Windsor Will Add Jobs In Oakland

OAKLAND – A $29,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant is the final funding mechanism in an expansion that will bring 35 new jobs to Oakland-based Windsor Foods.

    The ARC grant will provide funding to extend the industrial gas line to the expansion that is primarily supported with a $650,000 state-funded Community Development Block Grant funds.    
    “These significant funds will promote economic development and create jobs in Yalobusha County by investing in critical infrastructure,” reported Congressman Travis Childers  in a Sept. 28 news release.

    As part of the grant requirement, Yalobusha County will provide $10,000 to match the state grant. In-kind services will likely account for the matching portion of the grant, County Economic Director Bob Tyler told the Herald. These services could include using county equipment and manpower at the county-owned expansion site.

    “This project will leverage $9 million in private investment, create 35 jobs, and retain 275 existing jobs,” Childers also reported.

    The expansion comes as the number of jobs continues to increase at the 140,000 square foot facility, located on the western edge of Yalobusha County. Windsor began operations in November of 2008, ramping up to 210 employees several months after beginning production. In late 2009, another 65 employees were added at the company.

    “We are all elated that Windsor Foods is in Yalobusha County providing these jobs,” Tyler said about the expansion. “It’s a great business to work with and they are continuing to hire local workers,” he added.

    Both Tyler and North Central Planning and Development District Governmental Specialist, Tim Climer updated supervisors about the grants in the “first Monday” meeting held Oct. 4 in Water Valley.

    “There is no reason to delay in telling y’all, telling the public as far as receiving the $29,000 ARC grant,” Climer told supervisors, citing an earlier conversion with an ARC official at a Tupelo office.

    Climer also explained that Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) will administer the federal ARC grant.

    “We have to work with MDA to administer the ARC grant. We will be communicating today about the urgent need,” Climer said, to make sure the project is sped up as fast as possible.

    Following Climer’s information, supervisors approved a contract with Willis Engineering to provide engineering services for the CDBG portion of the project.

    Windsor Foods produces high-quality frozen foods for the consumer market, commercial restaurants, and food service operations. The company has 27 state-of-the-art production lines in nine FDA-approved manufacturing plants located in six states.