Senator Richard Shelby announced that the Delta Regional Authority is awarding a $75,000 grant to Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority.

“We’re very excited and pleased that we were able to get this grant,” said John Pilcher, Chairman of the Industrial Park.

The funds will go toward infrastructure improvements for the new manufacturing facility on the site.

Several improvements will be made at Craig Field and Industrial Park to prepare for Hyundai suppliers Renesol and Lear/Kyungshin to begin mass production.

According to Sen. Shelby’s office, this grant will help provide for 800 linear feet of rail spur for Renesol, and it will upgrade 6,850 linear feet of West Park Blvd. to bring it up to industrial standards.

They are scheduled to open in Selma in mid 2005. Once fully operational they project bringing more than 300 jobs to the Selma/Dallas County area.

Renesol manufactures foam for the inside of the car and Lear makes sequences wire harnesses to go directly in the vehicles.

“I am pleased to make this announcement for the Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority,” said Shelby. ” I believe that it is critical that we continue to stimulate economic development in this region of the state.”

Construction at Craig is set to begin at the first of the year. They anticipate it will be October of next year before all of the improvements are underway.