Business

Nissan breaks ground on $50 million new supplier park

Nissan expanded its U.S. manufacturing footprint this week with Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant joining Nissan employees to break ground on a reportedly one million square foot, $50 million new supplier park at the company’s Canton, Miss. vehicle assembly plant.

The project will support more than 800 jobs, including an expected 400 newly created supplier jobs as well as 400 employees that Nissan has hired since June 1 in anticipation of the project.

The State of Mississippi has reportedly given Nissan more than a billion dollars in incentives. […]

Business

Kool & The Gang to headline free Nissan 10th anniversary event

– On Saturday, May 25, Nissan celebrates 10 years of manufacturing vehicles in Canton and invites the community – a major contributor to its success – to come out to the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson and enjoy a special musical performance by Grammy-winning R&B band Kool & the Gang. There will also be circus performers and a children’s area with a variety of activities, and the day will end with an evening fireworks show.
 
“Our employees are the heart and soul of our operation in Canton,” said Camille Young, Nissan’s community relations and communications manager for Canton. “We are also deeply grateful to the broader community that has embraced and supported us during our first decade in Mississippi, and we want to take this opportunity to celebrate with those who contribute to our success—our employees, their family members, our local suppliers, area businesses and our community partners.”  […]

Business

Nissan awards $500,000 to Canton public schools for needy students

A $500,000 education grant announced Thursday by Nissan will strengthen academic support programs for elementary students who are not making sufficient progress in their school curriculum.
 
The $500,000 grant will be used by the Canton Public School District to employ two new academic interventionists who will provide targeted instruction and support to students needing the most intensive academic assistance.
 
Canton Public School Superintendent Dwight Luckett Sr. said, “We are elated with Nissan’s generous donation and continued support of educational opportunities for students in our community. For the district to reach its full potential, we are committed to working even harder to continue meeting the challenges before us. We can accomplish our mission much faster when community and business leaders like Nissan partner with us to offer hope, opportunity and inspiration to our students.” […]

Business

Danny Glover backs union protest against Canton Nissan

Actor Danny Glover has joined supporters of unionization for workers at the Nissan Canton demonstrating outside the North American International Auto Show.

The Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan protested Monday next to Detroit’s Cobo Center, the Associated Press reported. The group says workers who show interest in organizing the Japanese carmaker’s plant in Canton, are intimidated by management hints the plant would close if they unionize.

Nissan Vice President David Reuter tells The Detroit News the allegations are false. He says workers who wear anti-union T-shirts do so freely “as a show of support for the company.” The shirts say: “Want a union? Move to Detroit.” […]