Over 1,000 new jobs are on the way to Pine Belt as Stion, a solar photovoltaics company that develops high-efficiency and low-cost thin film modules, locates a 100-megawatt solar panel production headquarters in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The facility, worth a $500-million company investment, will be located in the Sunbeam building and is expected to generate about 1,000 new jobs over the next six years of operations. The company will use approximately 300,000 square feet of the Hattiesburg facility to manufacture and design 110W to 120W panels for use in all major applications.

Governor Haley Barbour expressed his excitement over the project since it will help boost the local employment in Hattiesburg. “I am pleased to welcome Stion to Mississippi, and I thank the company for creating so many high-quality jobs for Mississippi’s workers.” Barbour noted that Stion’s decision to establish its business in the state shows that Mississippi continues to be a competitive business market. “Today’s announcement that Stion is locating a thin film solar panel manufacturing facility in Hattiesburg is a further proof that Mississippi is an ideal location for clean energy companies to locate and expand.”

Local officials have been supportive with the project. Hattiesburg offered tax and other financial incentives to assist Stion’s investment. Through the Mississippi Industry Incentive Financing Revolving Fund, the state officials proposed loan assistance amounting to $75 million. The proposal is now being reviewed by the Legislature. Other incentives given by the state include clean energy tax incentives and workforce training incentives.