PONTOTOC, Miss. (WTVA) -- New manufacturing businesses will get help in Pontotoc if city leaders have their way.
The city is looking to partner with Itawamba Community College and Three Rivers Planning and Development to create a combined WIN Job Center and a one-of-a-kind manufacturing incubator.
"The advantage for the incubator is if there is a tier 1, tier 2 or tier 3 plant that lands in Pontotoc, they can start their business here while they build their factory less than a half a mile away," said Mayor Jeff Stafford.
The facility sits in the industrial park on 12 acres of land. If approved, the front part of the building will house the WIN Job Center, and the back of the building will be split up to house three manufacturers.
Currently, the WIN Job Center in Pontotoc is housed in an 800-square-foot building. If it moves locations, the space will increase to over 15,000 square feet.
"We are so big we can't fit in there anymore. We actually have people standing outside trying to get in some of the training. We've had to move the facility to other locations. We have just outgrown the site. When we first put the WIN Job Center in, it was wonderful. We just need more space now," said James Williams, vice president of economic community service for ICC.
Bill Renick with Three Rivers Planning and Development said he is pleased with the idea and is thrilled about the building. It's been vacant for the last two years, and he said renovations may not cost as much.
"We are having to figure out how to do more with less. Being able to be in a true one stop like this almost gives us the same opportunity in Pontotoc as we do in Belden," said Renick.
With the growing number of business incubators throughout the state, Pontotoc will soon have one of the only incubators dedicated to manufacturing.
