IUKA - Products manufactured by the Roll Form Group aren't particularly glamorous - heavy railway and infrastructure products formed from steel - but their services are extraordinarily valuable to transportation, heavy construction, building and industry.
The Iuka plant, which formally opened on Wednesday, is the Canadian division's first production facility in the United States.
"You're going to like Mississippi," Gov. Haley Barbour told dozens of officials and employees of Roll Form Group and its parent company, Samuel Manu-Tech Inc. of Toronto, Canada.
About 42 workers are at the Iuka plant now, but that number should grow to about 100 in about a year.
Leaders say welcome
Barbour, along with many other state, county and local officials, welcomed the new business in the Yellow Creek industrial community.
"State and local government and Tennessee Valley Authority together put about $2.2 million of incentives into this project, which was joined with a $22 million investment by the company," Barbour said. "We're proud to do our part and are glad that you're here."
The barge network available from the Yellow Creek Port is a key reason the company chose Iuka, said Roll Form Group president Richard Balaz.
"It's a tremendous benefit to us," he said. "One barge equals about 60 truckloads. This location also brings us closer to many of our customers."
Mark Samuel, chairman and CEO of Samuel Manu-Tech, said the company is eager to build on its investment in Iuka. He is the fifth generation leader of the family-owned company.
"We're well-financed and want to make use of that financing for future growth and acquisitions, particularly in the United States," he said. "We focus on our relationships - with customers, suppliers, service providers and government partners. Our organization values employees, providing safe work spaces, opportunities to advance and learn new skills, good pay and incentives."
