For Immediate ReleaseContact: Jennifer Spann, Public Relations Manager 601.359.3449
jspann@mississippi.org

GOVERNOR BARBOUR WELCOMES MODULAR HOUSING MANUFACTURER TO MARION COUNTY

Jackson, Miss., (October 30, 2007) – Governor Haley Barbour announced today that Unity Homes will build a modular home manufacturing facility in Columbia, Miss.

“I am pleased to welcome Unity Homes to Marion County,” Governor Barbour said. “Modular housing will be a major component of the state’s strategy to develop affordable housing around the state and particularly along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Unity Homes has developed an innovative approach to supplying affordable, energy efficient housing for our citizens while providing long-term economic vitality to this region.”

Unity Homes will invest $6 million in the project. When fully operational, the factory will employ a minimum of 89 jobs with 51 of those positions in place by September 2008. By the end of its third year of operations, the factory has the potential to employ over 140 people. The 86,000 square foot facility is located on Airport Road in the Marion County Industrial Park.

The project will provide factory-built homes for the affordable housing market that cost less than conventional models, with the added benefit of energy efficiency and healthy building materials. A prototype home constructed in Gulfport opened in January 2007.

The factory is designed to build 250 homes in its first year with the capacity to build up to 800 homes annually. It will serve an area within 175 miles of Columbia allowing the company to provide homes throughout the Gulf Coast and Delta regions.

“The unity behind Unity Homes is the partnership of local, regional and national experts, non-profit organizations, financial institutions and diverse businesses that have come together to make Unity Homes possible,” said Paul Bogart, project director of Unity Homes. “We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Governor Barbour, the Mississippi Development Authority, Jerry Frazier from the Marion County Development Partnership and our talented team of experts that have made this groundbreaking possible.”

Evelyn Brown, senior vice president of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), said, "LISC is pleased to be working with Unity Homes, Marion County and Governor Barbour in this new and exciting venture. As a lender and equity investor in workforce housing and economic development, this is the type of project that provides jobs for residents and high-quality energy efficient housing."

About Mississippi Development Authority
Mississippi Development Authority is the State of Mississippi’s lead economic and community development agency. Nearly 300 employees are engaged in providing services to businesses, communities and workers in the state. While the agency is best known for its efforts to recruit new businesses to Mississippi, the Authority provides services to promote tourism, help communities improve their quality of place, help existing employers identify and meet opportunities and challenges and help workers improve their skills – all with the goal of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of Mississippians. For more information, visit MDA’s website at www.mississippi.org.

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