The City Council on Tuesday voted to rezone and annex 10 acres of rice fields, just north of Interstate 10, into the city limits and rezone the property from suburban to commercial to make way for economic development.

The property is the future site of Sunshine Quality Solutions, a local John Deere dealership, which will be relocating from Welsh to Jennings. The company will break ground at 11 a.m. Thursday at the new location at 3360 N. Frontage Road, according to company officials.

The current location in Welsh will remain open until the new construction is completed by 2024.

“This is a shot of adrenaline to the city,” Mayor Henry Guinn said. “There are many other things that are going to come right next to Sunshine, so we are happy to have them.”

The rezoning will allow Sunshine to operate in a commercial district, which is suitable for their business, as well as attracting other businesses to the area, he said.

“This has been a long time coming,” Guinn continued. “I don’t know if the council remembers how many years ago that we annexed the I-10 corridor and that was one small puzzle piece of growth and development for the city of Jennings. I think this is going to be a great opportunity. It is going to increase our sales tax base and it’s going to increase employment opportunities.”

Guinn said the annexation will allow the city to provide water and sewer services to accommodate the new tractor dealership, as well as other nearby businesses including a mobile home dealership, nursing home and a proposed 18-wheeler dealership, if they petition to be annexed into the city.

The city is seeking grants and capital outlay funds from the state to install a 12-inch water line and a small sewer lift station to accommodate the businesses and boost economic growth in the area.

In March, Guinn announced that a Starbucks, a T-Mobile store, a national hotel chain, a large truck stop, a Kenworth truck dealership, Abell and Son farm equipment and a popular restaurant chain are among those businesses looking to locate in Jennings.

The Shop Rite Travel Plaza is also planning a major expansion and work has begun on Hebert’s Boudin and Crackling which plans to locate just off the interstate.