Gray and Southwire Break Ground on Major Manufacturing Expansion

Design-build project in Mississippi will add needed support for growing demand driven by electrification and data centers

STARKVILLE, Miss., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gray, a nationally recognized construction and engineering firm with deep experience in design-build delivery, today joined Southwire, one of North America's largest wire and cable producers, to break ground on a major expansion of the company's Starkville manufacturing campus.

Gray is providing design-build services for the project, which will add approximately 380,000 s.f. to the facility and create approximately 130 new jobs. The expansion is part of Southwire's companywide commitment of more than $2 billion in modernization to meet rising demand driven by electrification and the rapid growth of data centers.

Gray's scope includes demolition of two existing structures totaling roughly 40,000 s.f., followed by construction of a new manufacturing space, including a six-story tower for the extrusion process used to jacket copper wire. Designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, the facility will include a rainwater collection system for gray water reuse and provisions for future solar opportunities. Southwire's existing operations will remain active throughout construction.

"This facility is built for the long term," said Rebekah Gray, President and CEO of Gray Construction. "As the data center market continues to grow at an extraordinary pace, every new campus depends on the power infrastructure that Southwire helps produce. We're proud to help create a facility that will serve Starkville and their customers for generations."

At its peak construction, nearly 250 workers are expected on site, and the expanded facility is expected to reach full capacity in 2028.

About Gray

Gray is a nationally recognized construction and engineering firm, delivering end-to-end solutions in construction, professional services, equipment fabrication, and real estate. Since 1960, we have grown from a regional contractor to a nationally ranked leader, serving the world's leading companies across the industrial marketplace. As a fully integrated design-builder, Gray brings specialized expertise together under one team helping customers reduce risk, accelerate schedules, and deliver better business outcomes.  

For more information on Gray, visit gray.com and follow Gray on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. 

About Southwire

Southwire Company, LLC is North America's leading wire and cable company. The $9.7B organization is made up of more than 9,000 team members across the globe who unite as ONE Southwire each and every day to serve each other, their customers and their communities. Southwire and its subsidiaries provide solutions including building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, utility products, portable and electronic cord products and OEM wire products. In addition, Southwire offers electrical products, engineered solutions and a variety of field support services. For more on Southwire's products and solutions, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwire.com.

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SOURCE Gray Construction