YRC unit donates to Miss. colleges

(Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi L.L.C. photo)
YTMM President Tadaharu Yamamoto (center) presents donations at a presentation ceremony at East Mississippi Community College on May 13.

MAYHEW, Miss. (May 15, 2015) —  Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi L.L.C. (YTMM) has donated $500,000 to Mississippi State University and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) as part of the truck tire venture's commitment to making contributions to the local community.

The donations, $250,000 to each institution, were presented to school officials at a May 13 ceremony held at EMCC's Mayhew campus, making good on a pledge Yokohama officials made in September 2013 at the groundbreaking for the West Point, Miss., plant.

(Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi L.L.C. photo)

YTMM President Tadaharu Yamamoto (center, holding both checks) presents donations at a presentation ceremony at East Mississippi Community College on May 13. Also shown are (left to right): Dr. Raj Shaunak, vice president for EMCC's Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Division; Osama Zushi, YTMM executive vice president of EVP manufacturing and technology; Dr. Jason Keith, dean of MSU's Bagley College of Engineering; and Dr. Sharon Oswald, dean of MSU's College of Business; along with EMCC students

YTMM President Tadaharu Yamamoto presented the EMCC donation to the school's president, Dr. Rick Young, and the MSU donation to Dr. Jason Keith, dean of university's Bagley College of Engineering, and Dr. Sharon Oswald, dean of the College of Business.

The funds are planned to be used for facility renovations and to support the schools' scholarship programs, according to YTMM parent Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. The $300 million plant is scheduled to start production this fall with a nameplate annual capacity of 1 million radial truck and bus tires.

Mr. Yamamoto said in 2013 the funds are to be used “to help build training programs and develop talent for the workforce” for the new plant, which is hiring up 500 local residents to work there.

Dr. Raj Shaunak, vice president of EMCC's Manufacturing Technology and Engineering division, the said the college will use the donation to provide scholarships to 11th and 12th grade students to take MTE division credit courses as well as manufacturing summer camps for sixth grade students.

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