MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - International Paper is considered one of the world's largest paper producers and one of the city's biggest employers. Now Memphis is fighting to keep the company here.
The company employs more than 2,000 people in Memphis, and there's a chance those jobs could be headed to Mississippi.
International Paper is looking to expand its operations and will need more space to do it.
The Fortune 500 company also bought Temple-Inland recently, which is a company based in Texas.
The expansion will bring about 100 new jobs; the question is where those jobs will be.
Memphis city leaders say they're fighting to keep the company from relocating to Mississippi. IP reportedly wants a 30 year tax break if it builds a new building in the bluff city, so the city is said to be preparing an incentive package attractive enough to get IP to stay.
Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is also said to be preparing possible incentives for the company as well.
Both Luttrell and Memphis Mayor A C Wharton say they will do whatever it takes to maintain the relationship with IP, and the community has a deep appreciation for it.
If local leaders agree to give the company a 30 year tax break, it will have to be approved by the state's comptroller of treasury and the commissioner of economic and community development.
