[07/17/01] Calsonic Kansei North America Inc. Tuesday announced plans to build a plant in Warren County to supply parts for the Nissan plant being built near Canton.

The announcement was made in conjunction with Nissan during a news conference in Jackson.

“This is a great opportunity for Vicksburg,” said John C. Moss, president of the Warren County Port Commission, which oversees the development of Ceres Research and Industrial Interplex at Flowers, where the plant will be built. “We have the first tier-one, off-site supplier to Nissan.”

Moss said he expects Calsonic’s move to open the door to the sale of additional industrial sites at Ceres.

Nissan announced plans in November to build a $930 million plant near Canton to manufacture pickups, vans and sport utility vehicles. Officials said they anticipated the company would begin its operation in 2003 with about 2,000 employees and about double that within about two years.

At the time, leaders of communities in central Mississippi were told to expect contacts from companies that supply parts and services to the Nissan plant inquiring about locations for plants. One of those contacts was made with Jimmy Heidel, executive director of the Warren County Port Commission.

Heidel said Calsonic is buying 52 acres in the north part of Ceres for a $17.3 million plant that will cover 190,000 square feet.

“They will start out with 138 employees,” Heidel said, adding he expects it to increase.

Calsonic said the plant will build exhaust systems, radiators and condensers for pickups, SUVs and minivans being built in Canton.

Heidel said the port commission provided Calsonic with information for environmental and cultural surveys. Calsonic has begun soil borings so the foundation can be designed.

The company said it plans to begin construction in September and have its building complete in May 2002.

Heidel said Calsonic is selecting the contracting company that will build the plant.

Calsonic officials also announced they will build a 25,000-square-foot, $3.5 million plant at the Nissan site in Canton. That plant is expected to employ 20 people making front-end modules, exhaust post mufflers and tail pipes for the mini-van made at Canton.

Heidel said he had no specifics on salary ranges expected at Calsonics Warren County plant.

“They have been talking to other employers so they know what people earn around here,” he said.

Separately, the Warren County Port Commission voted Monday afternoon, during its regular monthly meeting, to commit $275,720 as a local match for a sought-after community development block grant to make road improvements at Ceres for the Calsonic plant. The CDBG grant would be for $500,000.

Also at the meeting, commission’s attorney, J. Mack Varner, reported the deeds and paperwork to sell 50 acres of land at Ceres to Calsonic had been prepared, including provisions requiring the company to abide by building covenants and to get the commission’s permission before selling the land being bought.

Calsonic Kansei is based in Tokyo and dates to 1938 and the founding of the Nihon Radiator Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and to 1956 and the founding of Kanto Seiki Co. Ltd. Calsonic Kansei was formed in 2000 when Calsonic Corp. and Kansei Corp. merged.

The company has about 40 operations in 14 countries.