The Lowndes County Port Authority board Wednesday approved a memorandum of understanding for a new KiOR biofuels plant to be located in Columbus, at the Columbus-Lowndes County Port.
The Columbus City Council and the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors earlier approved the agreement, which is among the city, Lowndes County, KiOr and Columbus Light and Water.
Brenda Lathan of the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link earlier said the agreement will be executed at a later date.
“This is just approving the concept itself,” she said, noting a “definite agreement” with more details will be available later.
KiOR, of Houston, Texas, agreed to invest $500 million to build three facilities in Mississippi and create an estimated 1,000 jobs.
About 50 workers will be employed at the first facility.
The $110 million investment will be located on a 22-acre site at the Port of Columbus.
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