AITX Expanding in Mississippi

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
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AITX Brookhaven facility

AITX Railcar Services, LLC, with a $23.36 million investment, is expanding its Brookhaven, Miss., maintenance and repair facilty.

The Brookhaven facility currently complements the activities of AITX’s Bude, Miss. location, providing light maintenance, cleaning and “quick turn” light repair services. AITX, the railcar leasing and repair business of the former ARI (American Railcar Industries), whose railcar manufacturing division was acquired by The Greenbrier Cos. from ITE Management LP in 2020, has operated in Bude since 1974, and has had plans to establish a maintenance facility in Brookhaven since 2013. 

The Bude facility performs wreck repair, wheel and axle repair, cleaning, interior lining and painting services. AITX said it chose to expand the Brookhaven location “due to the availability of land at the company’s site and direct service from CN (former Illinois Central). The expansion will allow for a full range of services at the Brookhaven site for AITX’s customers, including coatings and heavy repair.”

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is providing assistance for the extension of a rail spur. The expansion is expected to create 75 jobs that the company indicated will be filled within two years of its completion.

“We at AITX value our outstanding working relationship with Brookhaven, Lincoln County and the state of Mississippi,” said AITX Vice President-Repair Services John C Ward. “We are grateful to the mayor’s office, the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors, the Brookhaven-Lincoln County EDA Executive Director, MDA and Governor Reeves for all the support provided to bring this expansion to Mississippi. We look forward to a long-term successful operation at a full-service Brookhaven facility.” 

“AITX has been a valued employer in southwest Mississippi for nearly five decades,” said Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves. “The company’s latest expansion in Lincoln County serves as an excellent example of a supportive business environment and strong workforce combining to provide businesses like AITX with the right environment for lasting growth and success.” 

“MDA is glad to support AITX as the company brings 75 new jobs to Brookhaven,” said MDA Executive Director John Rounsaville. “While 2020 was certainly filled with challenges, 2021 is booming with new opportunities for the citizens of Mississippi, such as these new jobs being created by AITX. We appreciate the company’s leadership for choosing to grow in Mississippi and are excited for its future growth and success. We are proud to see yet another announcement of new jobs coming to southwest Mississippi and applaud the region’s local leaders for their efforts.”

“On behalf of the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors and the city of Brookhaven, we are pleased that AITX has chosen to expand the Brookhaven facility,” added Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Development Foundation Executive Director Garrick Combs. “AITX is a great corporate citizen that continues to build on lthe egacy of a major employer and investor in Brookhaven and Southwest Mississippi.”

AITX Bude facility
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