Overview

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has developed a diversified economy with a strong manufacturing component. Beginning with the opening of Chahta Enterprise in 1979, the Tribe's manufacturing portfolio now includes 6 manufacturing companies located in 5 Mississippi counties and 3 additional facilities in Mexico. Product lines include wiring harnesses, commercial printing, plastic injection molding, and electronic circuit boards, among others. Business partnerships include joint-ventures, wholly-owned companies, and landlord/tenant relationships with 7 Fortune-500 companies. For more information on the Tribe's manufacturing capabilities please contact the Office of Economic Development at (601) 650-1605.

.Chahta Enterprise

Chahta Enterprise, wholly owned by the Tribe, primarily manufactures automotive and non-automotive wiring harnesses, producing 130 different part numbers totalling more than 11 million wiring harnesses annually. Chahta Enterprise began the manufacturing of structured insulated panels for the construction industry in April 2000. Chahta Enterprise has plants in Mississippi and Enpalme Industrial Park, State of Sonora, Mexico.

• Ratings: Q-1 supplier to Ford Motor Co. and QS-9000/ISO Third Party Certified
• Plant Capabilities: (U.S.) 340,000 square feet; more than 1,900 feet of conveyors, state-of-the-art cutting equipment, ultrasonic and resistor welders and auto injector molding machines.
• Employees: 200 (U.S.); 1,700 (Mexico)
• Sales: $80 million+
• Clients: Ford Motor Co., Delphi Packard and Matrix Systems

.Choctaw Electronics Enterprise

This company is as a joint venture with Harman-Becker International that manufactures automotive loudspeakers. CEE opened its second manufacturing facility in 1999 in the Enpalme Industrial Park, State of Sonora, Mexico.

• Ratings: QS-9000, Daimler-Chrysler Gold Pentastar, Ford Motor Co. Q-1 Supplier, 100% on-time delivery to Ford and Daimler-Chrysler for last 15 years. Full-service supplier status with Ford summer 2000.
• Plant Size: 64,000 square feet (U.S.); 40,000 square feet (Mexico)
• Employees: 155 (U.S.); 100 (Mexico)
• Sales: Approximately $40 million
• Clients: Ford Motor Co. and Daimler-Chrysler

.Choctaw Manufacturing Enterprise

Choctaw Manufacturing Enterprise's primary business is automotive wiring harness assembly, lamp sockets and connectors, non-automotive wiring and cable assemblies for commercial applications.

• Ratings: QS-9000, ISO-9000, Q-1, Tier 3
• Plant Size: 125,000 square feet
• Employees: 370
• Sales: In excess of $20+ million in 1999
• Clients: Ford Motor Co., Daimler-Chrysler, General Motors, Delphi Packard, Caterpillar, Club Car, Valeo Sylvania, Federal Mogul, Bergstrom, Navistar and Blue Dot

. First American Plastic Molding Enterprise

A joint venture between the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and Quad, Inc., First American Plastic Molding Enterprise is a custom injection molder with manufacturing plants in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, South Beloit, Illinois, and El Paso, Texas.

• Product: Custom injection molded thermoplastics and assemblies
• Rating: QS-9000 certification in June 2000 (Mississippi facility)
• Rating: ISO9002 registration February 2001 (Illinois facility) - QS-9000 pending
• Rating: QS-9000 certification pending (Texas facility)
• Plant Capabilities: 21 molding machines (75 ton - 440 ton), shifts 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
• Employees: 120 permanent full time
• Sales: in excess of $10 million
• Customers: McDonald's, Pepsi, Panasonic, Harman-Becker International, Choctaw Electronics and Chahta Enterprise

..First American Printing & Direct Mail

As the largest commercial printer on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the largest wholly owned Tribal printing company, First American offers projects from short run one and two-color work to longer run full-color production. The company also specializes in list services, data processing, inkjetting and laser personalization.

• Plant Size: 75,000 square feet
• Employees: 95
• Sales: $6.8 million
• Clients: Inquiry fulfillment for the State of Mississippi Tourism Division.
• Casinos: Grand Casino, Casino Magic, Isle of Capri, Copa Casino, President Casino, Beau Rivage, Jubilee Casino, Blue Chip Casino and Silver Star Resort & Casino.
• Advertising Agencies: Masterminds (N.J.), A. Whitcomb & Associates (N.J.), Savage Direct (Wash., D.C.), SCM (N.H.), Direct Resources Group (Wash., D.C.), Gianakos Associates, Inc. (MS).