West Point is still months away, but today marked the final stretch to the grand opening. Yokohama officials say the ribbon cutting ceremony puts Yokohama on the path to success. Dozens of on-lookers braved the cold to see the opening of the new Yokohama Boulevard in West Point.

The $20 million road not only serves to the plant, but it allows access for future developments.

Golden Triangle Link’s CEO, Joe Max Higgins Jr., says good access was the main concern during the beginning stages of development.

“Companies need to be able to get in and out quickly and so from that day forward, we started incorporating this into the projects that this is a critical part of developing this site,”says Joe Max Higgins Jr.

Yokohama President Tadaharu Yamamoto, says the road connects the plant with its surrounding community.

“The access to the plant site much improved and also Yokohama Boulevard, the name of this road we call Yokohama very good to present Yokohama name to the public,” says Tadaharu Yamamoto.

During the ribbon cutting, Yamamoto presented the first piece of rubber that was created at the plant. Yamamoto says the test run makes him excited for the grand opening.

“Start of the test so all of our employees so happy you know, this is just start but actual product we can, part of products we can get,” says Yamamoto.

After years of planning, Higgins says the end is near.

“We get the luxury of getting to sit back and wait. Our responsibility are met. They’re installing the equipment and we’re just waiting for October when the equipment is installed and the operation is done so we can have a ribbon cutting not on a road but on a building,” says Higgins.

Yokohama currently has 100 employees and is expected to hire 400 more.