Choctaws Plan Building In McAlester

Sunday, April 8th 2007, 6:00 pm

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma plans to construct a building in McAlester that the American Indian tribe plans to use to help manufacture military trailers. Choctaw Chief Greg Pyle said the 90,000-square-foot building will provide manufacturing and office space for the tribe as it works to fulfill its production contract with the U.S. Marine Corps to build tactical vehicle replacement trailers.

Groundbreaking for the facility is scheduled for April 17. The tribe is providing $4 million for the project, while the federal Economic Development Agency is providing $1.2 million, said Steve Benefield, the managing officer for Choctaw Manufacturing and Development.

Pyle said that the tribe also will use facilities in Antlers and Hugo to design and manufacture the trailers for the Marines. He said the project will result in about 100 new jobs and the continuance of 210 jobs in the three towns.