DURANT, OK -- A new company and 60 jobs are headed to Durant.

The Tile Shop plans to build a new distribution center in an abandoned facility on W. Arkansas Street.

Tommy Kramer, executive director of Durant Industrial Authority, said the new business is a major grab for the local economy.

"When you create manufacturing jobs, then everything else in the housing market and retail takes care of itself, and our tax base grows, and we improve the quality of life for the community," he said.

Joe Kinder, The Tile Shop senior vice president of operations, said the Minnesota-based company wants to grow nationally.

"And looking at a map, we wanted logistically to be able hit Dallas and Texas, but at the same time be able to hit Denver and Des Moines," he said.

Kramer said talks began in August to bring the company to Durant.

"And at the end of the day, Durant had the best offer building wise, incentive wise, and job training," he said.

The facility is currently 150,000. They plan to tack on an addition 35,000, bringing the total close to 200,000 square feet. They plan to start work immediate, and hope to have the project finished as early as this summer.

They sayidparts of the facility may even open around March or April.

Mayor Jerry Tomlinson said the company will help the city grow.

"Young people, adults as well, can choose to stay here, because there are good quality jobs available," he said.

The building will be a mixture of distribution and manufacturing. Kramer said they added two railroad spurs on site as an incentive.