Page 16 - ATR 1 2013

News iN brief, unused funding mechanism that would the plant has the potential to enhance
Continued from page 15 let the state borrow up to $235 million the state’s steel industry and grow the
to help cover the company’s start-up regional economy.
plans to construct a $1.1 billion Big costs. “If the state Legislature approves
River steel mill in Osceola (Mississippi For the Big River project, the state the bonds, 500 families will see new
County) that will directly employ 525 plans to provide $125 million for start- employment opportunities with good
people with annual average compensa- up costs: a $50 million loan to the paying jobs,” Crawford said. “In the
tion of $75,000 a year were revealed in company, $50 million for site prep, $20 coming weeks and months I plan to
late January. million for piling and $5 million for work closely with Big River Steel’s lead-
The project will employ another bond insurance. ership team, officials in Mississippi
2,000 people while under construction, Once Beebe refers the project to County and Osceola Mayor Dickie
the governor said. When completed, Big the legislative leaders, the Legislature Kennemore to do all we can to advocate
River Steel, led by Arkansas native and will have 20 working days to conduct its for the successful completion of this
former Nucor executive John Correnti, own economic impact study. The plan project.”
will produce steel for the automotive, will then enter the committee process.
oil and gas and electrical energy indus- The Osceola site is along the dECEmBEr TrUCk SalES doWN,
tries. Customers of the steel will include Mississippi River, a railroad line and BUT yEar IS STroNgEST SINCE
Siemens, ABB and Emerson Electric. Interstate 55, a major north-south high- 2006
Construction of the mill, which way. U.S. Class 8 truck sales declined for
could begin as early as August, will take “It is an event that’s going to bring a fourth straight month in December
about 20 months. the struggling Delta community out of from the previous year, but 2012 still
Beebe has described the project the doldrums,” Osceola Mayor Dickie finished as the strongest year since
as “one of the biggest” Arkansas has Kennemore said. 2006, WardsAuto.com reported.
ever seen, and is luring the company Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) who Total sales in December were
to Arkansas in part with a previously- represents the area in Congress, said 18,130, the highest of any month

“I can’t wait to receive each issue of the Arkansas Trucking Report!
It’s informative and pertinent to what I do for a living—
I read it from cover to cover. I’ve enjoyed seeing the continual
improvements to the quality of the publication. It’s a classy,
first-rate magazine and one of the best in the industry as far as
I’m concerned.”
Vicki Jones Stephens
President & CEO
C.C. Jones Trucking, Inc

Contact Jennifer Matthews Kidd at 501.907.6776
or jennifer@matthewspublising.com for details.

16 arKanSaS truCKing report | issue 1 2013