MARSHALL COUNTY, Miss. — There’s a new sound of progress coming out of Marshall County, Mississippi as Volvo officially opened its biggest parts distribution center.
With it came 250 new jobs for people in the area after Volvo put the project on the fast track, completing construction in just a little over six months.
Tuesday the public got an up close look at the facility off Highway 72 east of Byhalia.
“It’s a good paying job, well-paying job. The work is not too hard, not too easy, but very challenging as well. It’s a great place to work,” said Levon Alexander, Volvo employee.
Alexander was among the workers who punch a time clock at Volvo’s new parts distribution center.
“Thank you again for making this happen. Thank you very much…(applause),” said Christer Svard, Volvo Group Senior VP.
Tuesday Volvo officially opened the sprawling, million square foot facility, to the ooh’s and ah’s of politicians and business and civic leaders.
“This is very impressive,” said Bill Dawson, Marshall County Industrial Development Authority.
Volvo Group invested $70 million in the project, the jewel of Byhalia’s Chickasaw Trails Industrial Park and wasted no time in construction.
“This has been a very intense project. And we have put up this facility in a really short time,” said Svard.
The center will ship parts for the company’s truck brands and construction equipment.
Holly Springs Mayor Kelvin Buck said, regardless of where the distribution center was located, all areas of Marshall County benefited from the deal.
“Anytime there’s industrial development opportunities for this community. Holly Springs is one of the major players in that effort and we team up with the County and Byhalia. We see it as a win-win for all of us,” he said.
And everyone agreed what it boiled down to was simple: good paying jobs and improved quality of life.
“Volvo is a great company to work for,” said Rhonda Atkins, warehouse operator.
Atkins, from South Carolina, accepted a position as a warehouse operator at the new facility.
She and her family made Byhalia their new home and couldn’t be happier.
“I’ve dealt with farmers in the area, I bought land from them. And everybody’s been so good and friendly and warm and so helpful us,”she said.
The facility, which was built in just a little over six months, used a lot of natural daylight and featured state-of-the-art LED lighting to save energy.