Roads around Toyota site to be closed

This from Toyota, which has announced the as-expected road closings around the Blue Spring site, where Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi (or TMMMS), is being built:

Starting Wednesday, County Road 207 in Union County, from the intersection of CR 210 to the Pontotoc County line will be closed, as will CR 208, from the intersection of CR 210 to the intersection of CR 207.

“Safety is Toyota’s No. 1 concern,” said Barbara McDaniel, a Toyota spokeswoman. “This concern pertains to the local residents as well as to the men and women working on the job site each day. Construction activity is increasing every day; by eliminating road access hopefully we will eliminate safety risk to the community.”

TMMMS is expected to begin production of the Highlander crossover SUV in late 2009 and will employ about 2,000 workers. Last week, Toyota Auto Body announced that it would be the first supplier to locate near the plant. It will have about 260 employees

More stores headed for King’s Crossing

King’s Crossing is quickly becoming a magnet for women’s retailers: We already knew that Kohl’s and Ross were anchoring the 200,000-square-foot development, and we reported last week that Catherine’s and Dress Barn had drawn up plans to move there as well.

Now (unofficial) news is that Maurice’s – which bills itself as an “upscale”- ladies’ store, is looking at a space next to Catherine’s. This tidbit was provided at last week’s CDF Roundtable meeting, where Tommy Morgan enlightened the group of what was happening.

Also, Rack Room Shoes might be making a return as well, and would be on the other side of Catherine’s.

Interesting that Rack Room was next to Dress Barn in Tupelo … As we asked last week, who else might be defecting to King’s Crossing?

And sorry, no new word on Target.

Farmers’ markets and weekend headlines

I love farmers’ markets. I’ve grown up working and shopping at them, and I live for the smell of fresh basil on a Saturday morning. So, when I heard about the Mississippi Farmers’ Market in Jackson, I had to make the trip down to our state’s capital. Read more of Carlie’s column from Sunday’s Daily Journal.

More business headlines from the weekend, including:
• Business casual: One dress code, so many meanings
• Social Security digits should be guarded
• Outsourcing your life: You can hire someone to do literally anything
• Working the Web means taking time looking at the job
• Next big thing: TV converter boxes
• Take care in hiring lawyers and accountants
• Frustrated sellers turning to rent-to-own arrangements
• Sara Lee recalls whole wheat bread products

Sara Lee recalls bread products

From the FDA:

Sara Lee Food Beverage is issuing a voluntarily and precautionary recall of selected whole wheat bread products produced at the company’s Meridian, Miss., bakery and sold at grocery retailers in the following areas of the country: the entire states of Mississippi and Alabama, most of Arkansas, far southeastern Missouri, western Georgia, southwestern Tennessee, southeastern Louisiana and the panhandle of Florida. The affected products may contain small pieces of metal.

Sara Lee is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in undertaking this voluntary recall. The affected products are stamped “Best if purchased by” between the dates of July 25, 2007, and August 7, 2007, and include the code “222.” This information can be found on the front of the bag.

Click here for a list of the recalled products.

Cheapest gas: Sam’s Club/Sherman

Sherman ($2.59 for regular) has beat New Albany ($2.63) once again for the cheapest gas in the area.

If you are a member at Sam’s Club, you also can score gas for the bargain price of $2.59 for regular.

Most expensive gas by far was in Starkville ($2.86 for regular). Amory ($2.79) and Oxford ($2.79) didn’t even come close.

I must add that while I was out visiting gas stations this morning, I filled up in Sherman. While I was pumping my gas, another customer pulled up on the other side of my pump and began to fill up. He then lit a cigarette. I must have been gawking at him in absolute shock because he said hello and asked how I was doing. I told him I was fine, but concerned about his lit cigarette so close to the pump. He told me I shouldn’t worry about it and walked into the store.

The nerve.

Toyota supplier inks deal for Mississippi

From PRNewswire:

JACKSON, Miss., July 26, 2007 — Gov. Haley Barbour said today Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. (TAB) will build a $180 million plant in North Mississippi, becoming the first announced supplier to Toyota’s new auto assembly plant in Blue Springs. TAB officials made the decision public in Japan overnight.

While a specific site for TAB’s facility has not yet been chosen, a number of locations are under consideration; an announcement will be made later this year. It will be the company’s first plant in the United States.

The facility, to be named Auto Parts Manufacturing Mississippi Inc., will employ about 260 workers and will begin production by 2010 to coincide with the start-up of Toyota’s new Highlander SUV plant.

“During our recent economic development mission to Japan the Mississippi delegation visited with Toyota Auto Body officials and came away impressed with the company’s high standards and interest in doing business in Mississippi. I am very pleased this outstanding company will find a new home in North Mississippi as a major supplier to Toyota’s newest auto assembly plant,” Barbour said.

Auto Parts Manufacturing Mississippi Inc. will provide stamped parts, body weld parts and plastic parts to the Blue Springs plant. The company plans to incorporate in Mississippi next month.

TAB, based in Kariya-city, Japan, is 56.03 percent owned by Toyota Motor Corp.
Read more.

Affordable Furniture and July 25 headlines

Three years after its founding, Affordable Furniture finds itself growing – an unusual scenario in furniture manufacturing these days. Read more.

Read more business stories from today’s Daily Journal.

You can also check out the food section for an update about the farmers’ market and to see who passed and failed food inspections this week.

The worst is over

The rain is continuing to beat back the drought. As of the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor, only 0.1 percent of the state is in a D3 extreme drought. The area encompasses a sliver of northern Tishomingo County.

The rest of the region is in a moderate to severe drought, with some even in a D0 drought, which is abnormally dry. Check the state map for more details.

And check tomorrow’s Daily Journal for more on the status of the drought. The Drought Monitor also will publish a revised report tomorrow.

Planning for tourism in Tupelo

The Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors had its annual retreat the the Tupelo Country Club today.

They proposed a budget for fiscal ‘08, which they hope to vote on at the August meeting. After expenses, the CVB has $1,839,300 to work with. The largest chunk of the money ($405,000) is budgeted for advertising. And the CVB is proposing to triple the money it spends on Web site development from $5,000 to $15,000. The budget for Tupelo Film Commission development in FY2008 also more than doubled, going from $30,00o in FY2007 to $75,000 in FY2008.

And, we’re sure that the Downtown Main Street Association has their plate full now that Jim High is no longer there, but the group has not put in a formal request for money for the Elvis Presley Festival in 2008. The CVB gave them $50,000 this year, but Linda Butler Johnson, the CVB’s executive director, said she hasn’t heard from Main Street. She hopes to meet with Debbie Brangenberg, Main Street’s exec director, this week and figure out what’s going on.

The CVB board has to approve the budget by Sept. 15.

Latest King’s Crossing news

A visit to the planning department showed plans for two retailers to move to King’s Crossing …

Catherine’s and Dress Barn both have submitted blueprints for their new stores at the new retail center where Kohl’s and Ross anchor the development.

Catherine’s is currently in the shopping plaza behind Chic-Fil-A on Barnes Crossing Road. The plaza is now home to Kroger, Gilpin Dry Cleaners, American General, Wells Fargo Finance, Wines Etc., Metro Ford and others. Catherines is looking at about a 4,000-square-foot space at King’s Crossing, inside that long set of spaces on the south side of the property (on the right when you’re looking at the front of Kohl’s and Ross).

Dress Barn, located in the shopping center where OfficeMax, Toys R Us, Books-A-Million, Oreck Vacuum, Hobby Lobby and others are, is looking at the space next to Ross. It’s a 7,500-square-foot space.

Look for other retailers to migrate to King’s Crossing. It’ll be the newest place in town and a hot spot to be … that is, until Target eventually builds and starts attracting stores.

Read previous entry about this topic.