Gov. Tate Reeves has welcomed a $64 million venture between a Mississippi-based trucking company and a cold-storage logistics firm to build a warehouse and transportation hub taking food from local producers faster to markets.

Miami-based Cold-Link Logistics has partnered with Whitestone Transportation of Moselle to provide integrated warehousing and transportation services from a 200,000-square-foot cold warehouse and transportation hub on a 65-acre site near Ellisville, in the southeastern corner of Mississippi.

“Cold-Link Logistics’ new facility in Jones County will bring good-paying jobs and new opportunities for Mississippians. Their partnership with the Mississippi company Whitestone Transportation will strengthen our state’s supply chain and provide enhanced speed to market for food processors and distributors,” Reeves announced recently.

He called the deal, which will add 84 jobs, “another sterling example of the fact that Mississippi is open for business and committed to providing an economic environment focused on long-term success.”

Whitestone Transportation via Facebook

The project is receiving assistance from the city of Ellisville and Jones County, while the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is helping with infrastructure needs.

Laura Hipp, MDA executive director, said, “Projects like this are vital to the economic well-being of our local communities and the state as a whole. We thank everyone who had a role in bringing Cold-Link Logistics and its partnership with Whitestone Transportation to our state.”

Having Whitestone Transportation as a partner will benefit the operations of local producers with cost savings and greater efficiency since the facility is meant to form a bridge between local producers and consumers.

“Partnering with Whitestone Transportation is such a blessing, and we envision this further supporting the area’s producers. This facility will provide a link for our customers to save money and reach their customers in a more efficient manner,” said Michael Mandich, Cold-Link founder and president.

Whitestone specializes in hauling dry and frozen goods as well as live poultry. It has three divisions (dry van, reefer and live haul) at the Mississippi facility and a live-haul division in Georgia.

“We recognized a great opportunity to support several current and new customers throughout the state and Southeast. We consistently heard from the area’s producers that they needed a facility to help support their growth, and we were thrilled with the opportunity to serve the community,” Mandich said.

A full-service, third-party logistics company serving the cold storage industry, Cold-Link has locations in Auburndale and Orlando, Fla., Holland, Mich., Providence, R.I., and Sioux City, Iowa.

Ross Tucker, president of the Economic Development Authority of Jones County, remarked, “Our office has focused on aggressive site development in the last few years. Having a shovel-ready site was our biggest advantage in closing this deal with Cold-Link Logistics and Whitestone Transportation. These companies practice efficiency and excellence in all areas. I am excited to continue to work with them and follow the success of this project.”

The new facility will be located in the Interstate 59 South Industrial Site, which spans over 446 acres, next to U.S. Highway 11 and two miles from I-59. The Port of Gulfport is 90 miles away.

A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for mid-June. Construction is expected to start later this year.