Infrastructure technology company Azuria Water Solutions is setting up shop in Panola County with an $80 million investment.
The Mississippi Development Authority announced Wednesday that the Missouri-headquartered business broke ground on a 72,000-square-foot facility in Batesville. The plant will be used to manufacture Fusible PVC pipes and is expected to create 50 new jobs.
Underground Solutions, an Azuria portfolio company, will operate the plant, which will deliver infrastructure technology for water, sewer and conduit systems, per officials. Its products are used to transport water, wastewater and other liquids, as well as conduit for electrical and communication cables.
“Azuria and Insituform have been a part of the Batesville community for nearly 40 years, and this new facility is a testament to our ongoing confidence in the state of Mississippi,” Azuria Water Solutions President and CEO Rob Tullman said. “We are excited to expand our footprint in the region and welcome new Underground Solutions team members to the family.”
The new Fusible PVC Pipe plant will be located adjacent to an existing Azuria manufacturing facility, which has operated since 1988 by Insituform Technologies. Fusible PVC Pipe is manufactured by blending PVC resin with other proprietary additives. The material is then pushed through dies to form pipe products that are cooled, cut, bundled and stored prior to shipment to municipal and industrial users.
The Mississippi Development Authority is supporting the project through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive program and providing assistance for infrastructure improvements. The city of Batesville, Panola County, AccelerateMS, and the Tennessee Valley Authority are also financially assisting with the project.
“Companies don’t choose Mississippi because we make promises. They choose Mississippi because we deliver results,” Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Bill Cork said. “Projects like Underground Solutions move forward here because we align the right partners and deliver the workforce and infrastructure companies need to succeed. That approach keeps investment moving, timelines on track and Mississippi competitive for the long haul.”
Underground Solutions expects to begin operations in Batesville in early 2027 and plans to begin hiring for newly created jobs in late 2026, the company announced.
