Innovate Mississippi assisted in securing the opportunity for U.S. Dinnerware of Port Gibson to secure an order for the production of more than 1 million “Perfect Bacon Bowls.” As a result, the order for the “Perfect Bacon Bowl” was the largest single order in the company’s history. This order resulted in over 100 Claiborne County citizens becoming employed over the winter months, when the U.S. Dinnerware plant’s production staffing went from 14 employees operating on one shift for four days per week to 80 employees operating three shifts per day for seven days per week.

Innovate Mississippi also provided significant technical assistance through its partnership with Mississippi State University’s CAVS Engineering Research Center. The manufacturing innovations that were developed with this assistance enabled U.S. Dinnerware to increase plant operating efficiency through the development of new specialized manufacturing equipment, product molding innovations and improvements in production line management.

This project never would have happened without the assistance of Innovate Mississippi, and we certainly appreciate the assistance that has benefited Claiborne and surrounding counties so much.” Milton J. Chambliss, CEcD, executive director of the Claiborne County Economic Development District