Video: Yokohama West Point Rolling Forward

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WEST POINT, Miss.(WCBI)–Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi is rolling right along towards what is shaping up to be one of if not the biggest company ever locating in West Point.

There is now activity on Yokohama Boulevard that was not there months ago, hundreds of workers are in place at the west Point Business.

“We already hired 250 employees so far,” said Tadaharu Yamamoto/President-Yokohama Tire Mississippi.

And thats not all, that number is expected to double soon. Yokohama is initially investing 300 million dollars in the four phase project. That is expected to increase to more than one billion dollars.

We are planning up to 500, so 250 more for Phase One,” said Tadaharu Yamamoto.

Partnering with East Mississippi Community College, there is a measure of confidence in the skilled workforce. Among the manufacturing related jobs being filled are quality assurance and administrative positions.

“Production operators, production supervisors, in production process, and there are a lot of supporting positions like maintenance engineers and maintenance technicians,” said Tasdaharu Yamamoto.

Yokohama has been in business for more than 90 years. With everything in place, residents and the West Point business are anxiously awaiting a mass production start up in October.

Potential future expansions are expected to bring total employment at the plant to 2,000 jobs.