Hope Lions Hear Program From Leslie Salisbury On Magnolia Development, LLC

The Hope Lions Club heard from Leslie Salisbury of Magnolia Development, LLC concerning efforts to build a cold-storage facility as well as a facility to cater to truckers on highway 29 north at I-30 in Hope.  The development is the brainchild of Gary Salisbury of Fikes although this will be a new company.  Initial plans call for the develpment of a cold-storage unit to cater to local and regional industries.  Currently Fikes has leased the old Ritchie Grocery Building and is uing that facility for diesal technologies.   Eventually multiple services will be offered for truckers including a trucks stop.  The initial cold-storage unit will employ 85 people and the seven-year plan calls for employing up to 300 people with an eventual payroll of $46 million dollars.  Initial approval for construction of an access road has been approved.  The project was postponed last year for a few months during the elction;  however, Salisbury notes the project is advancing.  The initial partners hope to involve at least one other partner and hope to involve state funds in the development.