In case you missed it, here’s a look back at a few of this week’s business highlights.
WesTN Bank holds grand opening in Thomsen Farms
When the Decatur County Bank decided to open a financial center in Jackson, bank officials got the visibility it was looking for in a high traffic area at 1270 Union University Drive in Thomsen Farms.
West Tennessee Bank (WesTN Bank), a division of Decatur County Bank, opened its first branch in Jackson, July 18, and held its grand opening, Friday.
“Everyone with the organization has previous banking experience,” said Wendy Coady, branch manager, “We wanted to be in the middle of a growing area … people are familiar with the location, the traffic count is excellent, and we’ve been well received.”
Business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fridays.
The drive-thru is open 9 a.m. to Noon, Saturdays.
Established in 1899, Decatur County Bank was the first bank in Decatur County.
West Tennessee Bank was established in 2010, and opened a temporary office in the Honeye Plaza in Henderson before moving into its permanent location at 1007 U.S. Highway 45 North.
The bank also has locations in Decaturville and Parsons.
Megasite – Pipelines, eminent domain dominate update
The check list is massive, but inch by inch, principals involved in trying to land a tenant for the Memphis Regional Megasite presented updates on the 3,840 acres begging for attention in Haywood County, during a meeting at the Southwest Tennessee Development District in Jackson, Thursday.
“We brought the industrial development authority up to date on where we are with a couple of the reaming pacing items,” Bob Rolfe said. “The first item is to continue to get the property owners to allow us to run the pipelines underneath their property.
“We had a great update from Michael Banks, a lead attorney, who has taken care of that.”
Rolfe is Tennessee’s Economic and Community Development Commissioner, and Banks is an attorney from Brownsville.
“The next step is to get the attorney general’s office involved to hopefully get eminent domain in affect, and then the goal is to be in a position to hand this project off to the next governor January 19, 2019, to give the next governor basically a pathway to success.
“But we will hopefully have eliminated any remaining hurdles by the time we hand the project off to the next governor.”
Banks told those in attendance pipelines will ‘basically’ follow Highway 59 to the Mississippi River.
“The good thing is, we will still have some highway right of way,” Banks said. “Surveyors are out on the ground, or getting ready to be out on the ground. The corps of engineers have been working well with us, and the state is handling that part of it.
“I started building my files off the preliminary list of owners that I’ve received, and as soon as I get some surveys in my hands, I will begin sending out letters and contacting landowners.
Banks said he’s expecting to deal with 75 to 100 landowners, with hopes of getting the easements completed in six months.
Rolfe mentioned another possible hurdle could be the tariffs the United States is imposing on China – which could slow the process of recruitment.
“Not only is (Megasite) a place to expand, but bring new jobs,” Rolfe said. “But there are no winners in a war of tariffs.”
Block Party – Toyota Bodine will celebrate 15th anniversary in Jackson at the AMP
There’s no party like a block party.
To thank the community for its 15 years of support, Toyota Bodine is hosting a Block Party – a free outdoor community concert on September 15 at The AMP in downtown Jackson.
It will feature two of Jackson’s favorite country-singing sons: Jonathan Singleton and Brandon Lay.
Singleton, a singer and songwriter known for penning chart-topping hits, will kick off the evening with an acoustic show at 6:30 p.m., and Lay, who spent the summer touring with Kenny Chesney and recently named one of Rolling Stone’s 10 new country singers to watch, will turn up the volume at 7:30 p.m. Food and beverage will be available for purchase from local food trucks.
Toyota will top off the event by announcing special donations to the community. Concert goers are also encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA).
Fifteen years ago, Toyota broke ground on a state-of-the art manufacturing plant at 310 James Lawrence Road near Airport Industrial Park, that now makes more than 1.5 million engine blocks a year.
Today, in fact, every Toyota assembled in North America, from the Camry in your driveway to the Tundra down the street, starts with an engine block produced in Jackson.
The engine block is the heart of the engine, providing a strong and stable base for every function of the engine.
To make the aluminum blocks in Jackson, Toyota has invested $315 million, including a $14.5 million investment in 2017 to accommodate production of 2.5-liter engine blocks and hybrid transaxle cases and housings.
Since 2003, the plant, which employs 300 people, has produced nearly 15 million engine blocks and 3.5 million transmission cases and housings for vehicles sold in the U.S. and in 31 other countries.
“Our Tennessee plant is the world’s highest quality producer of engine blocks for Toyota vehicles, and our team members are among the best in the industry,” said Shawn Daly, Toyota Bodine general manager in Jackson. “Our team’s unmatched commitment to quality and safety, along with unwavering support from the local community, has been – and continues to be – the foundation of our success.”
For complete details, visit www.toyotabodineblockparty.com.The Block Party is part of the AMP Music Series and made possible thanks to the Jackson/Madison County Convention & Visitor Bureau.
The building not the business – Long John Silver’s property sells for $1 million plus
You can add 174 Stonebrook Place to a growing list of sales of commercial buildings in Jackson and Madison County.
Stonebrook LLC sold 174 Stonebrook Place – which is occupied by Long John Silver’s – to Dean Stanton and Bernadette Stanton for $1,475,000.
A few other commercial buildings sold recently include 742 Vann Drive – a property owned by McCall Development which sold to Ernest Thomas Properties, a Mississippi Limited Partnership for $1,280,000, in June.
America’s Mattress occupies the building.
KFC, 2051 North Highland Avenue – Gelman Family Horizons LLC sold to JRN Inc., for $1,457,500, in November, 2017.
In October 2017, Frauenshuh Hospitality Group of TN LLC sold its facility at 808 Vann Drive, to Michael Sarlo TR etal Lory Sarlo TR Atlantis Trust for $1,064,112.
PAGE 1 – JACKSON-MADISON COUNTY PROPERTY TRANSFERS Click Here
PAGE 2 – JACKSON-MADISON COUNTY PROPERTY TRANSFERS Click Here
(PHOTO: Long John Silvers, 174 Stonebrook Place)
David Thomas, Twitter– @DavidThomasWNWS
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