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Sunday, January 2H. !:)7X
Ammo Plant to Aid
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By LARRY CIKO
(The Times-Picayune Pearl River Bureau)
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. — A government project costing nearly two and one-half times that of the Louisiana Superdome is the biggest news to hit Hancock County since Uncle Sam de-) cided to build a massive rocket-testing facility here back in the 1960s.
Ground was broken in mid-January for a $398 million Army ammunition plant onThe grounds of the National Space Technology Laboratories (formerly Mississippi 1’est facility).
And with the continuing construction Of a $150 millinn piflmpr^ pj^nt npar here b*y bu Pont, the neighboring coun-ties of Hancock and Pearl River are to receive a big economic boost.
The ammo plant, where 155mm artillery ammunition will be produced,
is expected to be ready tor operation by mid-1-983. It will employ 1,500 permanent workers with an annua'l payrolllot $25 millior).
The Du Pont plant, located in Harri-son~County, blit ^ery clos<j to here on the northeastern rim of the Bay of St I^uis. will employ 550 workers with a .yearly payroll of $9 milliop.
In addition to the hefty payrolls that will pump money into area cash registers, the two plants will purchase millions of dollars woHh of goods and services each year.
The relocation of the Navy’s oceanographic offices is expected to be completed substantially this vey. The offices are being rpoved from -Uu-‘ Washington. DC.. area to the NSTI,.
Many cities in the area already have felt the impact of the Navy move. The best Indicator is the above average
rate of new home construction, a situation which most municipalities have reported.
Bay St. Louis Mayor Larry Bennett, who has Deen in ottice under the city’s new form of government just over a half a year, says one of the most important projects to be undertaken in 1978 is a master sewerage plan.
A city-wide drainage plan also is in the works, Bennett states. The administration is seeking funds for street re-gairsihrQUghQUt the cil'v.	~
A Main Streep widening and improvement project between U.S. 90 and Dunbar Avenue, started last year, is expected to be completed this veaiv Bennett says the city is considering two plans for solid waste disposal and has contacted the Department of Energy for possible funds.
“We also plan to work toward a new
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fire station on the southside of the railroad tracks,” said Bennett. “When completed, the station will afford a reduction of fire insurance rates.”
Initial contact has been made for the city to acquire the old railroad depgt >*with visions of turning the grounds into a city park and the depot into a museum. The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation* will be asked to help fund improvements at_several_citypark^ - ^
The adjacent city of Waveland recently completed construction of a new fire station on the north side of the railroad tracks as well as switching to a city-paid fire department headed by 20-year volunteer Kenneth Fayard.
The new fire department, funded by the city with no increase in taxes, will continue to receive the help of volunteers. City officials say the new setup will save residents 35 per cent on their fire insurance policies.
Two Economic Development Administration-funded projects to be completed in Waveland in 1978 are extension of the sewerage system to more areas and completion of a new water well.
Renovation of various department, offices at city hall also is a prqject recently undertaken by the Waveland administration.
Picayune Mayor S.G. “Grady" Thigpen says a “tremendous amount of new homes" are being built in his city, as well as a number of new retail busi nesses being established there.
Thigpen feels the construction of the ammo plant will benefit Picayune as much as any one area because it is the closest municipality to the proposed facility.