July 2023
One hundred million dollars invested in two new Northrop Grumman offices
Offices for defense contractor Northrop Grumman have been completed at the Redstone Gateway in Huntville, Ala. The Birmingham construction firm Robins & Morton completed the $100 million project, including two “build to suit” facilities and a parking deck.
Construction for Goldman Sach’s $500 million new campus to begin later this year in Dallas, Texas
Regional offices of the Manhattan-based banking firm Goldman Sachs’ are to be built in the Uptown area of Dallas, Texas. Downsized by 10 percent, the project is to be completed by 2027.
Richardson International, Canadian based agri-business leader, to invest $220 million in Memphis Wesson Oil production plant
According to the Memphis Business Journal, the upgrade of the Wesson Oil production plant is pending approval. Richardson expanded into Memphis in 2019 with the purchase of the Wesson Oil production plant.
$240 million investment beings at MAGMA tech facility in Bowling Green, Ky.
O-I Glass has begun construction on a revolutionary greenfield glass facility, utilizing MAGMA technology. The technology is used for manufacturing flexible, modular glass production.
TAT Piedmont Aviation to expand operations at the Piedmond Triad International Airport
The aviation repair company will create 85 jobs with a $13.8 million investment. “Aviation and aerospace companies of every stripe are choosing North Carolina as the best place to grow their business,” said Governor Cooper.
Tennessee Governor Lee signs Transportation Modernization Act into law
Governor Bill Lee signed the historic, bipartisan legislation, creating a $3.3 billion investment to modernize Tennessee’s transportation needs in rural and urban communities.
Georgia-Pacific LLC spends $50 million to upgrade paper towel mill
The Port Hudson, LA mill will be upgraded with increased capacity and improved equipment. 20 miles north of Baton Rouge. The mill produces paper towels for Brawny and other brands.
Washington Commanders owner to sell Virginia NFL team for $6 billion
Dan Snyder has agreed to sell the team to NBA legend Magic Johnson and a group of investors. A record setting amount for any professional sports franchise, the Bethesda, Md. based group of investors also owns the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
Lego breaks ground on $1 billion Chesterfield, Va. facility
The first manufacturing plant in the U.S. for the Denmark-based toymaker, the project is one of Virginia’s largest economic development projects ever announced, according to Virginia Business. The project will create 1,761 jobs, with production starting in 2025.
Cross Technology of Winston-Salem is expanding with a $3.4 million grant
The 140,000-square-foot building upgrade for the machining company and maker will employ 120 more people over the next two years in Yadkin County.
6K Energy to invest $166 million in battery material manufacturing plant in Jackson, Tenn.
Governor Lee announced the company will invest in a full-scale PlusCAM™ battery material manufacturing plant. With its initial investment, 6K Energy plans on expanding to $250 million in future phases. The company will also be using its $50 million U.S. Department of Energy grant for the factory.
Albemarle Corp. will invest $1.3 billion and create more than 300 new jobs in Chester County, N.C.
Approval has been granted for Albemarle Corp.’s investment in its lithium hydroxide processing facility in Chester County. The significant investment comes after previous passes for incentives by the county when the project was under the code name Project Raven.
$3 trillion being invested in the rural American South
Federal tax incentives and loans for green energy from Biden’s climate legislation is supporting a major increase in corporate investments in the rural American South. The spending is the largest single industrial stimulus by the federal government since the New Deal.
Kentucky has the longest running, lowest unemployment ever recorded in the state
The record comes with a 3.8 percent unemployment rate over the last 15 months. Governor Beshear also announced the state has added 46,000 more jobs in Kentucky since February 2020, a 2.3 percent growth in jobs.
Georgia has received $17.5 billion in investment by Korean firms since 2020
Supporting 23,000 total jobs in the state, Korean companies like Kia, Hyundai Motor Group, SK Group and others are continuing to invest.
240 high-paying jobs created by Marshall Aerospace in North Carolina
Marshall Aerospace has selected Piedmont Triad International Airport for its first location in the United States to service C-130 aircraft. The company plans to invest $50 million.
Firearm manufacturer subsidiary FN America plans expansion in South Carolina
The company plans to expand in Pickens County with a $33 million investment that will create 176 new jobs.
Disney plans to invest in $17 billion in Walt Disney World over the next 10 years
Disney CEO Bob Iger announced the plan, which will create 13,000 jobs in Central Florida, as the company continues its feud with Governor DeSantis.
Acquisition Integration to create 250 jobs in Alabama
The aerospace logistics and distribution company plans to build 170,000 square feet of hangar and office space at the Pryor Field Regional Airport. The $30 million investment will create 250 jobs.
Global renewable energy company SPI Energy Co. Ltd. to invest $65.9 million in South Carolina
SEM Wafertech and Solar4American Technology announced the investment to establish operations in Sumter County. The solar companies’ investment will create 300 new jobs in Sumter County.
$42.7 expansion planned by BorgWarner Inc. in Oconee County, S.C.
As part of its “Charging Forward” initiative, the Auburn Hills, Mich.-based automotive supplier will create 122 new jobs in its plans to upgrade its facility in Seneca to integrate new EV battery systems.
Congo LLC will expand its Louisville, Kentucky HQ
The $8.25 million project will produce 500 high-paying jobs. The company plans to relocate to a 110,000-square-foot location at 13551 Triton Park Blvd.
Castellini Co. creates 180 jobs, to invest $16.6 million in Kentucky
The third-party logistics company for the food industry is expanding its Wilder operations with a $16.6 million investment.
EV car maker Rivian to invest $10 million in Bullitt County, Kentucky
The planned remanufacturing facility in Shepherdsville will create 218 high-paying jobs, continuing the EV industries’ growth in the state.
Church & Dwight Company will expand in Virginia
The baking soda manufacturer plans to invest $27 million in its expansion of its Chesterfield County operations, which will create an additional 53 new jobs.
Richmond National Group to create 100 jobs in Henrico County, Va.
The specialty insurer plans to expand its headquarters by adding 7,200 square feet of office space to its Greater Richmond footprint.
Delta Star will invest $30.2 million in Lynchburg, Va. expansion
The industrial power equipment manufacturer will create 149 jobs by adding 80,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 14,000 square feet of new office space.
CharterUp is relocating its HQ to Austin, Texas
The online bus-booking platform plans to add 100 jobs.
Tech company Tquila Automation to create 200 jobs in Birmingham, Ala.
The delivery hub will be located at The Switch, Birmingham’s innovation district, in the 65,000-square-foot Nextec building.
Westwater Resources plans $202 million graphite plant in Alabama
The Coosa County plant will supply material for EV battery manufacturer SK On.
Telsa breaks ground on its in-house lithium refinery near Robstown, Texas
A major investment by Tesla, the plant will produce battery-grade lithium and manufacture battery materials. The first of its kind in North America, the facility will adopt an industrial refining method using acid-free lithium routes.
Jaxport receives its largest ships ever
Benefiting from deeper waters, the Jacksonville, Fla. port has seen the arrival of One Stork through the St. Johns shipping channel. The vessel can carry more than 14,000 20-foot-long containers.
Plans finalized for wind farm in Carroll County, Ark.
Scout Clean Energy has completed its plans for developing the $300 million Nimbus Wind Farm in Northwest Arkansas. The wind farm is expected to produce enough electricity to power nearly 30,000 homes.
Chart Industries plans to invest $73.7 million in production facility in Mobile County, Ala.
The second production site in Mobile County, the company will increase its production of cryogenic containers. The project will create 59 jobs.
Aerospace supplier to relocate from Texas to Creola in Mobile County, Ala.
Superior Air Parts plans to relocate its corporate headquarters and manufacturing operation producing FAA-approved replacement parts for piston-engine aircraft. The $24.2 million investment will create 180 jobs over 5 years.
Air tank manufacturer plans expansion in Norfolk, Va.
Bauer Compressors plans to invest $7.4 million in an expansion of its production capacity for hydrogen and natural gas compressors. The investment will create an additional 47 jobs.
Pentagon awards Northrop Grumman Corp. $244.6 million for ballistic missile work
The Falls Church, Va.-based defense contractor will continue work on ballistic missile defense system capabilities in Alabama, Colorado and California. The work will be complete in March of 2026.
Volkswagen plans to hire 500 workers in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The automaker will be hiring for its manufacturing plant in Hamilton County, raising its employee number to 5,500. The Chattanooga facility manufactures the electric ID.4 SUV as well as the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs.
Oneok to acquire Magellan Midstream Partners for $18.8 billion
The Oklahoma-based natural gas company will close on the deal in the third quarter of 2023. With significant operations in the Houston area, the combined company will have a total value of $60 billion.
Clarksville, Ark. to invest in hydrogen power plant
Syntex Industries LLC of Little Rock will design and construct a hydrogen energy power plant to generate more than 500 megawatts of clean electricity in Clarksville. Construction will begin by the fourth quarter of 2023 and is slated to create more than 100 jobs.
Window and door manufacturer to open production facility in Alabama
Sierra Pacific Windows will invest $60 million and hire 300 people in Phenix City. Its first production facility in the American South, the company has acquired 610,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space on 113 acres.
Ryder Systems relocates to South Florida
The fleet management and supply chain company will move to the Colonnade office tower in the Coral Gables’ business district. Eight hundred hybrid workers will be based in that office. The deal will rename the building to Ryder Colonnade.
Texas to invest in community colleges
The Texas Senate has approved a bill to allocated almost $430 million in funding for the state’s 50 community colleges. The workforce development deal aims to incentivize and award colleges based on students’ performance.
Italian solar manufacturer selects Oklahoma site for $1 billion factory
Enel will invest in solar manufacturing in Inola, Okla., creating 1,000 jobs with a 3 gigawatt annual production capacity by 2025. As part of U.S. President Joe Biden’s landmark climate change law, the Inflation Reduction Act, the company’s domestically made panels will make facilities built with the panels eligible for a lucrative tax credit.
Food sector servicer to supply 50 jobs in Springdale, Ark.
Cypress Cold Storage, a warehouse supplier for the food industry, breaks ground on a new state-of-the-art cold storage facility in Arkansas. The 170,000-square-foot facility of temperature-controlled space will accommodate 22,000 pallets of freezer storage.
Medical device manufacturer to bring 340 jobs to Atlanta’s former State Farm campus
Boston Scientific Corp. will lease nearly 250,000 square feet in Johns Creek. The largest office deal so far this year, the deal will bring life science research and development to the metro.
Hanon Systems to build auto parts factory near Hyundai Motor Group’s coastal Georgia EV plant
The Korean auto parts maker will invest $40 million and employ 160 people in its new facility in Bulloch County, Ga. The future $5.54 billion Hyundai EV plant is the largest economic development project in state history.
Mississippi State University begins construction of new computing center
The university will invest $45 million in building the new High Performance Computing Data Center in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park. The 35,000-square-foot building will expand MSU’s high performance computing capabilities.
Cold-Link Logistics invests $64 million in Mississippi
The 200,000-square-foot cold storage facility will create 84 new jobs in Jones County, Miss. In partnership with transportation logistics company Whitestone Transportation, the corporate site will be developed with the assistance of the Mississippi Development Authority, the city of Ellisville and Jones County.
Ameriprise Financial to open corporate office in Charlotte, N.C.
The new 53,000-square-foot corporate office in uptown Charlotte will bring 400 jobs to the metro area. Joe Sweeney, Ameriprise president, said the firm chose Charlotte for the expansion due to the city’s highly skilled workforce.
Cosentino Group to build $270 million facility in Jacksonville, Fla.
The natural stone and architectural surfaces manufacturer has announced a major investment on a 408,000-square-foot facility at the Cecil Commerce Center. The company plans to hire about 180 people with an average salary of $56,000. This would be the Spanish companies first facility built in North America.
Heyco Werk USA Inc. to expand in Emporia, Va.
The automotive parts manufacturer will invest $5.4 million and create 21 jobs with its expansion in Greenville County. The company produces plastic molder parts for the auto industry, specifically meeting needs for the BMW plant in South Carolina.
Amazon’s Arlington, Va. HQ2 East Coast headquarters welcomes 2,000 employees
The tech giant will continue to welcome an additional 1,000 to 2,000 employees in phases until September or October of this year. The company has hired 8,000 people in the area so far.
Wood panel manufacturer Kronospan to expand in Ala.
Kronospan will invest $350 million to expand its Oxford, Ala., operations, creating an additional 150 jobs. Once complete later this year, the company will have employed 600 people and invested a total of more than $1 billion since 2008. The Oxford facility is the largest wood products site in North America.
Cooperative Electric Energy Utility Supply invests $52 million in South Carolina
With the purchase of the 247,000-square-foot Airport Distribution Center, the company will provide equipment to electric cooperatives across the state. The investment will create 61 new jobs.
Mattress Warehouse to create 108 new jobs near Columbia Metropolitan Airport
The company will operate a warehouse and distribution center at the Airport Distribution Center in South Carolina.
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits invests $80 million in relocation
The state-of-the-art distribution center will operate at the Saxe Gotha Industrial park in South Carolina.
Chick-fil-A creates 165 new jobs in South Carolina
The company’s $80 million investment in its new distribution center at the Saxe Gotha Industrial Park serves to meet the growing demand in the region.
Bluegrass Bottling to expand in Lancaster, Ky.
The woman-owned, Kentucky-based business has broken ground on a new bottling facility. The $6.25 million investment will create 27 new jobs. The bourbon-related business will continue to operate its Lincoln County operations, where it employs around 20 people.
Toyota invests an additional $2.1 billion in North Carolina
The automaker’s latest investment in its EV battery plant near Greensboro brings the total investment there to nearly $6 billion. The company has yet to announce employment numbers, but expects to hire a similar number to the expansion last year, which grew job numbers by about 350.
Hyundai, LG to build $4.3 billion EV battery plant in Georgia
The electric vehicle battery plant near Savannah in Bryan County will become the second battery plant Hyundai is building in the state. The project is a part of its previously announced, $5.5 billion plant in Bryan County, which will bring 8,100 jobs.
Finland-based home manufacturer plans Georgia facility
The building manufacturer will set up operations in Waycross, Ga., with a $750 million facility. The company will employ more than 1,400 people in its first U.S.-based operation.
VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering plans to expand in Alabama
The aerospace company will hire 200 people in its expansion in Mobile. The expansion will begin in late June in conjunction with Airbus’ previous announcement to build a new assembly line for the A320 single-aisle passenger aircraft.
Steel Dynamics breaks ground on $2.5 billion aluminum factory in Mississippi
The Lowndes County plant was announced by Golden Triangle CEO Joe Max Higgins. The mill will produce nearly 650,000 tons of finished product for the beverage packaging, automotive and alloy industry.
Space Force selects Florida’s Space Coast for new training HQ
The new Space Training and Readiness Command, or STARCOM, will bring hundreds of employees to the Space Coast to train Space Force members in wargaming and tactics. The Air Force-based command will be located at Patrick Space Force Base in Florida.
Energizer Holdings plans North Carolina expansion
With a total investment of $43 million over four years in Asheboro, the company will create an additional 178 jobs with an average salary of $54,000. Asheboro and Randolph County together offered $420,000 in incentives for the battery manufacturer.
Bosch expands its Charlotte, N.C. manufacturing capabilities
The tool company announced a major expansion with a $130 million investment to increase its production of power tool accessories in Lincoln County. The expansion will create 404 jobs with an average annual wage of $53,204.
E. & J. Gallo Winery opens New Amsterdam Vodka production line in North Carolina
The nation’s largest winemaker will invest a combined $423 million with a creation of nearly 500 new jobs in Chester County. Operations include a distribution center, production lines, warehousing, bottling, canning and an import and export center at the Fort Lawn hub.
Activation Capital will build an innovation center in the Bio+Tech Park in Richmond, Va.
The innovation incubator will develop the new hub with a $53 million investment. The 34-acre commercial park is adjacent to the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and has more than 70 companies and laboratories on its campus.
Aerojet Rocketdyne adds 200 new jobs in Arkansas
The supplier of rocket systems to the American military will expand and modernize its facilities in Camden with a $215 million investment from the U.S. Department of Defense.
SK Signet opens EV charger manufacturing facility in Plano, Texas
The company’s ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the first SK Signet manufacturing facility located in the U.S. The facility plans to produce more than 10,000 chargers for electric vehicles and is expected to bring 183 jobs by 2026.
INFAC North America plans expansion in Taylor County, Ky.
The automotive industry manufacturer will break ground in Campbellsville as the company invests $53 million. The expansion will create 220 jobs. This will mark the second expansion by the company at their facility in Campbellsville since starting operations in 2008.
Clemson University, South Carolina to invest in rural internet
With a $185.8 million federal grant and $400 million from the South Carolina General Assembly, a plan to invest in South Carolina’s broadband infrastructure will begin this year.
The Feds are investing $12.7 million in South Carolina community development
The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development had awarded Jasper County, S.C. $12.7 million in community development.
Dongwha begins building electrolyte plant in Tennessee
The $70 million Clarksville, Tenn. electrolyte plant, which specializes in electrolytes, the main component for batteries, will be complete in 2024. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 86,000 tons.
Delta Biofuel announces $100 million investment in Acadiana region.
The company plans to build a full-scale renewable fuel production facility in Iberia Parish, La. The company will convert sugarcane waste into biofuel for low-emission energy generation. The investment will create 126 new jobs with an average wage of $62,500.
Shell Catalysts & Technologies expands in West Baton Rouge Parish
The Louisiana Economic Development says 17 new jobs with an annual salary of $94,000 will be created with the Shell Catalysts & Technologies’ $121.7 million capital investment in its Port Allen facility. Catalysts are used to generate a less energy-intensive refining process for biofuels and aviation fuel as well as medical equipment and shoes. The catalyst refining plant in Port Allen is the largest in the world.
Westfield Fluid Controls to create 67 new jobs in Lafayette, La.
The new state-of-the-art facility for advanced manufacturing will create jobs with an annual salary of $49,797 with a capital investment of $5.1 million.
Company code-named “Project Cobra” slated to bring $1 billion data center to South Carolina
The economic development project has yet to be finalized. It could bring a data center to Lake Wylie and would create 12 high paying jobs in the area.
Japanese battery manufacturer Envision AESC breaks ground on facility in South Carolina
The new plant will employ more than 1,100 workers with an average salary of $65,000. Florence County Economic Development CEO Gregg Robinson says the investment marks a milestone as one of the biggest economic development projects ever for the county.
Walmart to invest $350 million in regional distribution center in Alabama
The Cullman, Ala. plant investment will double the amount of supplies the distribution center will ship with an implementation of a robotics and software platform developed by Symbotic LLC. Walmart operates five distribution centers and 144 retail stores in Alabama and employs over 41,000 in the state.
GM will invest $500 million in Texas plant
GM’s investment will prepare its Arlington, Texas facility to produce its next generation of SUVs. The investment confirms that the company plans to continue investment in its traditionally powered vehicles in preparation for its emerging EV business.
May 2023
$100 million invested in two new Northrop Grumman offices
Offices for defense contractor Northrop Grumman have been completed at the Redstone Gateway in Huntsville, Ala. The Birmingham, Ala.-based construction firm Robins & Morton completed the $100 million project, including two “build to suit” facilities and a parking deck.
Construction for Goldman Sachs’ $500 million new campus to begin later this year in Dallas
Regional offices of the Manhattan-based banking firm Goldman Sachs are to be built in the Uptown area of Dallas, Texas. Downsized by 10 percent, the project is to be completed by 2027.
Richardson International, Canadian-based agri-business leader, to invest $220 million in Memphis, Tenn.
According to the Memphis Business Journal, the upgrade of the Wesson Oil production plant is pending approval. Richardson expanded into Memphis in 2019 with the purchase of the Wesson Oil production plant.
$240 investment begins at MAGMA tech facility in Bowling Green, Ky.
O-I Glass has begun construction on a revolutionary greenfield glass facility, utilizing MAGMA technology. The technology is used for manufacturing flexible, modular glass production.
TAT Piedmont Aviation to expand operations at the Piedmont Triad International Airport
The aviation repair company will create 85 jobs with a $13.8 million investment. “Aviation and aerospace companies of every stripe are choosing North Carolina as the best place to grow their business,” said Governor Cooper.
Tennessee Governor Lee signs Transportation Modernization Act into law
Governor Bill Lee signed the historic, bipartisan legislation, creating a $3.3 billion investment to modernize Tennessee’s transportation needs in rural and urban communities.
Georgia-Pacific spends $50 million to upgrade paper towel mill
The Port Hudson, La. mill will be upgraded with increased capacity and improved equipment. Twenty miles north of Baton Rouge, the mill produces paper towels for Brawny and other brands.
Washington Commanders owner to sell Virginia NFL team for $6 billion
Dan Snyder has agreed to sell the team to NBA legend Magic Johnson and a group of investors. A record-setting amount for any professional sports franchise, the Bethesda, Md.- based group of investors also owns the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
Lego breaks ground on $1 billion facility in Chesterfield, Va.
Lego has broken ground on the first manufacturing plant in the U.S. for the Denmark-based toymaker. The project is one of Virginia’s largest economic development projects ever announced, according to Virginia Business. The project will create 1,761 jobs, with production starting in 2025.
Cross Technology of Winston-Salem is expanding with a $3.4 million grant
The 140,000-square-foot building upgrade for the machining company and maker will employ 120 more people over the next two years in Yadkin County, N.C.
6K Energy to invest $166 million in battery material manufacturing plant in Jackson, Tenn.
Governor Bill Lee announced the company will invest in a full-scale PlusCAM™ battery material manufacturing plant. With its initial investment, 6K Energy plans on expanding to $250 million in future phases. The company will also be using its $50 million U.S. Department of Energy grant for the factory.
Albemarle Corp. will invest $1.3 billion and create more than 300 new jobs in Chester County, S.C.
Approval has been granted for Albemarle Corp.’s investment in its lithium hydroxide processing facility in Chester County, S.C. The significant investment comes after previous passes for incentives by the county when the project was under the code name Project Raven.
Kentucky has the longest running, lowest unemployment ever recorded in the state
The record comes with a 3.8 percent unemployment rate over the last 15 months. Governor Andy Beshear also announced the state has added 46,000 more jobs in Kentucky since February 2020, a 2.3 percent growth in jobs.
Georgia has received $17.5 billion in investment by Korean firms since 2020
Supporting 23,000 total jobs in the state, Korean companies like Kia, Hyundai Motor Group, SK Group and others are continuing to invest.
240 high-paying jobs created by Marshall Aerospace in North Carolina
Marshall Aerospace has selected Piedmont Triad International Airport for its first location in the United States to service C-130 aircraft. The company plans to invest $50 million.
Firearm manufacturer subsidiary FN America plans expansion in South Carolina
The company plans to expand in Pickens County with a $33 million investment that will create 176 new jobs.
Disney plans to invest in $17 billion in Walt Disney World over the next 10 years
Disney CEO Bob Iger announced the plan, which will create 13,000 jobs in Central Florida, as the company continues its feud with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Acquisition Integration to create 250 jobs in Alabama
The aerospace logistics and distribution company plans to build 170,000 square feet of hangar and office space at the Pryor Field Regional Airport. The $30 million investment will create 250 jobs.
Global renewable energy company SPI Energy Co. Ltd. to invest $65.9 million in South Carolina
SEM Wafertech and Solar4American Technology announced the investment to establish operations in Sumter County. The solar companies’ investment will create 300 new jobs in Sumter County.
$42.7 expansion planned by BorgWarner Inc. in Oconee County, S.C.
As part of its “Charging Forward” initiative, The Auburn Hills, Mich.-based automotive supplier will create 122 new jobs in its plans to upgrade its facility in Seneca to integrate new EV battery systems.
Congo LLC will expand its HQ in Louisville, Ky.
The $8.25 million project will produce 500 high-paying jobs. The company plans to relocate to a 110,000-square-foot location at 13551 Triton Park Blvd.
Castellini Co. creates 180 jobs, to invest $16.6 million in Kentucky
The third-party logistics company for the food industry is expanding its Wilder operations with a $16.6 million investment.
EV car maker Rivian to invest $10 million in Bullitt County, Ky.
The planned remanufacturing facility in Shepherdsville will create 218 high-paying jobs, continuing the EV industries’ growth in the state.
Church & Dwight Company will expand in Virginia
The baking soda manufacturer plans to invest $27 million in its expansion of its Chesterfield County operations, which will create an additional 53 new jobs.
Richmond National Group to create 100 jobs in Henrico County, Va.
The specialty insurer plans to expand its HQ by adding 7,200 square feet of office space to its Greater Richmond footprint.
Delta Star will invest $30.2 million in Lynchburg, Va., expansion
The industrial power equipment manufacturer will create 149 jobs by adding 80,000-square-feet of manufacturing space and 14,000-square-feet of new office space.
CharterUp is relocating its HQ to Austin, Texas
The online bus-booking platform plans to add 100 jobs.
Tech company Tquila Automation to create 200 jobs in Birmingham, Ala.
The delivery hub will be located at The Switch, Birmingham’s innovation district, in the 65,000-square-foot Nextec building.
Westwater Resources plans $202 million graphite plant in Alabama
The Coosa County plant will supply material for EV battery manufacturer SK On.
April 2023
Southern mega-markets surge in job growth
Dallas, Atlanta, Houston and Miami have surged in job growth since the beginning of 2020. Employment levels in those markets as of January 2023 increased by 9 percent in Dallas, followed by Atlanta, Houston and Miami with levels of 4.9 percent, 3.9 percent and 3.6 percent respectively.
German automaker eyes U.S. assembly plant
According to a report in the Washington Post, Audi is considering building a U.S. factory to produce electric vehicles. In just the past three years, several automakers and battery manufacturers have announced plans to spend billions on new facilities in the Southern Automotive Corridor.
Ford and Gov. Lee celebrate historic BlueOval City in West Tennessee
In the spring quarter, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Ford Motor Company marked significant progress on construction at the historic BlueOval City complex in West Tennessee. The project is the single largest investment in Tennessee history. In 2021, Ford Motor Company and SK On committed a $5.6 billion investment to build a 3,600-acre mega-campus called BlueOval City at the Megasite of West Tennessee, where the production of Ford’s second generation electric trucks will begin in 2025. The project is expected to create 30,000 jobs in West Tennessee, anchored by Memphis, including auto parts suppliers and other support projects. The construction is expected to create 6,000 jobs.
Study projects BlueOvalSK EV battery plant will have $800 million economic impact in Kentucky
A new study conducted by the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) and Murray State University shows the potential economic impact of the BlueOval SK Battery Park on local governments in Hardin County and the surrounding region. Once at full employment in 2025, the Ford facility is estimated to have a yearly value-added impact of nearly $800 million.
One billion dollars invested on a high-tech paperboard recycling mill in Waco, Texas
Graphic Packaging International plans to break ground this spring on the 640,000-square-foot facility in Waco’s Texas Central Park. The mill will turn corrugated box cardboard into thinner paperboard packaging for cereal boxes and other consumer products. Production will commence in 2026, company officials said. The company is set to hire 230 people with average pay of $65,000 plus benefits.
Lithium-ion battery recycler opens plant in Georgia
A $50 million lithium-ion battery recycling facility is now open in Covington, a critical piece of Georgia’s growing electric vehicle supply chain. Massachusetts-based Ascend Elements currently employs 100 workers at the facility, which is near Rivian’s planned $5 billion electric vehicle plant in Social Circle, Ga. The battery recycler plans to increase its headcount to 185 by 2024, and called the project the largest of its kind in North America.
EVs in Georgia account for the majority of Georgia’s biggest deals
Electric vehicle plants like Rivian and Hyundai in Georgia make up seven of the 10 largest economic development projects as of April. The Hyundai project, worth billions, is one of the largest economic development projects announced in the South.
Georgia takes over New York for sound stage square footage
Georgia now has over 3 million square feet of sound stages. Topping that mark made the state the second largest in film and television production space in the nation. The report came from FilmLA, a nonprofit that serves as the official film office for the city and county of Los Angeles, which has 6.2 million square feet of production space. New York has 2.8 million square feet. The report also tracks other “competitive jurisdictions” including the United Kingdom, Ontario and British Columbia. Georgia ranked fourth overall among all the locations, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
A new Research Triangle county is now the fastest growing
Franklin County, located in the Research Triangle of the Raleigh-Durham region is now the fastest growing in population between 2021 and 2022, according to new population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. At 3.8 percent, Franklin County’s population expanded greater than Johnston or Chatham counties. Johnston County is still red hot from a growth perspective. The county grew its population by 3.3 percent during the one-year interval. And it’s three times as large as Franklin, so its actual gain of residents was much higher for the year at 7,500 compared to 2,700 for Franklin, according to the Triangle Business Journal.
CommScope adding hundreds of jobs in Catawba County, N.C.
Hickory, N.C.-based CommScope is investing $47 million and creating 250 jobs at its fiber optic cable plants. Ninety percent of those jobs will not require a college degree. The added manufacturing will produce rural area applications of fiber optic cable to expand broadband service to areas that are lacking high-speed internet.
Massive investment in Kentucky
Microvast Advanced Membrane is investing $504 million in a project in Hopkinsville, Ky., to build the world’s first mass production facility for its cutting-edge polyaramid separator technology. The polyaramid technology is used in firefighting garments and insulating papers. The facility will help integrate the product into EV battery designs, including Microvast’s cells as well as those of other third-party battery manufacturers. The project will create 562 full-time jobs.
Toyota Boshoku to make $225 million investment in Hopkinsville, Ky.
Toyota Boshoku America Inc. (TBA) will invest more than $225 million to construct a new facility in Hopkinsville and create 157 quality jobs for Kentuckians, according to the Lane Report. The new facility will include a 365,400-square-foot building pad on 49 acres in Christian County. The plant will be the first TBA location globally to be considered a “Smart Plant.” The facility will employ innovative, cutting-edge technologies such as advanced robotics, planning and automation to streamline processes, reduce waste and enhance productivity to maximize efficiency and operations.
Alabama sets $10 billion investments record
Manufacturers and service providers made an estimated total of $10.1 billion investments in Alabama last year. The total broke the previous record of $8.7 billion in 2018. The numbers are from the 2022 Alabama Economic Development Impact Report that the Alabama Department of Commerce released in the spring quarter.
Alabama food and beverage company announces $130 million project in South Carolina
Milo’s Tea Co. announced in March it will create more than 100 jobs in Spartanburg County, S.C. The project will entail production of tea and lemonade on site by fall 2024.
Canada-based Epsilon manufacturer picks Tuscaloosa for plant
Epsilon Industries is investing around $3 million to open a facility to produce prefabricated modular utility systems in an integrated factory environment at the Tuscaloosa County Airport Industrial Park. The deal will create 180 jobs.
Clean energy manufacturer to establish $264 million plant in Shelby County, Ky.
EnerVenue will establish a new manufacturing facility in Shelby County, creating 450 full-time jobs with a $264 million Phase 1 investment with potential for further investment. The company manufactures energy storage products and systems.
New distillery headed to Georgetown, Ky.
A planned $51 million distillery coming to Georgetown will be an architectural innovation from the same Danish firm that designed Google’s headquarters and the Lego brand museum, according to the Lexington Herald Leader. According to the media property, “Blue Run, which announced in August 2022 that it planned to build a whiskey operation in Georgetown, released preliminary designs by Bjarke Ingels Group. Called “Meander,” the design shows one swooping half-mile-long building housing the entire operation including distilling, aging and blending. The design is meant to evoke Georgetown’s Royal Spring, according to a news release. The whiskey operation in Georgetown, home of Toyota’s largest assembly plant in the U.S., will create 45 new jobs.
$1.3 billion investment announced in South Carolina
Charlotte-based Albemarle is investing at least $1.3 billion and creating more than 300 new jobs to construct a new “Mega-Flex” lithium hydroxide processing facility in Chester County, S.C. The facility will support the surging demand for electric vehicles and other energy storage applications that use lithium-ion batteries. Situated on nearly 800 acres near Richburg, Albemarle’s new “Mega-Flex” conversion facility will support the fast-growing global electric vehicle and energy storage markets. The term “Mega-Flex” refers to the facility’s ability to process diverse lithium feedstock, including lithium from recycled batteries. The new facility is expected to annually produce approximately 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide from multiple sources, with the potential to reach up to 100,000 metric tons, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
Another lithium-Ion battery campus being built in South Carolina
Cirba Solutions, a comprehensive battery management and materials company, announced plans in the spring to build its newest state-of-the-art, flagship operations in Richland County, S.C. The integrated lithium-ion battery materials campus will encompass an initial investment of over $300 million and will create more than 300 new jobs. The company plans to build an approximately 400,000-square-foot, world-class lithium-ion battery recycling and materials campus that will focus on processing end-of-life hybrid and EV batteries and gigafactory scrap to extract critical materials such as nickel, cobalt and lithium.
Oil and gas refiner to relocate HQ from Dallas to Baton Rouge
Petroleum company Placid Refining will move its headquarters from Dallas to downtown Baton Rouge, La. Placid is also investing $66 million to improve its existing facility in Port Allen. The deal will create 20 new jobs.
CGI has created more than 700 jobs at its center in Lafayette, La.
Global IT and business consulting firm CGI has created more than 700 jobs at its U.S. Onshore Delivery Center in Lafayette, La., which opened in 2014. This is almost double the number of jobs it originally expected to bring to the region. CGI’s Acadiana workforce supports federal and commercial clients across the nation undertaking critical digital transformation projects.
Deal in Lexington County, S.C.
Cooperative Electric Energy Utility Supply, a consumer-owned electric materials supplier, announced plans to expand operations in Lexington County. The company’s approximately $52 million investment will create 61 new jobs.
German manufacturer picks Virginia for 100 more jobs
Germany-based Zollner Elektronik AG will invest $18 million to expand in Virginia. The company is expanding in Danville and will add 100 jobs.
Electric vehicle battery manufacturer expanding in Tennessee
Microvast, a maker of batteries for EVs, is investing $150 million to expand its facility in Clarksville, Tenn. The expansion will double the plant’s capacity. “Houston-based Microvast is one of several automotive companies pouring new investment into Greater Nashville and hitching the largest piece of Tennessee’s manufacturing economy to electric vehicles.” So far, Microvast has committed to close to 290 jobs at its first Clarksville factory and another 600 to 700 at a potential second factory nearby, according to the Nashville Business Journal. Microvast reported 35 percent growth in revenue from 2021 to 2022. Its backlog of orders more than tripled, to $410.5 million.
Old denim mill south of Raleigh to breathe new life
Harnett County, N.C., is home to the old Erwin Cotton Mills plant that has stood from more than 100 years. Once called the “Denim Capital of the World,” the site is about to see a regeneration into a new business park in Erwin, N.C. The small town of 5,000 people is about 50 minutes south of Raleigh between U.S. Highway 421 and the Cape Fear River. Erwin is about 10 minutes west of Interstate 95. The buyer of the facility will transform it into more than 1 million square feet of spaces ranging from 2,000 to up to 400,000 square feet for prospective tenants.
Supplier to Hyundai’s massive Georgia complex to bring new jobs
Korea-based PHA announced it will build a new plant near the Hyundai facility in Chatham County, Ga. The $67 million investment will generate more than 400 new jobs.
Distribution center set for Byhalia, Miss.
A Massachusetts-based third-party logistics (3PL) firm has opened its seventh Memphis-area distribution center. Barrett Distribution Centers’ new operations in Byhalia, Miss., employ 100 workers at a 960,000-square-foot facility.
Tin Thanh Group to locate tire manufacturing facility in rural South Carolina; over 1,000 jobs to be created
Tin Thanh Group Americas, a tire manufacturer, announced plans to establish its first United States operations which will be in Allendale County. The company’s $68 million investment will create 1,031 new jobs. Supplying energy from reusable sources, Tin Thanh Group Americas will provide operations in recycled energy, closed industry-agriculture, recycled waste and tire leasing while serving the environment, energy, high-tech agriculture and technology markets.
Spending by productions in North Carolina tops $258 million in 2022
Filmmakers spent more than $258 million on productions in North Carolina last year, the sixth highest year-end total since 2000, when the state started offering incentives to support the state’s film industry. “North Carolina continues to attract great film, television and streaming projects that bring good jobs to our state,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Last year, these projects helped create 16,000 job opportunities, including 3,000 crew and talent positions for our state’s highly skilled production workforce.” In 2022, 74 film, television and streaming projects had production-related activities in all eight of the state’s prosperity zones, including previously announced N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant awardees.
Ship repair contractor expanding in Hampton Roads
Advanced Integrated Technologies (AIT) is expanding its Norfolk ship repair operations. The project will create 76 jobs.
Big apparel project in Richmond MSA
SanMar Corp., the United States’ largest supplier of wholesale printable accessories and apparel, will create an expected 1,000 jobs in Hanover County, Va. The company will invest $50 million on an existing 1.1 million-square-foot distribution center.
Auto parts manufacturer to hire more than 119 in Salem, Va.
German auto parts manufacturer STS Group AG will establish its North American headquarters in Salem. The company announced a greenfield project in Wythe County, Va., in 2001, but has chosen to move into an existing facility near Roanoke. The investment of $39 million will create 120 jobs.
Ford’s $5.6 billion BlueOval City complex attracting suppliers far and wide in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development reported in the spring quarter that Ford’s suppliers for its electric vehicle facility in Stanton, Tenn., (located just outside of Memphis) are considering sites in more places in the Volunteer State than West Tennessee. Supplier activity is hot on the site of the 11-million-square-foot plant shared by Ford and battery maker SK.
Little Rock MSA picks up nice healthcare deal
RelateCare is creating 255 jobs in Sherwood, Ark. The back-office project will support hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the U.S.
Vacant shipyard near New Orleans catching new sails
It’s not a big deal, but it is a start. An offshore wind hub is coming to the site of the former Avondale Shipyard in Louisiana as the region ramps up to serve the growing renewable energy industry in the U.S. in the Gulf of Mexico. New Orleans-based Gulf Wind Technology (GWT) announced in the spring it is venturing with energy giant Shell to start a research, training and technology demonstration program at GWT’s facility within the Avondale Global Gateway in Jefferson Parish. The news comes after the Biden administration in February proposed the first-ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico as part of the government's plan to spur offshore wind deployment beyond the East Coast. The project will start off with 30 new jobs.
Kentucky town wins 2023 Best Southern Small Town
In the spring quarter, Maysville, Ky., was named Best Southern Small Town by USA Today readers. The publication explained in its piece that those small towns cited “embodied charm and hospitality while also attracting visitors worldwide.”
“Unprecedented” coastal restoration project granted final funds in Louisiana
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is granting $660 million from a 2013 settlement of federal criminal charges involving the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster to help rebuild Louisiana’s coastline. The money is part of a $3 billion project that will help slow losses of Louisiana land on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The “unprecedented” funding, according to the Baton Rouge Advocate, could top $3 billion from various sources.
Siemens Mobility to establish first East Coast operation in Lexington, N.C.
Manufacturer Siemens Mobility has announced it is investing $220 million in a plant to make passenger rail cars. The company picked Lexington, N.C., for the 506-job project.
Mississippi makes investments in industrial sites.
In the spring quarter, Gov. Tate Reeves announced the state of Mississippi will invest $56.7 million in site development projects throughout the state. Site development grant funds made available through the Mississippi Development Authority and Appalachian Regional Commission are assisting local economic development entities in their efforts to spur economic growth by attracting new industry to competitive, shovel-ready sites.
Amazon delaying construction on second HQ in Virginia
Amazon has decided to delay construction on its second headquarters in Virginia. The first headquarters is under construction and is expected to open in the summer. The original announcement for a second U.S. headquarters came in 2017 and over 20,000 jobs were projected.
Healthcare project to create nearly 300 jobs in Virginia
PRINCO, a healthcare products manufacturer, is investing over $18 million in Norfolk, Va. The deal will create 284 jobs. The products will be sold to hospitals throughout the U.S.
Trader Joe’s breaks ground on distribution facility in Kentucky
In the spring, Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials to break ground on a new Simpson County facility for Trader Joe’s East Inc., a leading retail distributor and supplier of food and beverage products. The project will create 876 full-time jobs, behind a $259 million investment.
Another Hyundai supplier picks Georgia
A steady stream of automotive parts suppliers has announced plans to serve the gigantic Hyundai battery and vehicle plant in Bryan County, Ga. South Korea-based PHA announced in March it will invest $67 million in a new facility near the Hyundai plant. The deal will create over 400 jobs.
Alabama automotive sector continues to thrive
Alabama’s four major assembly plants continue to grow. Mazda Toyota is adding jobs in Huntsville. Hyundai (Montgomery) and Mercedes-Benz (Tuscaloosa County) continue to expand their electric vehicle lineups. And Honda plans updates on several models at its plant in Lincoln.
Delivery app bringing 200 jobs to Birmingham
Food delivery company ASAP (formerly Waitr) is adding jobs in Birmingham. The deal will create 200 jobs.
Sam’s Club to create 600 jobs in Georgia
Retailer Sam’s Club is establishing a new fulfillment center in Douglas County, Ga. The project will create 600 jobs.
Money being invested in Mississippi megasite
The state of Mississippi recently announced it was allocating $5.1 million to Madison County to build an additional access point to the industrial site near the Nissan factory.
Organic poultry producer creating 300 jobs in Virginia
Farmer Focus is expanding its facilities in Harrisonburg, Va. The nearly $18 million deal will create 300 jobs.
New distribution center slated for Eastern North Carolina
UPS is building a new distribution center in Onslow County, N.C. The project will create 98 new jobs.
Tire manufacturer hiring 125 in Tennessee
Nokian Tyres is expanding its workforce in Dayton, Tenn. The project will generate 125 new jobs.
Idea Nuova to invest nearly $20 million in rural Georgia
Idea Nuova is establishing a new manufacturing facility in Screven County, Ga. The deal will create 80 new jobs.
Louisiana LNG exports soar
Louisiana’s three export facilities delivered more than 2.45 trillion cubic feet of LNG in 2022. Overall, the nation’s seven export terminals exported 3.86 trillion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas last year.
Hyundai assembles first electric vehicle at its Alabama plant
Korean automaker Hyundai rolled out its first electric vehicle at its large plant in Montgomery, Ala. The Genesis Electrified GV70 SUV was the first model to be produced. The first EV comes 10 months after Hyundai announced that it would build the Electrified GV70 SUV and a hybrid version of the Santa Fe at the Montgomery plant. Hyundai invested $300 million and added 200 jobs to install an EV line at the plant.
Supplier adds to growth list of Korean parts makers in Georgia
In the spring quarter, Georgia announced Sewon America would invest more than $300 million into a new manufacturing facility in Rincon in Effingham County, Ga. The deal will generate more than 700 jobs.
FDI in Alabama soars
Foreign direct investment, mostly in automotive and aerospace, is on the rise in Alabama. Since 2018, foreign companies have launched investment projects valued at more than $13 billion across the state, generating nearly 17,000 job commitments, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce.
Nucor to open new facility in Decatur, Ala.
Charlotte-based steelmaker Nucor announced in the spring it will invest $125 million in an advanced manufacturing facility in Decatur. The new venture will produce transmission towers and generate 200 jobs.
South Carolina leads nation in export of vehicle tires.
Gov. Henry McMaster, the South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) and the South Carolina Ports Authority (SC Ports) announced that the state’s 2022 export sales totaled $31.5 billion, up 6 percent over 2021, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The state remains the nation’s top exporter of completed passenger motor vehicles and tires.
Big building materials deal in the Palmetto State
IKO, a manufacturer of roofing products, announced it will establish its first South Carolina operations in Chester County. The company’s $363 million investment will create 180 new jobs.
Laser technology manufacturer relocating headquarters to Greenville County, S.C.
Erchonia Corp., a global laser technology manufacturer, announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Greenville County. The company’s $6.7 million investment will create 51 new jobs.
Investments in Louisiana topped $20 billion in 2022
Companies invested nearly $21 billion in capital in 2022, according to Louisiana Economic Development. The investments created about 18,000 new jobs.
Danish toymaker hiring 500 in Richmond MSA
Lego is hiring 500 at its $1 billion Chesterfield County manufacturing facility by the end of this year.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to lead Tenn-Tom Waterway Authority
Gov. Andy Beshear will be heading up a four-state effort to promote the development of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and its economic and trade potential. A release from Beshear’s office announced his election as the 2023 chairman of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority.
Record-breaking year for Georgia trade
In the spring, Gov. Brian Kemp joined the Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in announcing that the State of Georgia achieved a record-breaking year for international trade for a second year in a row. In 2022, Georgia’s total trade exceeded $196 billion across 221 countries and territories.
Manufacturer investing over $10 million in rural Tennessee
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter and The Robinette Company officials announced the company will invest $10.3 million to construct a new, 100,000-square-foot facility in Piney Flats, Tenn. With a headquarters in Bristol and manufacturing operations in both Bristol and Piney Flats, the new facility will be The Robinette Company’s fourth location. Through this expansion, the company will create 70 new production jobs in Sullivan County. The company employs more than 450 in Northeast Tennessee.
Meta expands in Durham, N.C.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced in the spring it will create 100 jobs in downtown Durham. Meta joins other large tech companies such as Microsoft and Google that have operations in the Research Triangle.
Tuskegee, Ala., captures Korean auto supplier
Samkee Corp., a Tier 1 supplier to Hyundai’s plant in Montgomery, will open a $128 million factory in Tuskegee, its first U.S. operation. The project will create 170 new jobs.
Virginia backs out of Ford deal; project goes to Michigan
Ford Motor Co. announced it will build at $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan. The plant will house about 2,500 workers. Virginia dropped out of the running for the deal in February.
Steel manufacturer to locate first U.S. plant in Memphis
MSS Steel Tubes USA plans to open its first U.S. plant in Memphis, the Greater Memphis Chamber announced in the spring. The Portuguese-owned company will hire 129 in the deal.
North Carolina reloading megasite portfolio
After announcements by Toyota and others, most of the existing megasites in North Carolina are now occupied. The North Carolina legislature has passed funding to replenish the state’s lineup of sites of 1,000 acres or more.
Big semiconductor-related deal in South Carolina
Pallidus, a silicon carbide (SiC) wafer semiconductor manufacturer, announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations to York County, S.C. The company’s $443 million investment will create 405 new jobs. Founded in 2015, Pallidus leverages its proprietary M-SiC technology to increase the quality and lower the cost to produce silicon carbide wafers used in semiconductors.
GE Appliances to invest $50 million in South Carolina
GE Appliances (GEA), a Haier company, announced plans to expand its South Carolina operations with a distribution center in Greenville County. The $50 million investment is projected to create 45 new jobs. The company also has manufacturing facilities at its Kentucky headquarters and in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.
Seoyon E-HWA joins list of Hyundai suppliers in Georgia
Gov. Brian Kemp announced that Seoyon E-HWA, a global auto parts supplier that manufactures both interior and exterior components, will create 740 new direct and indirect jobs and invest almost $76 million in a new manufacturing facility in Chatham County, Ga.
UAB Birmingham economic effect: $12 billion, over 107,000 jobs.
A report from the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows that the school and its massive healthcare complex generated more than $12 billion to Alabama’s economy in 2022. This includes wages, job generation and other factors. In comparison, UAB was responsible for $4.6 billion in economic impact in 2008. The University also sustained or supported over 107,000 jobs and $256 million in local taxes last year.
Boom Supersonic breaks ground in North Carolina
Colorado-based Boom Supersonic broke ground on its Overture factory at a 62-acre campus at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C. The final assembly line facility and delivery center will house up to 2,400 workers. The company, which has orders for 130 aircraft, will build the Overture airliner that will fly at twice the speed of today’s commercial jets.
January 2023
Automakers optimistic for 2023 rebound
After the worst year of vehicle sales in more than a decade, automakers in the Southern Automotive Corridor are optimistic that 2023 will be a rebound year. Industry experts believe vehicle sales in the U.S. were near 14 million in 2022, an 8 to 9 percent drop from 2021. Parts and supply chain issues affected many automakers in 2022.
Florida is the fastest growing U.S. state
Last year, Florida was the fastest growing state in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It was the first time Florida outgrew all U.S. states since 1957. The nation’s third largest state netted over 400,000 new residents from July 2021 to July 2022. With the bounce, Florida’s population is estimated to be 22.24 million.
Texas gains more new residents than any another state
Texas gained more new residents than any other state in the country from summer 2021 to summer 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. During that time, Texas captured 477,708 new residents, the largest gain of any other state in the nation. The population of Texas now sits at 30,029,572 people. In terms of a percentage increase, Texas ranked fourth over the 12-month period gaining 1.6 percent. It trailed Florida, Idaho and South Carolina in population gains by percentage.
Kentucky knocking it out
Gov. Andy Beshear announced in January that economic development growth in Kentucky concluded its best two-year period for announced private-sector investment and job creation in state history. In 2022, 248 private-sector new-location and expansion projects committed to invest nearly $10.5 billion and create 16,000 full-time jobs. Those figures position 2022 as Kentucky’s second highest year for new investment behind 2021’s record year. Wages continue to rise in the Commonwealth as well, as Kentucky’s average incentivized hourly wage for projects statewide in 2022 was $26.78 before benefits, an 11.5 percent increase over the 2021 mark of $24 and the second highest over an eight-year period.
Austin is No. 1 in sustainability
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown has been named No. 1 in sustainability by Site Selection magazine. Four other Texas cities made the Top 10 for the South Central Region, and three more ranked in the Top 10 nationwide. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked No. 2; Houston-The Woodlands- Sugar Land is No. 3; San Antonio-New Braunfels is No. 5; and Waco is No. 8.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announces $1.8 billion Louisiana port expansion
In the winter quarter, Louisiana announced a new $1.8 billion container facility on the Lower Mississippi River. The facility is a partnership among the Port of New Orleans, New Jersey-based Ports America, one of North America’s largest marine terminal operators, and Geneva, Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company. The new Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) in St. Bernard Parish will be able to serve vessels of all sizes, dramatically increasing Louisiana’s import and export capacity and stimulating the creation of more than 17,000 new jobs statewide by 2050.
Tennessee Valley Authority will turn coal ash sites into solar farms
TVA is taking its first step in turning its coal ash landfills into solar energy farms, the utility announced in the fall quarter. TVA’s board approved a $216 million investment for a pilot project to build a 100-megawatt, 309-acre solar farm on top of a coal ash landfill in Paducah, Ky. The new solar energy facility will be capable of powering about 600,000 homes.
Energy startup proposes $7.5 billion investment in Ascension Parish, La.
Clean Hydrogen Works, a project development company established in 2021 that is focused on energy decarbonization solutions, announced it is exploring a plan to build a large-scale hydrogen-ammonia production and export facility in Ascension Parish. Doing business as Ascension Clean Energy, in partnership with Denbury Carbon Solutions and Hafnia, the company estimates the proposed $7.5 billion project would create 350 new direct jobs with an estimated average annual salary of $73,412 by 2030. If the project moves forward as outlined, Louisiana Economic Development estimates 1,122 new indirect jobs would result, for 1,472 total potential new jobs in the Capital Region.
Feds pick first two Gulf zones for offshore wind farms
The federal government has selected the first two areas for offshore wind development in the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management set boundaries for the two zones: a 174,000-acre area south of Lake Charles and a 508,000-acre area near Galveston, Texas.
Huntsville, Ala., most affordable housing market
Huntsville has been named one of the top 10 markets to watch in the coming year by the National Association of Realtors. Of all the top 10 real estate markets cited, Huntsville is the most affordable according to the NAR.
UNCC Economist: No recession in 2022, nor one expected in 2023
University of North Carolina at Charlotte economist John Connaughton spoke at the North Carolina Economic Forecast and said the country did not slide into recession in 2022 and he expects the same in 2023. Overall, said Connaughton, the economy likely grew by about 3.4 percent in 2022.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin ginning up industrial sites
Gov. Glenn Youngkin is allocating $350 million for industrial site development in the Commonwealth. Called Virginia Business Ready Sites, the new allocation would bring the state’s total recent investments for site development to $500 million.
Louisiana sets new lows for unemployment rate
The state of Louisiana’s unemployment rate in October dropped to 3.1 percent. The figure is the lowest unemployment rate in state history.
Renters coming to the South look to Huntsville and Biloxi
According to Rent.com and its analysis of rental data, two Southern markets are at the top of the most sought-after destinations. The Huntsville-Decatur (Florence) metro area was the second most searched destination in the country by renters, and Biloxi, Miss., was No. 1.
Alabama metro among top five in U.S. for manufacturing jobs
Decatur, Ala., located on the Tennessee River, has always been a haven for top-line manufacturers, such as United Launch Alliance and 3M. According to the website SmartAsset, Decatur is the second best place to work in manufacturing in the U.S., behind only Ames, Iowa.
Mazda not yet at “full employment” at Alabama plant
Back in 2018, Mazda and Toyota announced a joint-venture plant in Limestone County, Ala. The plant currently houses 3,700 employees, but the two Japanese automakers are having a tough time reaching the goal of 4,000 workers as a result of thin labor pools and retention issues. Mazda makes it CX-50 crossover model at the plant and Toyota its Corolla Cross model.
Hyundai Mobis plans EV battery module plant in Montgomery, Ala.
In the fall quarter, Gov. Kay Ivey joined executives of Hyundai Mobis, one of the world’s largest auto suppliers, to announce the company’s plans to invest $205 million to open an EV battery module plant in Montgomery that will eventually employ at least 400 people. Once it reaches full production, the 450,000-square-foot facility will be able to supply over 200,000 EV batteries annually to the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) factory in Montgomery and the Kia Georgia plant in West Point, Ga.
Hyundai and SK On announce $4 billion EV battery deal in Georgia
Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced in December that Hyundai Motor Group and SK On have selected a site in Bartow County, Ga., for a new electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility that will supply Hyundai Motor Group’s plants in the U.S. One of the largest economic development projects in state history, stakeholders estimate it will create more than 3,500 new jobs through approximately $4 billion to $5 billion of investment in Bartow County. Hyundai Motor Group and SK On recently signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the partnership for a new EV battery facility in the U.S., with the details of the partnership still in development.
New supplier to Hyundai’s massive Georgia EV plant
Hyundai Mobis, one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers, plans to invest $926 million in a new facility in Bryan County, Ga. The plant will help supply electric vehicle production at Hyundai’s new multi-billion-dollar, multi-thousand-job complex in Southeast Georgia. The deal will create 1,500 jobs.
Another EV battery maker announces billion-plus investment
FREYR Battery, a developer of clean, next-generation battery cell production capacity, will invest $2.57 billion into Georgia’s sustainable technology ecosystem and create 723 new jobs over the next seven years at a manufacturing facility in Coweta County.
First Georgia Hyundai supplier to build new facility in Georgia
Joon Georgia Inc., an automotive parts manufacturer, will create 630 new jobs and invest $317 million in Bulloch County. Plans for the company’s new manufacturing facility mark the first confirmed supplier for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County.
Kentucky’s largest-ever economic development project going up
At the Glendale Megasite on Interstate 65 in Kentucky, Ford and its South Korean partner, SK, are building a pair of manufacturing plants that will produce batteries for Ford and Lincoln electric vehicles. Construction has been going on for quite a while now on the multi-billion-dollar project, yet, the official groundbreaking took place in December. The 2.3-square-mile campus will eventually employ 5,000 workers.
Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer goes public because of new North Carolina assembly plant
VinFast, which is building a $2 billion electric vehicle and battery plant in North Carolina, has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the first formal step toward a public offering this year. The automaker became Vietnam’s first automaker in 2019.
Electric vehicle manufacturer to open facility in Oklahoma City
Following a long line of electric vehicle and battery announcements in the Southern Automotive Corridor (go to SouthernAutoCorridor.com), Canoo announced in the fall it will locate an assembly facility in Oklahoma City. The project is expected to generate 500 jobs and 20,000 units by the end of 2023.
Huge deal in the South Carolina Low Country
Redwood Materials is locating its next Battery Materials Campus, in the heart of the “Battery Belt,” just outside of Charleston, S.C. The facility will be built at Camp Hall in Berkeley County. Redwood will recycle, refine and manufacture anode and cathode components on more than 600 acres, creating more than 1,500 jobs and investing $3.5 billion in the local community. The company combines recycling, refining and remanufacturing to produce and return battery materials to U.S. battery cell manufacturers used in electric vehicles.
Ultium Cells to expand Tennessee facility
Ultium Cells, a joint venture of LG Energy Solution and General Motors, will expand its Spring Hill, Tenn., battery cell manufacturing operations. The project represents a $275 million investment by Ultium Cells, which is in addition to the $2.3 billion investment announced in April 2021, and is expected to create 400 additional jobs. Once the facility is fully operational, Ultium Cells is expected to employ a workforce of 1,700 in Maury County.
Ultium Cells will increase battery cell production by more than 40 percent, from 35 gigawatt-hours to 50 GWh. The Tennessee facility will supply battery cells to General Motors’ Spring Hill assembly plant for production of the Cadillac LYRIQ, the first electric vehicle produced at the plant, and other GM Ultium Platform-based electric vehicles. Production at the 2.8-million-square-foot facility will begin in late 2023.
Single largest foreign direct investment in Tennessee history announced
LG Chem announced in December a $3.2 billion, cathode manufacturing facility in Clarksville, Tenn. It is part of the massive electric vehicle supply chain that is remaking much of the American South’s economy.
Tesla’s Austin factory delivers first electric semi-truck
In the winter quarter, Austin-based Tesla delivered its first electric semi-truck to its first customer, PepsiCo. The delivery is the first since Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his company would start making the trucks.
Beyond Gravity to double Alabama production capacity
Switzerland-based Beyond Gravity, a manufacturer of structures for launch vehicles, is adding a new production facility in Decatur to provide additional payload fairings for the United Launch Alliance’s next-generation Alabama-built Vulcan rockets. Beyond Gravity said it is working with ULA to build the new production facility, which will add 200 workers at the site in Morgan County. The new hiring will essentially double the company’s headcount in Alabama. Beyond Gravity — formerly known as RUAG Space — said the expansion project follows its selection by ULA to supply 38 payload fairings for Vulcan rockets launching satellites as part of Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
United Launch Alliance expands rocket facility in North Alabama
United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced in December it is spending $300 million to expand its rocket manufacturing facility in Decatur, Ala., the world’s largest rocket plant. The expansion will allow ULA to nearly double its launch rate.
New Alabama solar facility to generate 700 jobs
First Solar Inc. plans to invest $1.1 billion to establish a photovoltaic (PV) solar module manufacturing facility in Lawrence County, Ala., creating over 700 jobs in North Alabama, according to an announcement by Governor Kay Ivey. The new factory is part of the company’s previously announced investment in scaling its American manufacturing footprint to over 10 gigawatts by 2025.
Another major manufacturer chooses rural Arkansas county for large project
Highbar announced in the fall it will build a rebar mill on a 600-acre site that includes space for an expanded Mississippi River port facility, a railroad spur and a planned solar farm. Groundbreaking is scheduled for the first half of 2023 once permits are obtained. The deal will create 200 jobs in Mississippi County, Ark.
Dassault Falcon Jet to build major maintenance facility in Melbourne, Fla.
Dassault Falcon Jet announced it will build a new maintenance facility at Melbourne Orlando International Airport as part of the company’s global expansion of its maintenance, repair and overhaul network. Intended to serve customers across North and South America and beyond, the 175,000-square-foot complex will accommodate all current Falcon models (including the new, ultra-long-range Falcon 10X, the largest purpose-built business jet), and will be capable of performing major maintenance and modifications on up to 18 Falcon models simultaneously. Additionally, the site will be home to a 54,000-square-foot paint shop. Construction in Melbourne is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023 and opening is set for late 2024.
Electric vertical aircraft maker to create 1,000 jobs in Georgia
Archer Aviation, an aerospace company advancing sustainable urban air mobility, will create 1,000 jobs and invest $118 million over 10 years in a new state-of-the-art electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) manufacturing facility located alongside the Covington Municipal Airport in Newton County, Ga.
Absolics breaks ground in Georgia
Absolics, a subsidiary of SKC Co. Ltd., broke ground on a planned $600 million investment in Covington, Ga., for a new manufacturing facility that will supply advanced materials to the U.S. semiconductor industry. The investment will create more than 400 high-skilled jobs in Georgia and help strengthen the U.S. semiconductor supply chain by manufacturing a new material that supports next-generation computing systems.
Nucor opens steel plate factory in Kentucky
Charlotte-based Nucor rolled out its first steel plate in late December at its new plant in Brandenburg, Ky. The first product from the factory has been shipped to customers. The plant houses 400 workers.
Louisville-based Sazerac Co. to invest $600 million in Kentucky
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Sazerac, one of the largest spirits distillers in the world, will invest $600 million to build about 20 new barrel warehouses. The barrel storage facilities will be located in Laurel County.
AppHarvest opens world’s largest indoor farm in Kentucky
AppHarvest, a sustainable food company, recently opened the world’s largest high-tech indoor farm in Somerset, Ky. The new facility will grow cucumbers and strawberries.
Natural gas mining returns to Northwest Louisiana
As a result of higher natural gas prices and demand, drillers are returning in significant numbers to rural areas of Northwest Louisiana for the first time in a decade. The war in Ukraine has sent Germany and other countries scrambling for gas due to Russian supply cuts, and demand is also rising in Asia. That has pushed natural gas prices to some of the highest levels since 2008.
Steel Dynamics announces largest economic development deal in Mississippi history
Gov. Tate Reeves signed legislation recently to finalize Steel Dynamics’ $2.5 billion expansion in Mississippi. The project will create 1,000 new jobs.
Microsoft to invest $1 billion in technology facilities in Catawba County, N.C.
Leaders of Catawba County, N.C., the cities of Conover and Hickory, the town of Maiden, and the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced in the fall quarter that Microsoft plans to invest a minimum of $1 billion in the phased development of four data centers in Catawba County over the next 10 years. The data centers will be located in Conover, Hickory and Maiden, and will create at least 50 new jobs.
Foreign-based aerospace company to build at Oklahoma Air & Space Port
Mexico-based Premium Aerospace Center plans to hire as many as 600 employees by 2026 at the Oklahoma Air & Space Port complex in Burns Flat, Okla., about 100 miles from Oklahoma City. The company will build new hangers for aircraft painting and interior remodeling.
Finisar considers $3 billion semiconductor expansion in Sherman, Texas
Finisar, a company that makes lasers for facial recognition technology in Apple’s iPhone, is considering Sherman for a new $3 billion semiconductor plant. The new plant, an expansion to its current 76-acre site, would produce wafers for semiconductor chips and create 700 jobs.
Chevron Phillips, Qatar Entergy announce $8.5 billion investment
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company and QatarEnergy announced they are proceeding with the construction of an $8.5 billion integrated polymers facility in Orange, Texas, expected to create more than 500 full-time jobs and about 4,500 construction jobs and generate an estimated $50 billion for the community in residual economic impacts.
STIHL plans to invest $49 million to expand manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach
The City of Virginia Beach announced that STIHL plans to invest $49 million to expand its chain saw guide bar manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach. The expansion will add 26,000 square feet of space to an existing building, totaling 86,000 square feet upon completion. The project is also expected to create 15 new jobs with an average annual wage of $60,000 to $100,000.
Distribution facility slated for Suffolk, Va.
M S International, a California-based flooring, countertop, wall tile and hardscaping products supplier, will invest $61.6 million to establish its East Coast distribution facility in Suffolk. The deal will create 80 jobs.
BWX Technologies begins fuel production in Virginia
TRISO fuel produced at BWX Technologies’ Lynchburg facility in Virginia will power the Project Pele microreactor – the first microreactor to be built and operated in the USA.
November 2022
U.S. GDP makes major comeback in third quarter
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. economy posted its first period of positive growth for calendar year 2022 in the third quarter. The quarter’s growth in the economy eased recession projections by economists. The 2.6 percent growth on an annualized basis followed two consecutive quarters in 2022 of negative growth, which normally signals a recession. However, the National Bureau of Economic Research typically determines recessions by policy.
U.S. Secretary of Labor has lots to say about the economy and how to improve it through workforce innovations
In an interview at the CNBC Work Summit in October, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh expressed his opinions on the workforce and how the economy can grow through government legislation. He also addressed demography and how it is affecting the economy as baby boomers retire in droves, population growth is nonexistent and immigration reform is stuck in Washington.
Labor woes and how to solve them
Low unemployment and job openings that more than double those who are eligible to work were addressed by U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh in an interview on CNBC. Amid one of the tightest labor markets in history, Walsh said the political parties’ approach to immigration — “getting immigration all tied up” — is among the most consequential mistakes the nation can make in labor policy. “One party is showing pictures of the border and meanwhile if you talk to businesses that support those congressional folks, they’re saying we need immigration reform,” Walsh said. “Every place I’ve gone in the country and talked to every major business, every small business, every single one of them is saying we need immigration reform. We need comprehensive immigration reform. They want to create a pathway for citizenship into our country, and they want to create better pathways for visas in our country.”
“We need a bipartisan fix here,” Walsh said. “I’ll tell you right now if we don’t solve immigration ... we’re talking about worrying about recessions, we’re talking about inflation. I think we’re going to have a bigger catastrophe if we don’t get more workers into our society and we do that by immigration.”
Walsh on the minimum wage
“It shocks me that there are members in the building behind me, if you can’t see the building behind me it’s the Capitol, that think that families can raise their family on $7-plus, on the minimum wage in this country,” he said.
Walsh on the cost of childcare and how it affects the labor shed
“Childcare is a basic necessity to get millions of women back into the workforce on a full-time basis,” he said.
“Child care has not been addressed by this country or by most states in this country for the last 50 years. The cost is too high for the average family and we can’t retain the workers in those industries. We lost a lot of workers in the childcare industry because they’re paying them minimum wage or a little bit above minimum wage,” Walsh said, referring to estimates that 100,000 workers left the sector during the pandemic.
“We have to respect them and pay them better wages. Anyone watching today that has kids in child care, you know, you’re paying 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% of your salary for child care,” he said. “A lot of families have made the decision [that], ‘We don’t want to have two people working, one person will maybe stay home, work part time and make up those costs,’ so that issue has to be resolved. It’s not just an economic issue. It’s a human rights issue in our country to get good child care,” he added.
Johnston County, N.C., is a juggernaut for growth
Located southeast of the capitol of Raleigh, Johnston County has seen amazing growth over the last decade, with a growth rate of about 4 percent on average according to our data. And that growth could continue as about two-thirds of its 100,000 or so workers commute outside the county. The county has a diverse employment base, led by Novo Nordisk, Bayer, Grifols, AAF Flanders and Caterpillar.
BMW to invest $1.7 billion in Upstate South Carolina
Announced in 1992, the German automaker BMW plans to invest $1.7 billion in its U.S. operations to build electric vehicles and batteries, the company announced in October. The investment includes a new line to produce electric vehicles at its plant that employs over 10,000 in Spartanburg County. It also includes $700 million to make battery assemblies in nearby Woodruff, S.C. The automaker expects to build six electric models at the plant by 2030.
John Deere expands Louisiana plant
Deere & Company, the global corporation that manufactures the iconic John Deere brand of agricultural, construction and forestry equipment, is investing $29.8 million to expand operations at its Thibodaux facility. The deal will include a $30 million investment and will generate 70 new jobs.
Mercedes-Benz unveils electric SUV to be built in Alabama
Mercedes-Benz Group AG announced it will build the EQE SUV at the Paris car show in the fall quarter. The German automaker also makes the flagship EQS sedan at its Alabama complex. Mercedes’ goal is to go all electric by the end of the decade.
Ford announces big deal in Louisville
Michigan-based Ford Motor Company will invest $700 million in its Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. The facility produces the all-new Ford F-Series Super Duty truck, among other models. Ford is the largest maker of vehicles in Kentucky and its two Louisville plants house over 12,000 workers.
Glove maker picks rural Alabama for manufacturing operation
ISA will locate a plant in Geneva County, Ala., to produce nitrile and latex gloves. The deal will create 80 jobs.
Amazon hiring 1,500 in Northern Kentucky
Amazon announced in the fall it is expanding in the U.S., hiring 150,000. Over 1,500 of those will be hired at its major air distribution hub in Northern Kentucky.
Bobcat cuts ribbon on its largest manufacturing facility in North America
Bobcat opened its Statesville, N.C., facility recently. The 600,000-square-foot expansion increased the footprint to more than 1 million square feet on a more than 150-acre campus. The $70 million project will create hundreds of jobs.
Lockheed Martin opens new facility in South Arkansas
Lockheed Martin opened its new All-Up Round III (AUR III) facility at Camden Operations in Arkansas recently. The Camden, Ark., facility produces all kinds of defense products, including the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE), the world’s most advanced air defense missile.
Large-scale solar power coming to Mississippi
Mississippi Power has partnered with the U.S. Navy on four utility-scale solar facilities in the company’s service territory. Combined, they will generate about 160 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power more than 23,000 homes for a full year. The company serves 191,000 customer facilities.
Bosch Rexroth expands in Charlotte metro
Bosch Rexroth, a leading manufacturer of factory automation solutions, will invest $58 million into a new state-of-the-art customizing and research and development facility that will expand its operations for linear motion and assembly technologies. In addition to retaining 326 employees currently employed at their Charlotte operations, the company will hire 24 more people.
BMW makes its 6 millionth vehicle at South Carolina plant
A BMW X6 rolled off the line in October, representing the 6 millionth vehicle made at its plant in Spartanburg County, S.C. The plant houses over 10,000 employees and has been in operation for 30 years.
Housing manufacturer announces new facility in Kentucky
Elevate Windows and Doors announced it will invest $16 million in a new facility in Hopkinsville, Ky. The company makes windows and doors. The deal is expected to create over 200 jobs.
Travel firm adding more than 200 jobs in Virginia
Pangiam, a travel and security technology company, will invest $3.1 million to establish its global headquarters in Fairfax County’s Tysons area, creating 201. The company provides facial recognition and data solutions to all kinds of customers, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Air Force, Delta Airlines, United Airlines and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Energy testbed to locate in Southwest Virginia
The Energy DELTA Lab will develop a first-of-its-kind energy technology testbed in Wise County, Va. The project is an initiative is a collaborative effort by the Virginia Department of Energy, the Southwest Virginia Energy Research and InvestSWVA.
Bridgestone announces major Tennessee expansion
Bridgestone announced a major expansion and modernization of its Warren County, Tenn. Truck and Bus Radial (TBR) Tire Plant located in Morrison. The $550 million investment will add 380 new jobs and expand the plant’s existing footprint by 850,000 square feet to support increased capacity and to accelerate the use of advanced technologies that support cleaner, safer and more efficient commercial truck and bus fleets.
Boysen USA establishing operations in Spartanburg County, S.C.
Boysen USA, a subsidiary of the German-based Boysen Group, announced plans to expand its South Carolina presence with a new operation in Spartanburg County. The company’s $4.5 million investment will create 88 new jobs. A specialist in automotive exhaust technology, Boysen USA develops and manufactures exhaust manifolds, catalytic converters, particulate traps, silencers and complete exhaust systems for leading original equipment manufacturers.
Minerals company selects Virginia
IperionX Limited, a minerals firm, plans to make a capital investment totaling $82.1 million to establish Virginia’s first titanium demonstration facility in Halifax County. The company intends to source 100% renewable energy to produce 100% recycled titanium to supply advanced industries including automotive, defense, aerospace, electric vehicles, and 3D printing.
GP making major investment in new plant in Jackson, Tenn.
Koch Industries owned paper products manufacturer Georgia-Pacific (GP) is preparing to invest $425 million to build a new production plant for Dixie paper plates in Jackson, TN, a release issued by the office of Gov. Bill Lee announced this week. Slated to become operational by summer 2024, the 900,000-square-foot location will help the company meet increased demand for paper plate products.
Nucor expanding in South Carolina’s Low Country
Nucor Corporation, a leading steel and steel products manufacturer in North America, today announced plans to expand operations in Berkeley County. The company’s $425 million investment will create 50 new jobs. With a history dating back to 1905, Nucor Corporation manufactures a variety of products including carbon and alloy steel, hollow structural tubing, electrical conduit, precision castings and more. The company’s products serve the agriculture, automotive and energy industries along with several others.
Manna Capital Partners plans $600 million Alabama beverage product hub
Manna Capital Partners, a minority-owned business enterprise and investment firm, said its Montgomery “beverage park” will create 280 full-time jobs and will be owned and operated by its affiliate Manna Beverages & Ventures (MB&V). Louisville, Kentucky-based Manna Capital Partners — founded by Ulysses L. “Junior” Bridgeman and Kevin Attkisson — concentrates on investment and acquisition possibilities across multiple industries, with an emphasis on sustainability and creating opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses.
Governor Ivey announces Hyundai Mobis plans EV battery plant in Montgomery, Ala.
Governor Kay Ivey recently joined executives of Hyundai Mobis, one of the world’s largest auto suppliers, to announce the company’s plans to invest $205 million to open an EV battery module plant in Montgomery that will eventually employ at least 400 people. Once it reaches full production, the 450,000-square-foot facility will be able to supply over 200,000 EV batteries annually to the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) factory in Montgomery and the Kia Georgia plant. “Alabama’s auto manufacturing sector is evolving rapidly to capitalize on the EV revolution that is sweeping the industry, and this new Hyundai Mobis battery plant represents another milestone in that transition,” said Governor Ivey. “We’re excited about the company’s new investment and what it represents for the next chapter of auto making in Alabama.”
Dassault Falcon Jet to build major facility in Melbourne, Fla.
Dassault Falcon Jet announced it will build a new maintenance facility at Melbourne Orlando International Airport as part of the company’s global expansion of its maintenance, repair and overhaul network. Intended to serve customers across North and South America and beyond, the 175,000 square-foot complex will accommodate all current Falcon models, (including the new, ultra-long range Falcon 10X, the largest purpose-built business jet), and will be capable of performing major maintenance and modifications on up to 18 Falcon models simultaneously. Additionally, the site will be home to a 54,000-square-foot paint shop. Construction in Melbourne is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023 and opening is set for late 2024.
Biotech manufacturer to create over 350 jobs in North Carolina
ABEC, Inc., a global leader providing engineered process solutions and services for biotech manufacturing, will create 251 jobs in Wilson County. The company will invest $11 million in the City of Wilson to establish another ISO-7 cleanroom and increase single-use disposable container manufacturing capacity for its Custom Single Run biomanufacturing solutions. “Biomanufacturers that must operate at the highest levels of precision and quality choose North Carolina time and time again,” said Governor Cooper. “Biotech is a statewide industry, and ABEC will find the technical expertise and outstanding workforce they need in Wilson County.”
September 2022
After some thought, Toyota joins big in the EV manufacturing craze.
Toyota adds $2.5 billion on top of the $1.3 billion initial investment announced for its first U.S. battery factory in Liberty, N.C., near Greensboro. Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina is expected to produce batteries for its electric vehicle at the site in 2025.
Automakers, both foreign and domestic, have begun a land grab of tens of thousands of acres in the South to product electric vehicles and their primary parts, such as batteries.
Toyota officials have been slow to announce EV deals until now. In late August, Toyota’s Executive Vice President, Jack Hollis, said in multiple media reports that “the consumer isn’t demanding (EVs) at that level,” referring to the growing movement towards electric vehicles in the U.S.
Boeing captures $5 billion contract to defend the entire United States against long-range ballistic missiles
The giant project will be built and developed in Huntsville, Ala. Long-range ballistic missiles can house and deliver nuclear weapons and can fly as far as 10,000 miles.
Everyone knows about San Francisco, Palo Alto and New York’s startup prowess. It’s off the charts. But, Birmingham?
According to New Hampshire-based early-stage investment firm York IE, the fastest-growing startup city (per capita we assume) in the U.S. is Kirkland, Wash., which saw $298 million in funding for the second quarter, an increase of 1,724 percent. It was followed by Stanford, Calif., and Madison, Wisc. Birmingham followed at fourth, with $47 million in the second quarter, according to an article on AL.com.
$1 billion solar panel manufacturing facility to be built in the South
First Solar announced in the fall quarter it will build a new solar panel manufacturing facility in the U.S. on the heels of the Inflation Reduction Act, whichincentivizes domestic manufacturing. The company said the plant will be located in the Southeast.
Offshore wind farms in Louisiana and Texas’ Gulf coasts could power 3 million homes
The Gulf of Mexico’s first offshore wind farms will be developed off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, the Biden administration announced. When completed years from now, together they are expected to power more than 3 million homes. Offshore wind energy has lagged behind other countries in Europe and in China.
The Midwest leads all regions in chicken eggs; South dominates chicken meat
Chicken production in America’s vast agriculture industry continues unabated as the product is the preferred source of protein worldwide. The U.S. contributes greatly to the world’s chicken production with over 8 billion chickens consumed each year out of the 65 billion worldwide. According to The Economist, the amount of chickens being eaten has increase 70 percent since 1990.States in the Midwest like Iowa, Ohio and Indiana lead all regions in overall chicken production, including eggs. Yet, in the growing of chickens for their meat, the South reigns supreme with Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina and Mississippi making up the top five.
ALABAMA
Mercedes begins assembling electric vehicles at Alabama plant
Twenty-five years after rolling out SUV job No. 1 at its plant in Vance, Ala., German automaker Mercedes-Benz assembled its first electric SUV at its only U.S. OEM facility. Five years of development and $1 billion in investments for battery-making and a new assembly line has created 1,000 new jobs in West Alabama. During that time, Mercedes has faced all kinds of hurdles to start EV production, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the semi-conductor shortage, staffing challenges and global supply chain issues. The automaker houses nearly 5,000 workers at its plants in Tuscaloosa and Bibb counties.
Two-million-square-foot industrial park planned near Mazda Toyota in North Alabama
Fairway Investments and Triad Properties have purchased land to build a two-million-square foot industrial park off Greenbriar Parkway in the fast-growing Limestone County part of Huntsville. The property is located a short distance from the $2.3 billion Mazda and Toyota’s joint venture automotive assembly plant in Limestone County, Ala. The name of the park will be the Huntsville West Industrial Park.
Huntsville, Ala., named No. 1 place to live in U.S., again
Huntsville was named the No. 1 place to live in the U.S. for 2022-2023 by U.S. News & World Report. Huntsville’s economy, which is as technically advanced as any in the country with NASA and other space-based companies, the military (namely Redstone Arsenal and other high tech firms, employs tens of thousands in the North Alabama city.
United Launch Alliance to expand rocket factory in Alabama
United Launch Alliance (ULA) and the companies Beyond Gravity and M&J Industries are expanding facilities in Decatur, Ala. ULA will build new Vulcan rockets in Decatur to lift commercial communications satellites. The project will bring 250 jobs to the North Alabama market.
Rural Alabama boosted by high-tech manufacturing
Rural Alabama is capturing some of its most important job generators in decades, particularly from the big industry hitters. From Lockheed Martin’s plan to boost production of its in-demand Javelin missile in Troy to a pioneering project involving remote air traffic control in Selma, the work happening in Alabama’s rural counties is being felt around the world. “Aerospace and aviation are key industries for Alabama’s economy, and the contributions of our rural counties are vital to their success,” said Brenda Tuck, Rural Development Manager for the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Global defense contractors and other manufacturers have deep roots in these counties, where they have invested heavily in facilities, equipment and cutting-edge technology to serve markets around the world with strategic products and services,” Tuck said in an article published on madeinalabama.com.
Cabinet maker adding over 400 jobs in Alabama
Wellborn Cabinets, whose cabinets are distributed nationwide, will build a manufacturing facility in Oxford, Ala., that will produce new kitchen and bath cabinetry. The $17 million project will create 415 jobs.
Huntsville-based HudsonAlpha to team with the city of Dothan, Ala., for biotech innovation center
The city of Dothan and Huntsville’s HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology will team to develop an education and innovation center in Southeast Alabama. The center will also focus on agricultural research.
Defense contractor adding jobs in Birmingham, Ala.
San Diego-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. announced recently it will expand its operations in Birmingham. Kratos acquired the engineering division of Birmingham-based Southern Research in an $80 million asset transaction in May. The $8 million deal will create 76 jobs for the company that support rocket development.
Company invests $25 million in Southeast Alabama
Ecore International plans to invest $25.5 million to open a state-of-the-art manufacturing and recycling facility in the city of Ozark, Ala. The Pennsylvania-based company specializes in transforming reclaimed materials into high-performance flooring and surface products.
ARKANSAS
Arkansas gets go ahead for federal funds for broadband
Arkansas plans to invest $47.5 million of federal funds to serve an estimated 5,500 homes and businesses through its Arkansas Rural Connect broadband grant program, the U.S. Treasury said in a news release.
Northwest Arkansas suffering from major success
Northwest Arkansas, home of the worldwide headquarters of Walmart, America’s largest employer, has seen home prices rise in the region nearly 50 percent in the last five years. Some essential workers such as teachers, EMTs, and police officers have moved away because of factors like cost of living and availability. The issue is not unprecedented in the South, where even small regions are suffering from economic development success.
Textbook distributor to expand Arkansas facilities
GoTextbooks is establishing a second distribution center in the Little Rock metro. The project calls for more than 200 new workers.
Tractor Supply to build new distribution center in Maumelle, Ark.
Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, is investing more than $120 million in a new distribution center in Maumelle. The 1.2-million-square-foot facility will house almost 500 employees.
FLORIDA
Over 11,000 solar industry jobs created in Florida last year
According to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, 11,700 jobs were created in the solar energy industry last year in Florida. The job growth took place in a year of record solar installations driven by increased demand for renewable energy among residential customers, municipalities, businesses and electric utilities.
GEORGIA
Massive industrial park proposed near massive Hyundai EV plant in Southeast Georgia
Haiseal Timber, a Dublin, Ga.-based company that owns swaths of undeveloped forests across the Southeast and specifically in Southeast Georgia where Korean automaker Hyundai is building one of the largest economic development projects in the South’s history, is planning to develop a large industrial park there in Bryan County. The park could accommodate up to 5 million square feet of industrial space.
Georgia continues film and television surge
Georgia saw $4.4 billion in spending from film and TV productions in the fiscal year that ended in June. Shooting in Georgia continues to surge thanks to its generous tax incentive program.
Monster electric vehicle plant’s construction has first job fair
Barnett Southern hosted a job fair in the Savannah, Ga., area to attract laborers to help begin excavation ahead of construction at the Bryan County megasite that will house the incoming Hyundai EV plant. Over 1,000 jobseekers attended the job fair.
Japanese electric vehicle parts maker to shift location of $150 million plant from South Carolina to Georgia
Nippon Denkai will build a $150 million plant in Augusta, Ga., instead of its original site in Camden, S.C. The plant will make copper foil for electric vehicle batteries. The company will hire 100 in the deal.
Consulting firm nearly doubling staff in Atlanta
McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting company, recently announced plans to nearly double its Atlanta workforce, hiring more than 700 people by 2025. The company plans to create a hub specializing in technology and innovation, and will put the center in Atlanta largely to maximize the amount of diversity in the expanded workforce, company officials said.
KENTUCKY
Electric vehicle parts maker making major investment in Kentucky
In late August, Envision AESC broke ground on a $2 billion electric vehicle battery gigafactory in Bowling Green’s Kentucky Transpark. The deal, a further testament that the EV industry is positively affecting just about every Southern state, is expected to generate 2,000 jobs.
EV battery parts maker to invest over $300 million in Western Kentucky
Massachusetts-based Ascend Elements picks Hopkinsville for a plant that will produce materials for electric vehicle batteries, Gov. Andy Beshear announced in August. The plant will house up to 400 employees.
Kentucky distillery company to invest $400 million in Kentucky
Spirits maker Beam Suntory is investing $400 million to expand a bourbon distillery in Nelson County, Ky. The deal will create 50 jobs.
Another big deal in Bowling Green
O-I Glass will build a new glass bottle manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Ky. The company will invest $239 million, pay $43 an hour and create 140 jobs at the plant that will produce glass bottles for the Kentucky premium spirits market.
Automotive supplier Purem by Eberspaecher to add 250 workers in Louisville, Ky.
Purem by Eberspaecher, a German automotive supplier, celebrated the opening of its Louisville operation in August. The deal will create 250 jobs.
Atlas Machine to locate new facility in Kentucky
Atlas Machine and Supply Inc. announced it is investing $3.47 million to construct a new facility in Hardinsburg, Ky. The company will serve as the company’s Field Machining Division, which performs on-site industrial repairs for manufacturers throughout the United States. The deal will create 78 new jobs.
LOUISIANA
Louisiana to see energy cash windfall
Louisiana could receive $1.9 billion in revenue from Gulf of Mexico oil and gas and a separate share of revenue from Gulf wind energy operations, according to the U.S. Senate’s Energy and Natural Resource Committee. The windfall will come based on the bipartisan Reinvesting In Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems Act, authored by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, and Bill Cassidy, R-La. That bill would lift the existing $500 million annual cap on oil and gas revenue shared with other Gulf states such as Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.
Louisiana has more employed than ever before
This summer, Louisiana had more workers and the lowest unemployment rate (3.8 percent) in state history, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Louisiana now has more than 2 million employed workers.
Shell to convert old Louisiana refinery to sustainable fuel plant
London-based Shell plans to build a sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel production facility at its shuttered refinery in Convent, La., according to documents filed with Louisiana Economic Development. The alternative fuels complex will represent an investment of about $1.4 billion.
Rural Louisiana paying to recruit individuals and families
Ruston, La., is a college town of just over 20,000 residents located near Shreveport. Fueled by the explosion in remote working, Ruston has joined a cohort of small cities and rural areas around the country offering incentives to lure new residents. In Ruston’s case, the city government has awarded 25 grants worth $10,000 apiece to applicants who meet certain qualifications, including earning a certain income, working remotely and agreeing to stay for three years. Former students at Louisiana Tech University and Grambling State University, the area’s two institutions of higher learning, get preferential treatment.
New Orleans approves huge downtown riverfront development project
A new riverfront development next to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center known as the River District was approved by the convention center’s board members. The value of the land, which is directly on the Mississippi River, is estimated at $250 million.
Louisiana governor announces millions in grants for affordable housing and internet services
Gov. John Bel Edwards announced $130 million in grants to create affordable housing and internet services to more than 66,000 households in Louisiana. The grants are funded through the American Rescue Plan and coordinated by the state’s Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities program.
Unique manufacturer to expand in Louisiana
ASH Industries, a custom molding manufacturer that produces specialized products ranging from surgical devices to laser light show components, will invest $5 million to expand its Lafayette Parish facility. The project will create 85 new jobs.
New sawmill to invest $110 million in Louisiana
The Teal-Jones Group, a company based in British Columbia, Canada, is building the Southern yellow pine lumber plant. It also has U.S. operations in Mississippi and Virginia.
Cargill to upgrade, add jobs in Louisiana
Cargill, a major international supplier of food, agricultural and industrial products, is upgrading its facility in St. Martin Parish, La., that produces food, water conditioning and salt products for a variety of industries. The $34 million deal calls for 70 new jobs.
Rubber manufacturer investing $22 million in Louisiana
Lion Elastomers, a synthetic rubber manufacturer, is investing $22 million on a new production facility at its Geismar plant. The expansion will increase output at the plant, which provides rubber products for tire manufacturers and other industries. It is not expected to lead to any new hiring, though it should help retain 176 jobs.
MARYLAND
Maryland unemployment rate stays at 4 percent
The state of Maryland is adding jobs, even though labor availability is at a premium. The average unemployment rate during the summer in Maryland was 4 percent, the lowest since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Maryland jobs are up by 86,900, an over-the-year change of 3.3 percent. The education and health services sector experienced the most growth with an increase of 4,000 jobs.
Rural Maryland to receive economic development grants
The Washington County Office of Grant Management is accepting eligible projects to consider for funding through the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund. The grant program is funded by the Maryland Department of Commerce through a partnership with the State’s five tri-county councils serving the rural regions of Maryland.
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi celebrates 30 years of the “Mississippi Miracle”
The first casino in Biloxi, Miss., debuted 30 years ago. The casino craze in Mississippi began on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and has employed tens of thousands of Mississippians throughout the state since then.
Tractor plant to bring jobs to Lowndes County, Miss.
Terberg Taylor Americas Group will manufacture terminal tractors near Columbus, Miss., in Lowndes County. The $16 million deal will create 90 jobs.
NORTH CAROLINA
Vietnamese electric carmaker to receive largest incentive package in North Carolina history
VinFast, a Vietnam-based EV manufacturer, will receive an incentive package from the state of North Carolina that will top $1 billion. VinFast is quickly entering the North American and European markets and will employ thousands at its plant in Chatham County, N.C.
North Carolina increases giant incentives package for Toyota
The Tar Heel State is adding millions to Toyota’s incentive package to assist in building an 1,800-acre megasite in Randolph County, N.C., for the Japanese automaker’s electric car battery plant, the first in North America. A regulatory bill passed into law in the summer quarter reserves another $225 million for the plant’s potential further growth. Between state and local incentives, North Carolina had already dedicated around $439 million to the project, with Toyota in turn pledging to invest $1.27 billion and create 1,750 jobs by 2029.
Biotech manufacturer chooses Eastern North Carolina for facility
ABEC, Inc., a global leader providing engineered process solutions and services for biotech manufacturing, is establishing another ISO-7 cleanroom to increase manufacturing capacity at its Wilson County, N.C., facility. The project will create over 250 jobs.
Homebuilder to bring 189 jobs to North Carolina
NVR, a Fortune 500 company that builds single-family site-built homes, will build a new factory in Fayetteville and expand operations in Cleveland and Cumberland County, N.C., to manufacture parts for its homes. The company is investing $30 million to add over 200 jobs at its two facilities in West North Carolina.
Hickory, N.C., captures long-standing employer’s expansion
Merchants Distributors (MDI), a wholesale grocery distributor founded in Hickory in 1931, will invest $35 million in a new expansion of its services and operations, creating 125 jobs. The company anticipates adding approximately 250,000 square feet to its perishable-foods capacity at its Caldwell County facilities.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Bosch will invest $200 million to build fuel cells for electric trucks in South Carolina
German auto supplier Bosch said it will invest more than $200 million to build fuel cells for electric trucks in South Carolina. Bosch plans to expand an existing factory in Anderson, S.C., to build the fuel cell “stacks” starting in 2026. The investment is expected to create at least 350 new jobs at the factory, the company said.
Drug delivery device manufacturer picks Charleston County, S.C.
Switzerland-based SHL Medical announced recently it is establishing a new manufacturing site in Charleston County. SHL Medical designs and manufactures drug delivery devices for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide. The company announced the investment of $90 million, which will create 165 jobs.
Pet retailer to build new center in South Carolina
Pet Supplies Plus, a leading pet retail company, is investing $53 million in a new distribution center in Orangeburg County, S.C. The company will hire 272 with the project.
Modular housing manufacturer to hire 215 in South Carolina
Impact Housing Group, a manufacturer of modular design housing, is investing $30 million in a new assembly plant in Oconee County, S.C. The company is a fully integrated, volumetric modular housing manufacturer that provides solutions for more affordable homes. The project will create 215 jobs.
TENNESSEE
Foreign-based tire makers grow to invest more than $5 billion in Tennessee
The world's biggest tire manufacturers are boosting their investments and tire output in Tennessee with nearly $1.2 billion of additional investments announced in just the past week. The South Korean-based Hankook Tire & Technology Company said it will invest another $612 million in its Clarksville, Tenn., plant and add 397 more jobs over the next five years.
Germany-based WACKER to expand its facilities in Southeast Tennessee
WACKER will expand its silicone production plant in Charleston, Tenn. The phased investment of more than $200 million over several years will add 200 new jobs to the workforce of 700 that is currently housed there.
One thousand construction workers at Ford’s BlueOval City plant site in Western Tennessee
There has been no groundbreaking for Ford’s massive new electric vehicle plant just north of Memphis, but that does not mean activity has not begun. Over 1,000 workers are preparing the site as of September in Haywood County, Tenn., with over 2,000 expected by the end of October. The $5.6 billion (that’s with a “B”) electric truck and battery plant will see over 5,000 construction workers by next summer.
Thermo Fisher opens its newest manufacturing facility near Nashville
Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, has opened its largest single-use technology manufacturing site in Lebanon, Tenn. The Massachusetts-based manufacturer of vaccines and therapies for cancer and other diseases is investing $105 million to meet growing demand for its bioprocessing materials.
South Korean company to locate first North American in Tennessee
Duksan Electera America will locate a new manufacturing facility in Shelbyville, Tenn. The EV-based parts maker will invest $95 million and hire over 100 in the deal.
TEXAS
Idaho-based Micron Technology considers multibillion-dollar chip factory near Austin
Micron Technology is the latest high-tech giant to consider the Austin area for a multibillion-dollar manufacturing operation. According to the Austin American Statesman, the company is checking out sites near Lockhart, Texas, according to its applications for tax breaks filed with the state comptroller's office. The investment would total at least $20 billion, but could grow much higher from 2030 to 2040.
Korean chipmaker considering colossal Austin area expansion
Samsung, which already operates a computer chip plant in Austin and is currently building another nearby in Taylor, Texas, is considering 11 new fabrication plants in Central Texas. The projects could top out at $200 billion. The potential plans are described in 11 applications Samsung has filed with the Taylor and Manor school districts seeking tax breaks for building the facilities.
Dallas-Fort Worth leads all in office space starts
Dallas-Fort Worth led all U.S. markets in office building starts in 2022. Nearly 5 million square feet of space has been proposed according to the Yardi Systems Inc.’s Commercial Edge report. Austin is currently ranked second in office building starts so far in 2022.
Rumor: California-based Wells Fargo to locate regional campus in D-FW
San Francisco banking giant Wells Fargo is in the running to receive up to $31 million as part of economic incentive agreements with the city of Irving tied to a large-scale office development that could house as many as 4,000 workers. The development is expected to consist of 800,000 square feet of new office space, retail, restaurants and housing.
Tyson investing $200 million in Amarillo
Arkansas-based Tyson Foods is spending $200 million to upgrade its beef processing plant in Amarillo, Texas. The Amarillo plant is one of the largest of the company’s six beef facilities.
New battery distribution center opens in Temple
Another company is expanding its manufacturing operations in Texas. . .this time, it’s East Penn Manufacturing Company in Temple, Texas. The new facility is expected to bring more than $106 million in capital investment and over 260 new jobs to Temple and its surrounding area.
VIRGINIA
Virginia ranks third in CNBC’s top states for business
After two consecutive years at the top, Virginia slipped to third place in CNBC’s 2022 America’s Top States for Business rankings. In 2021, Virginia took the top spot in the annual rankings of business-friendly states for a second, consecutive time. Virginia also won in 2019, 2011, 2009 and 2007.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to open $650 million casino in rural Virginia
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will become a joint venture partner with Caesars Entertainment in a $650 million casino development in Danville, Va. The gambling venture will create thousands of jobs and transform rural South Virginia into a tourist mecca.
Advanced coal mining operation expands in rural Virginia
Coronado Global Resources, an Australian producer of metallurgical coal, will invest $169 million to expand coal mining operations at its Buchanan Mine Complex, located about 10 miles southeast of Grundy in Buchanan County, Va. Metallurgical coal is used in steel production. The expansion will generate 181 new jobs.
Innovation in farming adding jobs in Virginia
New Jersey-based leafy greens producer AeroFarms plans to invest $42 million at its vertical farm production facility in Pittsylvania County, Va. The investment will earn the company the title of world’s largest indoor vertical farm. The deal will create 66 jobs in addition to the 92 that were announced last year.
July 2022
Letter to the Editor
"My friend, your prediction more than 20 years ago of the South becoming the center of auto manufacturing in North America has now taken another giant step forward. The announcement that Hyundai will build its first electric car plant in Georgia confirms it in this new era. I will take lucky and good every time."
J. Mac Holladay
CEO, Market Street Services, Atlanta, Ga.
Lithium-ion batteries for your EV? Try solid-state batteries
In recent years, car giants such as Ford, Mercedes and Nissan have been trying to overcome the shortcomings of batteries that power electric vehicles by racing to produce a next-generation battery. In all cases of lithium-ion batteries, they underperformed even after billions were invested in their development. Not only that, the liquid electrolytes used in the batteries are prone to catching fire.
Enter a new player in the fourth quarter of electric vehicle power development. Many if not all existing and startup EV and battery manufacturers are now rallying around solid-state batteries, which do not contain liquid electrolytes and can charge quicker and last longer.
Thoughts on immigration
The immigrant worker shortage comes as the U.S. political system is showing less of an appetite for increasing immigration. “At some point we either decide to become older and smaller or we change our immigration policy,” Douglas Holtz-Eakin told ABC News recently. Holtz-Eakin is an economist and former official in President George W. Bush's administration who is president of the center-right American Action Forum. He acknowledged a change in immigration policy is unlikely: “The bases of both parties are so locked in.” That’s certainly the case in Republican-dominated Texas, which includes the longest and busiest stretch of the southern border. The Legislature in 2017 forced cities to comply with federal immigration agents seeking people who are in the U.S. illegally. The turn against immigration distresses some Texas business owners, like Joshua Correa, a home builder in Plano, Texas. “Immigration is very important for our workforce in the United States,” said Correa. “We just need it.”
Comparing Mexico's available labor to ours
By Michael Randle
One way or another, automakers in North America are subsidized by their governments. They may be underwritten in different ways, but the largest industry in North America usually gets what it asks. When it comes to labor costs exclusively (discounting labor quality, innovation, and such) the U.S. can compete with just about every country in the world but one — Mexico.
Mexico, by contrast, has an overwhelming advantage when it comes to labor costs. Using the average cost of supplementing labor in Canada and the U.S. per assembly plant, Mexico’s costs aren't even close. Again, just using subsidized labor costs, it would take six to 10 years for a plant in Mexico to run up a similar labor bill to those in the U.S. and Canada. Add on the fact that Mexico’s fertility rate is more than double that of the U.S., and it’s also clear that Mexico can backfill its labor for decades to come , while the U.S. is simply getting older and smaller. The only way to change that fact is to change immigration policy.
Tennessee's Aerospace Park gets its first tenant
Northeast Tennessee's Tri-Cities Airport recently announced Aerospace Park’s first tenant. It didn't take long for Northeast Tennessee's Tri-Cities Airport in Blountville to capture its first tenant. “Of course, it’s always exciting to have your first build into a new economic development project like this,” said Gene Cossey, executive director for the Tri-Cities Airport Authority. The company is Final Forge, which is moving all of its operations from Massachusetts to East Tennessee.
D-FW office leasing comes roaring back as workers return from home
North Texas office leasing and construction continues to rebound from the COVID-19 downturn. At midyear, net office leasing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area totaled more than 2 million square feet — topping pre-pandemic activity as more workers returned from home, according to preliminary data from commercial property firm Transwestern. More than 1.1 million square feet of net leasing was recorded just in the second quarter, with the strongest demand for office space in the Dallas North Tollway corridor in West Plano and Frisco, in Uptown Dallas and Las Colinas. Office leasing declined from a year ago in downtown Dallas and along LBJ Freeway, Transwestern found. “Although clouds of recession are appearing on the horizon, the office market is favorably positioned,” Transwestern researchers wrote in a just-released report. “Overall, the region’s fundamentals may limit the downside of a recession and lead to a faster recovery, as they have over the last 15 years.”
New research shows American workers not better off with less foreign-born workers
Former President Trump's intentional depletion of legal immigrant visas and the COVID-19 pandemic reduced legal immigration in the U.S. by as much as 80 percent to just 250,000 in 2020. But, according to research, U.S. workers were not better off with the reduction in immigration. In fact, the lack of foreign workers helped create worse economic conditions. The lack of labor has created worker shortages, school closures, empty shelves in stores, shorter hours in retail and hospitality, skyrocketing childcare costs and the inability of many companies to fill open positions. According to Madeline Zavodny, an economics professor at the University of North Florida and a former economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the reduction in workers as a result of COVID and cuts in immigration showed no evidence that less foreign workers improved economic outcomes of U.S.-born workers.
Economist: "Excessive automation" a major factor in increasing wage gaps
In an article published in the New York Times in January, Daron Acemoglu, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was quoted as saying that "excessive automation" through investments in machines and software is greatly responsible for the increasing gap in wages and income inequality among American workers. Acemoglu's arguments stem from the fact that the automation of tasks formerly done by human workers has widened the income gap, especially among male workers without college degrees.
Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson’s international terminal turns 10 with turbulence
The most dazzling part of the world’s busiest airport has soaring ceilings and an enormous Swarovski crystal chandelier, but is seen by only a small fraction of travelers passing through Hartsfield-Jackson International. That’s partly because the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal, turning 10 years old this year, has not met the passenger loads for which it was built.
It roars to life during peak periods, in the mornings and late afternoons, when large long-haul jets roll up to its gates to offload and reload hundreds of passengers. After a decade of hosting travelers from around the world, though, it is still mostly empty during much of the day and night. The international terminal’s sleek lines and empty corridors stand in stark contrast to the crammed, crowded and less-luxurious domestic concourses. Hartsfield-Jackson’s international gateway faces an even steeper uphill climb to fulfill its potential after the pandemic pummeled foreign travel. International passengers made up fewer than 12 percent of total travelers at Atlanta’s airport before the pandemic, and last year stood at less than half of pre-pandemic levels.
Airport terminal for the rich and famous coming to Hartsfield-Jackson
A private luxury airport terminal operator known for catering to Hollywood stars is coming to Hartsfield-Jackson International to target commercial airline passengers willing to pay thousands for exclusive entry and exit from the world’s busiest airport. The company, called PS and formerly known as The Private Suite, has operated a private terminal at Los Angeles International Airport since 2017, and is known for catering to celebrities and other well-heeled customers. Hartsfield-Jackson is a frequent gateway for celebrities, thanks in no small part to Georgia’s white-hot film industry. Georgia is one of the top destinations for TV and movie production in the world outside Hollywood. Many celebs are likely familiar with the PS terminal at LAX.
Volkswagen chief says German car giant will overtake Tesla on EV sales by 2025
The chief executive of Volkswagen believes Europe’s biggest carmaker can overtake Tesla to become the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles by 2025. Speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Herbert Diess said alleviating supply chain issues would likely help create some momentum for the German auto giant over the coming months.
Florida had more deaths than births last year
Many more workers in Florida and elsewhere saw more deaths than births last year as a larger percentage of the workforce is aging out and retiring than there are people born. According to Neel Kashkari, President, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, there are only three solutions to a situation where less people are paying for Social Security and other safety nets: (1) Accept slower growth; (2) subsidize fertility and (3) embrace immigration. The year 2021 is the first time since 1937 that the U.S. population grew by fewer than one million people. "It is just math," according to Kashkari.
South Carolina Ports, Port of Virginia: Record volumes in 2021
South Carolina Ports had its best calendar year in history in 2021 with an unprecedented amount of cargo. SC Ports handled 2.75 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in 2021. That was nearly a 20 percent increase from 2020. The Port of Virginia in Norfolk handled more than 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units in 2021, a 25.2 percent increase from 2020.
Experts: China's GDP to overtake U.S. by 2030
Officials with the British consultancy Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) published their predictions for the coming decade on U.S. versus China GDP. For decades, economists have predicted that the Chinese economy would have passed the U.S. economy, but that has not been the case so far. However, new data shows that the Chinese economy, based on gross domestic product, will surpass the U.S. by 2030.
Over 17,000 jobs could be created at Gulf of Mexico wind farms
According to the American Clean Power Association, wind farms off the coast of Texas and Louisiana could create 17,500 new jobs. The jobs include temporary and permanent jobs on a pair of offshore wind projects.
ALABAMA
GAO report finds no issues with Redstone Arsenal as Space Command HQ
The Government Accountability Office, in reviewing the selection process of Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as the “preferred” site for U.S. Space Command headquarters, found issues in that process and recommended the Air Force develop better guidance for future basing decisions. However, the GAO made no comment -- in highlighting the main points of its 89-page review -- on the suitability of Redstone Arsenal as the home for Space Command, but was critical of the selection process.
Study: Boeing’s Alabama economic impact reaches $2.7 billion
Boeing contributes more than $2.7 billion annually to Alabama’s economy, along with 9,402 jobs in its sprawling operations and support network, according to a new study. The global space and defense manufacturer, which is marking its 60th year in the Yellowhammer state, conducts a wide range of business activities in the Huntsville region, from protecting the U.S. and its allies with innovative weapons systems to charting new chapters of human space exploration.
Boeing’s journey in Alabama began with the development of the Saturn V rocket, the launch vehicle that put the legendary Apollo missions on the moon. Today, the company plays a key role in developing NASA’s powerful Space Launch System rocket, which will return astronauts to the moon and lay the groundwork for future trips beyond Earth’s orbit. With more than 3,000 employees in Alabama, Boeing’s operations span a variety of research, design and manufacturing activities.
Rural Alabama has seen growth of 3,000 jobs in 2020 and 2021
Rural Alabama's counties of less than 50,000 residents have seen a spike in job creation the last 18 months. According to the Alabama Department of Commerce, in 2020 and the first six months of 2021, 40 projects landed in "targeted" counties that created over 3,000 new jobs. The investments as a whole will generate at least $1.5 billion in new capital investment.
Korean parts supplier expanding its Alabama operations
Auto parts supplier Shinhwa Auto USA Corp. announced a $78 million expansion of its Auburn operations at Auburn Technology Park West. The company supplies parts for Montgomery’s Hyundai plant and Kia in West Point, Ga. The project will create 42 jobs.
Southern Research breaks ground on new, $84 million biotech center in Birmingham
In May, Southern Research broke ground on an $84 million biotech center in Birmingham on the former site of the now-demolished Quinlan Castle, an abandoned apartment building. The project is expected to create 150 new jobs.
ARKANSAS
Systems Group creating 60 jobs with Arkansas expansion
The Systems Group will purchase 47 acres of land next to its current facility in El Dorado, Ark., to expand its main fabrication and machine shop. The expansion will allow the company to make more of its patented Spray-Cooled™ equipment, which is used to prevent Electric Arc Furnaces from melting while producing liquid steel. Systems also plans to hire 60 new employees there.
Atlas Tube opens $150 million facility in Blytheville, Ark., 75 jobs created
Atlas Tube, a division of Zekelman Industries, has opened its newest steel mill in Blytheville, Ark. It’s the second facility they have opened in Mississippi County, Ark. The new facility will be dedicated to producing Jumbo Hollow Structural Sections (HSS) as large as 28″ OD with walls up to one inch thick. According to the company, the $150 million project is the largest private investment in the U.S. steel industry in the last decade.
Pet care firm adding jobs in Arkansas
Mars Pet care is investing nearly $120 million into its Fort Smith operation as pet food demand rises, capitalizing on earlier expansion plans and producing even more jobs. The company will add two new production lines and 140 new workers.
FLORIDA
Atlantic Digital Incorporated expands Tampa workforce
Atlantic Digital Incorporated, a specialized IT company and solutions provider for government, will expand operations in Tampa. The company plans to create 120 jobs over the next three years.
Project “Lightning Strike” bringing hundreds of jobs to Bay County, Fla.
Central Moloney, which manufactures distribution transformers, is expected to open a 140,000-square-foot facility owned by St. Joe Company. The project will bring 200 new jobs to Bay County.
Largest satellite facility in the world to be constructed at Florida's Space Coast
Terran Orbital announced in the fall that it will invest $300 million Merritt Island on Florida's Space Coast. Florida's governor Ron DeSantis said the company’s move to Florida will create the largest satellite manufacturing facility in the entire world. The 660,000 square-foot facility will be able to produce more than 1,000 satellites a year and 1 million satellite components. The deal will create 2,000 jobs.
GEORGIA
Procter & Gamble to build new facility in Butts County, Ga., create 350 jobs
Procter & Gamble Distributing plans to invest $205 million in a new distribution facility in Jackson, Ga. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Procter & Gamble Company specializes in a wide range of personal healthcare and hygiene products.
Shoe manufacturer expanding Georgia
Okabashi Brands, a third-generation family-owned and women-led shoe company based in Buford, Ga., is expanding its presence in Gwinnett County. The company is one of the 1 percent of footwear manufacturers operating in the U.S. today and is committed to sustainable American manufacturing. The $20 million deal is expected to create 340 jobs.
KENTUCKY
Manufacturer to locate in western Kentucky, create 150 jobs
A manufacturer of electrical power distribution connectors plans to locate in Western Kentucky and create 150 jobs, officials said. Hollobus Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of engineering design technology company Superior Tray Systems, is investing $2.25 million to move its headquarters and some operations to a former Briggs & Stratton plant in Murray, a statement from Gov. Andy Beshear said. The Kentucky location will produce a new product line that is an alternative to electrical cabling for large industrial projects. The company has partnered with Murray State University to establish a pipeline for workers and said it intends to focus on hiring veterans.
Summit Polymers will invest $37.5 million in Kentucky
Summit Polymers Inc. (SPI) will build a $37.5 million manufacturing facility in Anderson County, Ky., creating 218 full-time jobs. Michigan-based SPI designs and manufactures decorated and assembled automotive interior components, and employs more than 3,000 workers at 15 locations worldwide. The new 140,000-square-foot facility on approximately 40 acres along the U.S. Route 127 Bypass in Lawrenceburg will conduct plastic injection molding, paint applications and assembly operations. It will support SPI’s business with automotive manufacturers in Kentucky and neighboring states, with potential for future expansion.
Bourbon maker bringing jobs to Somerset, Ky.
Horse Soldier Bourbon is investing $200 million to bring bourbon and tourism dollars to Pulaski County, Ky. The deal will create 50 jobs.
LOUISIANA
General Dynamics IT opens new center in New Orleans
General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics, officially opened its new operations center in New Orleans. The project is expected to create 50 jobs.
Manufacturer adding 100 jobs in rural Louisiana
Greenberry Industrial, a producer of industrial components for petrochemical, maritime, energy and other industries, announced in May it will convert a former shipyard fabrication facility in Jennings, La., and add 100 jobs.
American Electric Power to develop $100 million transmission control center in Shreveport
American Electric Power (AEP), which manages the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, will invest $100 million to develop a new Shreveport Transmission Control Center. The project will create 20 direct new jobs, with average salaries of $115,000, and retain 20 jobs already in place in Shreveport. AEP, which is based in Columbus, Ohio, will develop the 77,000-square-foot facility on 30 acres in Shreveport.
MISSISSIPPI
This small Southern town isn't the new Hollywood, director says. It's better
There's a strange symbiosis growing between Hollywood and a small town in the Mississippi Delta, and director Tate Taylor is one of the engineers behind it. Known for films like "The Help" and "Breaking News in Yuba County," Taylor has centered his efforts in and around Natchez, a city of less than 15,000 residents that bills itself as the "birthplace of Mississippi." Incoming A-listers trade tinsel and luxury high rises for Spanish moss and antebellum homes. But it's precisely the area's un-Hollywood-ness that makes filming there so magical, Taylor said. Living in close proximity to one another sustains a sort of energy among cast and crew that's hard to replicate in a bigger city, he explained, pointing as an example to his experience directing the late Chadwick Boseman and other stars in the 2014 James Brown biopic "Get on Up." "We all lived in houses in Natchez, and everybody walked to work and (walked) home, and it was just fun," Taylor said in a phone interview. "We called it movie camp."
Home Town stars creating 85 jobs in Laurel, Miss.
HGTV’s Home Town hosts Erin and Ben Napier will create 85 jobs in Laurel with a new manufacturing location for Scotsman Manufacturing Company. The new company, housed in a revitalized and once-shuttered industrial facility, will be committed to American-made goods.
MISSOURI
Beef plant expected to create 1,300 jobs in Missouri
Wisconsin-based beef processing company American Foods Group (AFG) has announced plans to build a large new facility in Warren County, Mo. Pending final approval, AFG expects to settle on a precise location by next spring. The project could result in AFG investing $450 million into the St. Louis area and creating more than 1,300 new jobs.
Manufacturers expand operations in Palmyra, Mo.
Doyle Equipment Manufacturing and Riverview Manufacturing, worldwide leaders in manufacturing dry fertilizer handling equipment, will expand operations in Palmyra. The $1 million project is expected to create 30 jobs.
NORTH CAROLINA
European plastics manufacturer to invest $47 million to build U.S. facility in Gaston County
Premix Group, a plastics manufacturer, will create more than 30 new jobs in Gaston County, Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders announced. The company will invest $47 million to locate its first U.S. manufacturing facility in North Carolina. Premix serves the automotive and electronics industries.
Champion Home Builders will create 182 jobs in Scotland County, N.C.
Champion Home Builders, a provider of manufactured and modular homes, will expand its North Carolina operations to create 182 jobs in Scotland County. The company will invest $18.7 million into the acquisition and development of a manufacturing campus in Laurinburg.
Piping manufacturer creating 168 new jobs in Nash County, N.C.
COSMOIND, a polyethylene piping manufacturer, will create 168 new jobs in Nash County. The company will invest more than $12.8 million to build its first North American manufacturing campus for industrial, natural gas and drinking water pipes in Middlesex.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Food distributor expands in South Carolina
Carolina Food Service, a full-service food distribution company, will expand operations in Loris, S.C. The $3.7 million project is expected to create 71 jobs in Horry County.
Ruiz Foods hiring 100 in Florence County, S.C.
A frozen food distributor is looking to bring dozens of new jobs to the Pee Dee. Ruiz Foods Florence is hiring 100 more jobs for its facility there.
Oak barrel manufacturer chooses rural South Carolina for new plant
South Carolina Oak to Barrel LLC announced in the fall it will invest $6.8 million in a new plant in Bamberg County, S.C. The barrels will be used for whiskey and wine operations. The project will generate 122 new jobs.
Peanut plant slated for South Carolina
Premium Peanut is investing $64.3 million to establish operations in Orangeburg County in a move expected to create 130 jobs.
TENNESSEE
“Ambitious but attainable”: How Memphis chamber plans to attract 50,000 new jobs to area
The Greater Memphis Chamber has a plan to draw tens of thousands of new jobs to the metro area by the end of the decade, and the plan focuses on inclusion, advanced industries and increasing science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates. Ted Townsend, chief economic development officer for the Greater Memphis Chamber, said there could be “no more resignation than anything less than the spectacular for our region. Why? Because the competition is fierce.” The chamber unveiled its strategic growth plan Monday at the mid-year chairman’s forum at The Guest House at Graceland. The plan outlines how the region could gain 50,000 new, high-quality jobs by 2030, with half of those jobs going to minorities, a goal the chamber called “ambitious but attainable.” Helping with that effort will be the newly formed division for diversity and community development at the chamber. The vast majority of current economic growth is in advanced industries like artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, aerospace engineering and other similar industries, Townsend said.
What a year for Tennessee
The year 2021 was historic for Tennessee when it came to large scale economic development projects. Leading the way was the Oracle announcement in Nashville that will eventually create 8,500 jobs. The other mega-deal came from Ford Motor Company and the creation of the Blue Oval City just east of Memphis. That $5.7 billion project will create 5,800 to 6,000 jobs.
Auto supplier announces $8 million Tennessee plant
A Michigan manufacturer of automotive powertrain and drivetrain systems plans to establish a new facility in East Tennessee, state and company officials announced. ATC Drivetrain will invest more than $8 million in the new plant in Knoxville. Over the next five years, the company expects the project to create 218 new jobs.
Clarksville, Tenn., ranked
Clarksville, Tenn., located northwest of Nashville, was ranked in the winter by San Francisco-based real estate company Opendoor.com as the most "desirable zip code in America." Tiny Clarksville beat out Austin, Atlanta, Orlando and Nashville among others. The ranking was based on location, living costs and amenities.
Monogram Assembled Foods plans Tennessee production facility
Monogram Assembled Foods will invest $53.5 million to establish new operations in Dickson, Tenn. The project is expected to create nearly 400 new jobs. The company purchased a building formerly owned by Conagra, which announced in early 2020 its plans to close the facility. As part of Monogram Foods’ acquisition, the facility never closed, and the company offered employment to Conagra’s existing employees so that no jobs were lost during the transition.
TEXAS
Dallas vs. Chicago? On jobs, population and housing, the growth story isn’t even close
Companies cite many reasons for moving to Dallas-Fort Worth, including access to air travel, the cost of living and the quality of the workforce. Chicago is competitive on all those fronts, yet Caterpillar Inc. announced that it’s relocating its headquarters from suburban Chicago to Irving, one of D-FW’s leading cities. Caterpillar follows Topgolf Entertainment Group, OpTic Gaming, Boeing Global Services, Addus HomeCare and thousands of residents from Chicagoland to North Texas. So what’s the biggest economic difference between the third- and fourth-most populous metros in the country? The growth story isn’t even close — not on population, jobs, workforce and more. And more growth means more opportunity for companies and workers alike. While Chicago had 1.75 million more people last year, D-FW has added over six times more residents since 2000. Last year, D-FW added 97,000 while Chicago lost almost 92,000.
High-speed rail is all but dead in Texas
Plenty of shortsighted people have been rooting for Texas’ high-speed rail project to fail from the moment it was announced. Sadly, it looks ever more likely they will get their wish. The deck has been stacked from the beginning against Texas Central Railway, which had proposed a privately funded line linking Houston and Dallas that would have put the state on the world map as an international leader in transportation.
But it looks like the naysayers got their way. Texans are still waiting on a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court on whether the project can go forward, and Texas Central’s chief executive, Carlos Aguilar, has resigned. His sendoff an indicator that this project is over.
A look at Austin's swift growth, and its growing pains
Austin keeps growing. And growing. And growing. That population surge is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it has helped keep the region's economy among the strongest in the nation, and the region's thriving technology sector is making Central Texas an international hub. But the influx of new people also comes with its share of growing pains, including worsening affordability concerns and an unresolved homelessness crisis.
Sherman, Texas wins GlobiTech expansion, bringing 1,500 new jobs and $5 billion investment
Sherman has scored its second major semiconductor-related expansion with GlobiTech selecting the North Texas city for a new $5 billion plant to produce silicon wafers. The subsidiary of Taiwan-based GlobalWafers Co. will create 1,500 new jobs. Texas will provide a $15 million cash grant from its enterprise fund to go along with at least $34 million in local tax incentives. “It’s a big day for North Texas,” Sherman Mayor David Plyler said. “We’re very excited in the city of Sherman to have this kind of facility located here. Of course, the first manufacturing plant of its kind in America in the last 20 years is a big story.” The new plant will raise Texas’ “global position in the semiconductor industry amid a worldwide chip shortage,” Gov. Greg Abbott said during the announcement. GlobiTech joins Dallas-based Texas Instruments and Korea’s Samsung in committing to multibillion-dollar investments in the Lone Star State. GlobiTech also was considering sites in Ohio and South Korea for expansion. GlobalWafers CEO Doris Hsu said the company received “tremendously competitive proposals.”
Solar giant Qcells to build new $171 million plant in Georgia
The parent company of solar manufacturer Qcells confirmed that more solar panel production is headed to the “carpet capital of the world,” in the form of a new $171 million plant to be built near its existing Dalton facility. The announcement follows a pledge by South Korea-based Hanwha Solutions, which owns Qcells, to dramatically expand its U.S.-based solar production. The new facility will produce 1.4 gigawatts of Qcells’ next generation, high efficiency solar panels each year and bring an estimated 470 new jobs to Whitfield County in Northwest Georgia, the company said in a release. Qcells’ existing Dalton facility employs more than 750.
Facebook expands to Texas
Facebook’s parent company Meta recently leased a large office space in Texas, making the tech giant the latest company to move jobs and people from California to the Lone Star State. Meta leased half of a building under construction in downtown Austin that will be the city’s tallest skyscraper when completed, and has pledged hundreds of new jobs in Texas.
Neiman Marcus could get $5 million-plus in incentives for Dallas headquarters
Dallas plans to offer Neiman Marcus up to $5.25 million in incentives if it keeps its corporate headquarters in Dallas. The luxury retailer is eyeing a move of hundreds of workers to the Cityplace Tower on North Central Expressway just north of downtown. Many of those workers are currently housed at Neiman’s landmark store on Main Street.
To obtain millions of dollars in economic grants, Neiman’s would need to have a minimum of 1,100 Dallas jobs and “ensure that a minimum of 35 percent of retained headquarters employees are Dallas residents,” according to a resolution presented to Dallas’ city council. “The proposed project will not occur within the city without an offer of economic development incentives.” Neiman Marcus would also have to create a minimum of 300 new jobs in Dallas by the end of 2026 to gain the full incentives offered. And the city will require Neiman Marcus to keep its flagship store in downtown Dallas.
New rare-earth magnet facility to attract hundreds of jobs to Fort Worth
A rare earth magnet factory is coming to Fort Worth, and it will attract hundreds of new jobs. Las Vegas-based MP Materials is building its new rare earth magnet factory off of Alliance Gateway Freeway in Fort Worth's Alliance corridor. James Litinsky, the founder, chairman and CEO of MP Materials, says magnets are synonymous with modern life. "Rare earth magnets are really what will power motion, electric vehicles, wind turbines, drones, robots, robot dogs, air taxis, whatever — we could go on and on," Litinsky said during the April groundbreaking ceremony. The new facility will reshore 150 skilled jobs and about 1,300 indirect jobs.
Largest incentive package in Texas history agreed upon
The incentive package agreed upon between the state of Texas, local governments and Samsung for its new semiconductor plant in Taylor is the largest in state history. Taylor is located near Austin where Samsung, the Korean chipmaker, operates a multi-billion-dollar plant. Samsung will invest $17 billion in the next-generation semiconductor factory in Taylor. . .that figure is also the largest direct foreign investment in Texas history. Samsung will capture nearly $1 billion in incentives.
Fujifilm Diosynth expanding Texas factory with $300 million investment
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies — a contract manufacturer that develops and produces medical drugs and gene therapies — announced in December that it plans to invest $300 million to expand its current campus in College Station, Texas. The project is expected to create about 150 new jobs when it is completed in 2024.
VIRGINIA
Dominion seeks approval for a $10 billion wind farm off Virginia Beach
State regulators considering whether to approve Dominion Energy Virginia’s plans for a nearly $10 billion offshore wind farm should implement protections to shield customers from possible cost overruns and other project risks, ratepayer advocates testified in May.
No one is asking that the State Corporation Commission reject outright the planned 176-turbine project off the coast of Virginia Beach, which the company says will be the country’s largest. But attorneys representing the utility’s customers and environmental groups have sought to make the case that because of the project’s enormous costs, customer protections need to be put in place.
New CEO of Virginia Economic Development Partnership wants more investments in large industrial sites
Jason El Koubi, CEO of VEDP, said in the winter quarter that the Commonwealth needs shovel ready sites to land some of the large projects announced in the South the last six months of 2021. El Koubi was referring to the electric vehicle and battery plants announced in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. In an article in Virginia, El Koubi was quoted as saying, “The cost of not investing in site development has become very clear and very alarming.”
Biotech firm hiring in Northern Virginia
Manassas-based Virongy Biosciences is expanding its lab in Prince William County, Va. at the Northern Virginia Bioscience Center. The company plans to develop diagnostic technologies to monitor and quantify COVID-19 variants and other viral pathogens in the deal that will create 70 jobs.
Martinsville-Henry County, Va., is at it again
Germany-based Schock is setting up shop in Henry County, Va., one of the most successful rural locations in the South for economic development. The company manufactures all kinds of kitchen sinks. The $85 million deal will create 355 jobs.
Massimo Zanetti Beverage expanding in Virginia
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA (MZB-USA), one of the largest vertically integrated coffee companies in North America, will invest $29.1 million to consolidate and expand operations at its roasting facility in the City of Suffolk. Virginia successfully competed with New Jersey for the project, which will create 79 new jobs.
WEST VIRGINIA
Veloxint bringing hundreds of jobs to West Virginia
Veloxint, a manufacturer of nanocrystalline metal alloys, recently announced its move to Touchstone Research Laboratory, located in Triadelphia, W.Va. Veloxint is working on commercializing high-tech metal alloys for use in the chemical, solar and aerospace industries. Over the next four years, 200 to 300 jobs are estimated to be created as a result of the move.
May 2022
Manufacturer adding 100 jobs in Jennings, La.
A manufacturing company is opening a plant in Jennings to produce industrial components for petrochemical, maritime, energy and other industries. The company, Greenberry Industrial, is converting a former shipyard fabrication facility into a manufacturing plant that will create 100 new jobs.
Procter & Gamble creating 350 jobs with $205 million facility in Butts County, Ga.
Procter & Gamble Distributing is planning to invest $205 million in a new distribution facility in Jackson, Ga. This new location for the company will create 350 new jobs in Butts County.
Auto supplier Shinhwa investing $78 million in second Alabama facility
Shinhwa Auto USA Corp. is expanding its presence in Auburn by adding a second auto parts manufacturing facility as part of a $78 million growth project that will create 42 jobs over the next three years.
Nissan considers third U.S. plant to meet EV demand
Nissan is considering adding a new auto plant in the U.S. to keep up with growing demand for electric vehicles, according to a top executive at the Japanese automaker. Nissan now has two auto plants in the U.S. -- one in Canton, Miss., makes the Titan pickup truck and Altima sedan, among other models. The other in Smyrna, Tenn., makes the Leaf electric car, Pathfinder sport utility vehicle and other models. The third plant would not just be an added assembly line to an existing plant but a totally new facility, although it may be built as an extension of an existing plant.
French fiberglass maker hiring 400 in Georgia expansion
A French manufacturer says it will restart the fiberglass furnace at a Georgia plant it purchased in 2019, investing $28 million and hiring 400 new workers. Saint-Gobain said that its ADFORS unit would expand the plant it bought for $17.5 million in the Georgia town of Dublin. The plant currently has 47 full-time and 23 temporary employees.
Atlas Tube opens $150 million facility in Arkansas
Atlas Tube has opened its newest steel mill in Blytheville. It’s the second facility they have opened in Mississippi County’s largest city. The new facility will hire 75 workers to produce Jumbo Hollow Structural Sections. The $150 million project, announced in July 2019, is the largest private investment in the U.S. steel industry in the last decade.
Snack maker expands with 800 Georgia jobs
Meat snacks leader Jack Link’s is expanding to Georgia with a $450 million manufacturing facility. The project is expected to create 800 jobs in Houston County. Jack Link’s is a family-owned and operated business headquartered in Wisconsin.
Airbus confirms 1,000 new Alabama jobs
Airbus recently confirmed that it will raise a third aircraft assembly line in Mobile, Ala., over the next few years and hire 1,000 new employees to staff it.
Packaging company investing $27 million in North Carolina facility
Max Solutions, a specialty packaging manufacturer, is spending $27 million on a facility in Concord and creating 150 jobs.
Prisma Nashville expanding in Davidson County, Tenn.
Prisma Nashville announced that it will invest $12 million to expand operations in Davidson County. For more than 40 years, Prisma has managed the manufacturing and distribution of marketing materials for several national brands.
Fidelity plans to hire 1,700 in North Carolina
Fidelity Investments is expanding its North Carolina workforce and plans to hire as many as 1,700 in the state. . .that’s in addition to the nearly 2,000 employees the company added last year in the state, with the vast majority of those based at the its Research Triangle Park campus.
Republic Finance moving HQ to Plano, Texas
Consumer loan provider Republic Finance is moving its headquarters to Plano from Baton Rouge, La., where it’s been since 1952. About 250 employees will work at the Plano office, although Louisiana will remain the state with the most employees for Republic Finance, which has a total workforce of nearly 1,300.
Fiberon breaks ground in Columbia, Tenn.
Fiberon broke ground on its new 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Columbia recently. It will create more than 300 full-time jobs to manufacture PE decking and composite cladding.
Ruiz Foods will locate a regional HQ in Frisco, Texas
Ruiz Foods will establish a regional headquarters in Frisco. Founded in 1964, California-based Ruiz Foods is America’s largest frozen Mexican food manufacturer. This centrally located regional headquarters in North Texas will bring at least 125 jobs to the area.
White Claw plans 300 jobs for new plant in Columbia, S.C.
The maker of the popular alcoholic drink White Claw has opened a massive new facility in Columbia, where it will make that drink and several others. Mark Anthony Brewing’s new facility is 1.3 million square feet and cost more than $490 million. It’s expected to create 310 new jobs and represents one of the largest economic developments in Richland County history.
Entergy expanding contact center in North Louisiana
Entergy has selected West Monroe, La., as the location to expand its contact center operations. The company is adding around 170 new jobs.
Champion Home Builders will create 182 jobs in Scotland County, N.C.
Champion Home Builders, a provider of manufactured and modular homes, will expand its North Carolina operations to create 182 jobs in Scotland County. The company will invest $18.7 million into the acquisition and development of a manufacturing campus in Laurinburg.
Piping Manufacturer creating 168 new jobs in Nash County, N.C.
COSMOIND, a polyethylene piping manufacturer, will create 168 new jobs in Nash County. The company will invest more than $12.8 million to build its first North American manufacturing campus for industrial, natural gas, and drinking water pipes in Middlesex.
Cerrowire expands operations in Hartselle, Ala.
Cerrowire, a U.S. manufacturer of copper building wire, will build a 270,000-square-foot facility to produce metal clad cable in Morgan County, Ala. The $100 million project is expected to create 130 jobs.
Manufacturers expand operations in Palmyra, Mo.
Doyle Equipment Manufacturing and Riverview Manufacturing, worldwide leaders in manufacturing dry fertilizer handling equipment, will expand operations in Palmyra, Mo. The $1 million project is expected to create 30 jobs.
Systems Group creating 60 jobs with Arkansas expansion
The Systems Group will purchase 47 acres of land next to its current facility in El Dorado, Ark., to expand its main fabrication and machine shop. The expansion will allow the company to make more of its patented Spray-Cooled™ equipment, which is used to prevent Electric Arc Furnaces from melting while producing liquid steel. Systems also plans to hire 60 new employees there.
Pratt establishing $200 million regional campus in Texas
Pratt Industries will locate a Regional Manufacturing & Innovation Center in Cedar Hill, Texas. Pratt will occupy 1 million square feet and invest more than $200 million in equipment, inventory and building improvements. The Cedar Hill facility will employ 150 full-time workers to manufacture corrugated boxes and custom packaging solutions.
Columbiad Fabrication and Aviation expands Tennessee operations
Precision metal fabricator, Columbiad Fabrication and Aviation, will expand its manufacturing operations in Henry County, Tenn. The $4.8 million project is expected to create 144 jobs over the next five years.
Video game company adding 50 employees in Orlando
Iron Galaxy, a company that helps other video game makers adapt their products to different platforms, is planning an expansion in Orlando, Fla., with at least 50 more jobs on the way.
European plastics maker investing $47 million in Gaston County, N.C.
Premix Group, a plastics manufacturer, will invest $47 million to locate its first U.S. manufacturing facility in North Carolina. The project will also create 30 new jobs.
Lambert’s Point Docks in Norfolk, Va., becoming $100 million maritime center
In a deal predicted to bring more than 500 jobs and over $100 million in capital investment, the Lambert’s Point Docks property in Norfolk will become a maritime operations and logistics center to support offshore wind, defense and transportation industries. The land, owned by Norfolk Southern Railway Co., has been leased by Virginia Beach-based Fairwinds Landing for the next 30 years.
Veloxint bringing hundreds of jobs to West Virginia
Veloxint, a manufacturer of nanocrystalline metal alloys, recently announced its move to Touchstone Research Laboratory, located in Triadelphia, W.Va. Veloxint is working on commercializing high-tech metal alloys for use in the chemical, solar and aerospace industries. Over the next four years, 200 to 300 jobs are estimated to be created as a result of the move.
Tri-City Extrusion to expand in Bristol, Tenn.
Tri-City Extrusion recently announced it will invest $30.8 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Northeast Tennessee. TCE, which specializes in the production of precision aluminum extrusions, will create 51 new jobs and construct a new 120,500-square-foot facility at the Bristol Business Park.
Fidelity Investments bringing 900 new jobs Northern Kentucky
Nearly 900 new jobs are coming to Northern Kentucky through a nationwide growth initiative by Fidelity Investments. The Boston-based financial services firm is planning to add over 12,000 new jobs company-wide by the end of the year, including 874 in Northern Kentucky.
Focus Foods plans Baton Rouge production complex
Focus Foods, a meal solutions manufacturer, will undertake an expansion and relocation from its Celtic Studios base of operations to a larger site in Baton Rouge, La. The $1.7 million project is expected to create 100 jobs.
Red Stag Fulfillment to create 3,500 new jobs in Tennessee
Red Stag Fulfillment is building a new location in Sweetwater. The company operates fulfillment warehouses for storing and shipping packages. This project is a $300 million investment that’s supposed to bring over 3,500 jobs into the Sweetwater community.
More than 500 jobs filled at PPE facility near Lafayette, La.
One year ago, Ochsner Health partnered with Trax Development on a joint venture to create SafeSource Direct, the only U.S. provider-owned PPE manufacturer with U.S. provider-owned quality control. Today, SafeSource Direct has filled 550 new jobs and is increasing staffing in all areas to produce gloves, masks and other PPE.
Columbia Brands expanding distribution complex in Henderson County, Ky.
Columbia Brands USA, a manufacturer of apparel and footwear products, will expand its operations in Henderson County. The $3.7 million project is expected to create 175 jobs.
North America’s first Industrial scale eFuels facility to be built in Texas
Highly Innovative Fuels Global, a global eFuels company headquartered in Chile, announced it’s making a $6 billion capital investment to build the first industrial scale eFuels facility in North America. The facility will be built in Bay City in Matagorda County, just south of Houston. The project will create 3,000 jobs during the construction phase and more than 125 permanent operating jobs.
Novelis breaks ground in Todd County, Ky.
Novelis recently broke ground on the aluminum producer’s new recycling center in Guthrie. The new facility is a $365 million investment that will serve the automotive market and create 140 well-paying jobs for Kentuckians.
Novelis plans $2.5 billion facility in Alabama
The first fully integrated aluminum mill in the U.S. in the past 40 years will be constructed on the 3,000-acre South Alabama Mega Site north of Bay Minette in Baldwin County, Ala. Novelis, a leading sustainable aluminum solutions provider, will invest $2.5 billion into the new low-carbon recycling and rolling plant, and is expected to create approximately 1,000 jobs.
Summit Polymers will invest $37.5 million In Kentucky
Summit Polymers will build a $37.5 million manufacturing facility in Anderson County, Ky., creating 218 full-time jobs. The Michigan-based company designs and manufactures automotive interior components.
MoboTrex relocating to Texas
MoboTrex will invest $13 million to expand into a 130,000-square-foot facility in Pflugerville, Texas. The Iowa-based manufacturer of traffic control systems plans to employ 110 full-time workers at the facility within five years.
Nestlé Professional USA expands Missouri operations
Nestlé Professional will expand its facility in Trenton, Mo. The $7.5 million project is expected to create 30 jobs. The facility currently produces Chef-mate products for the out-of-home market.
Technimark expands in Randolph County, N.C.
Technimark, a manufacturing solutions provider for the healthcare and consumer packaging markets, will expand its healthcare production operations in Randolph County. The $62 million project is expected to create 220 jobs.
Tri-Cities Airport announces Aerospace Park’s first tenant
Aerospace Park at the Tri-Cities Airport in Blountville, Tenn., has approved a lease for Final Forge, a company that manufactures protective headgear for military, law enforcement, first responders and homeland security forces. Final Forge is moving all of its operations from Massachusetts and will construct two new buildings at the airport, dedicating 50,000 square feet to its operations which are set to be moved to Blountville later in 2022.
James Avery Artisan Jewelry bringing 200 jobs to Texas
Officials in Corpus Christi announced that a new manufacturing facility for James Avery Artisan Jewelry is scheduled for a July opening. The 41,000-square-foot plant is also hiring 200 positions.
Packaging manufacturer announces $80 million Arkansas expansion
Memphis-based Bryce Corp. will invest $80 million at its Searcy, Ark., location. The project is expected to add 142 new jobs to its current Searcy workforce of some 465 employees. Bryce produces packaging for food, pet care, household, and health and beauty products.
Vinyl record manufacturer invests $13 million in Tennessee HQ
A Czech Republic-based manufacturer that claims to be the top producer of vinyl records worldwide plans to establish a new production facility in Music City. Nashville Record Pressing will set up its new $13.3 million headquarters expected to house 255 new jobs over the next five years.
Pharmaceutical firm expanding in Georgia
Pharmaceutical firm Boehringer Ingelheim says it will invest $57 million and add 55 new jobs in Athens, Ga. The Germany-based company is expanding its Animal Health Global Innovation Center there.
Drone maker hiring 100 for South Florida facility
Percepto, an Israeli company that builds autonomous inspection drones, has leased 11,000 square feet in Riviera Beach, where it plans hire about 100 people.
W&W|AFCO Steel plans Little Rock plant
W&W|AFCO Steel will be locating a new steel fabrication facility in the former LM Wind Power building at the Port of Little Rock. The $18.7 million project is expected to create 115 jobs over the next five years. The facility will allow the company to expand production of steel used in bridges and commercial buildings. In Arkansas, W&W|AFCO Steel already has four other locations and employs more than 400.
Furniture maker bringing 100 new jobs to Calhoun City, Miss.
By the end of this year, the old Med Lift building in Calhoun City will be improved and Albany Industries will be moved in. The furniture manufacturer plans to hire 100 for the facility.
Avanade establishes Tampa engineering hub
Avanade, which provides tech solutions and cloud services to a host of Fortune 500 companies, announced plans to build its first U.S. engineering hub in Tampa. The company plans to hire 500 employees over the next three years.
Massive EV battery plant planned for Bowling Green, Ky.
Envision AESC, a Japanese electric vehicle battery technology company, unveiled plans in early April to invest $2 billion to open a new manufacturing facility in the Kentucky Transpark. The state-of-the-art gigafactory battery plant will employ 2,000 people to produce battery cells and modules to power electric vehicles.
Symrise Pet Food investing $65.5 million in Greenwood County, S.C.
Symrise Pet Food announced a $65.5 million investment in its North American headquarters located in Hodges, S.C. The company plans to build a new state-of-the-art facility, creating 65 new jobs.
Southern Pipe and Supply consolidating in Meridian, Miss.
Southern Pipe and Supply is expanding and consolidating its Meridian distribution operations into one location. The project represents a corporate investment of more than $25 million and will create 20 jobs while retaining 275. Southern Pipe and Supply provides top brands in plumbing, heating, air conditioning, industrial, mechanical and waterworks supplies.
Toyota expanding in the South
Toyota plans to invest $222 million at its manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Ala. The company will create a new production line for four-cylinder engines, including a hybrid electric version. The project is part of a $383 million company-wide plan that injects new investment into four U.S. manufacturing plants that support powertrain production for Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Kentucky (which will add 220 new jobs), Missouri and Tennessee are included, with the Alabama facility receiving the largest investment.
Great Southern Wood Preserving expands Louisiana operations
Great Southern Wood Preserving, the lumber processing company best known for its YellaWood brand pressure-treated pine, will expand operations at its facility in Mansura, Avoyelles Parish, La. The $22.5 million project is expected to create 58 jobs.
New rare-earth magnet facility coming to Fort Worth, Texas
Las Vegas-based MP Materials is building its new rare earth magnet factory in Fort Worth's Alliance corridor. The new facility will reshore 150 skilled jobs. According to James Litinsky, CEO of MP Materials, "Rare earth magnets are really what will power motion, electric vehicles, wind turbines, drones, robots, robot dogs, air taxis, whatever.”
Walmart’s new distribution center brings over 1,000 new jobs to South Carolina
Governor Henry McMaster and officials from Dorchester County, S.C., recently gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Walmart’s $220 million distribution center in Ridgeville, S.C. So far, Walmart has hired over 900 associates and they are looking to hire a total of 1,300 full-time employees. The Walmart distribution center is expected to increase the Port of Charleston’s volume by 5 percent, bringing them more jobs as well.
Legacy Metals adding 100 jobs in Hopkinsville, Ky.
Legacy Metals, a building materials supplier and manufacturer, will be expanding its Christian County operation with a 24,000-square-foot expansion that will create 100 jobs.
Tyson Foods announces $208 million Alabama facility
Tyson Foods will build a $208 million rendering plant in Hanceville to replace one destroyed last year. The 121,000-square-foot facility will be adjacent to its former River Valley Ingredients rendering plant, which suffered a total loss in a fire in July 2021. The new facility, located in Cullman County, is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. Tyson says it will retain the 124 employees who worked at the previous Hanceville plant throughout the two-year construction period.
Nucor building new $350 million micro mill in North Carolina
Nucor is expanding its operations with a new $350 million “micro-mill” in Lexington, N.C. The company expects the mill to create about 200 jobs and produce 430,000 tons of steel once it becomes operational in about two years.
Ecopol to establish North American HQ/manufacturing facility In Spalding County, Ga.
Ecopol, a European producer of biodegradable PVA film, will invest more than $38 million and create 130 new jobs at the company’s first North American facility in Spalding County. Italy-based Ecopol manufactures water-soluble and biodegradable film used to wrap everyday products such as detergents, agrochemicals, cosmetics and other consumer goods.
Leonardo DRS expands Missouri operations
Leonardo DRS, a provider of defense products and technologies, is expanding its manufacturing campus in West Plains, Mo. The project is expected to create 100 jobs.
Cim-Tek Filtration expands Missouri operations
Cim-Tek Filtration, a manufacturer of filtration products, will expand its facility in Kennett, Mo. The project is expected to create up to 77 new jobs.
TLC Associates adding 300 jobs in Americus, Ga.
An Iowa-based company is expanding its operations in Americus and adding hundreds of new jobs to the community. TLC Associates is a third-party call center that supports many top-leading brands.
Kingspan Insulation expands Virginia operations
Kingspan Insulation, a global leader in insulation and building solutions, will expand its operation in Frederick County, Va. The $27 million project is expected to create 37 new jobs.
Hyundai pours $300 million into Montgomery plant to build EVs
Hyundai plans to start production of its first Alabama-made electric vehicles this fall, part of a $300 million expansion that will create 200 more jobs. The company recently announced that its Santa Fe Hybrid would start rolling off the assembly line in Montgomery this October. It will be the first electric vehicle the company has made in America. The plant will start production of the Electrified Genesis GV70 luxury SUV in December.
Georgia wins new Hyundai plant
Hyundai is building facilities dedicated to manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries in Savannah, marking Hyundai’s first EV-only plant in the U.S. The South Korean automaker will spend $5.5 billion on the new facilities and will receive an additional $1 billion investment from its suppliers. Hyundai expects production at the 2,923-acre site to begin in the first half of 2025, with construction starting in early 2023. The EV factory is set to make 300,000 vehicles per year and will add around 8,100 new jobs.
Germany-based Klöckner Pentaplast expands West Virginia operations
Germany-based Klöckner Pentaplast, a manufacturer of sustainable packaging products, plans to expand its operations in Beaver, W.Va. The Raleigh County facility has been chosen to lead the way for the addition of post-consumer recycled content PET production in North America.
Auto supplier announces $8 million Tennessee plant
A Michigan manufacturer of automotive powertrain and drivetrain systems plans to establish a new facility in East Tennessee. ATC Drivetrain will invest more than $8 million in the new plant in Knoxville. Over the next five years, the company expects the project to create 218 new jobs.
Merck expands in Virginia
Merck announced an expansion of a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Elkton, Va., that includes the addition of 120,000 square feet of space and 150 jobs. The project is part of the company’s effort to increase supply of HPV vaccines.
Coal plant bringing 500 jobs to West Virginia
Frontieras North America will build a coal processing plant in Mason County, W.Va. The facility will employ about 500.
New aviation maintenance facility hiring 200 in Macon, Ga.
A new aviation maintenance facility was unveiled in Macon recently, and officials say about 200 new jobs are coming with it. County officials along with MHI RJ Aviation Group cut the ribbon on the company’s Service Center at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport.
New wood pellet plant opens in Demopolis, Ala.
Drax Group, the world’s leading producer and user of sustainable biomass, has opened a new pellet plant in Demopolis. About 120 people will be employed by the renewable energy company at its two pellet plants in Demopolis in Marengo County, and Aliceville in Pickens County.
Austal opens $100 million steel shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Ala.
Austal USA marked the beginning of a new era at its Mobile shipyard with the opening of a state-of-the-art facility for the production of steel ships for the U.S. Navy and other customers. The addition of steel shipbuilding capability complements the company’s aluminium shipbuilding expertise at its Alabama manufacturing site.
Amazon’s St. Tammany Parish distribution center nears completion
A massive Amazon distribution center is taking shape in a once-wooded section of east Slidell, La. One of the largest warehouses ever constructed in St. Tammany Parish is nearing completion and promises to bring hundreds of jobs to the parish.
Carbon capture project creating jobs in Louisiana
Cleco will invest $900 million to build a carbon capture facility at its central Louisiana energy center that will create over a thousand construction jobs and 30 to 40 permanent jobs while significantly reducing carbon emissions. Company leaders and elected officials announced the project, known as Project Diamond Vault, at Cleco’s Brame Energy Center north of Alexandria.
Ice Industries hiring 120 at Grenada facility
Ice Industries, headquartered in Ohio, will be investing more than $4 million into its Grenada, Miss., facility to add new paint capabilities. The Grenada facility primarily serves the automotive, HVACR, appliance and off-highway markets as a one-stop stamping, welding and painting center.
New biomass plant injecting $250 million into Mississippi economy
Enviva is planning to open a manufacturing plant in Stone County that will create 100 jobs as part of the company’s $250 million investment. The plant will be in Bond and is the company’s fourth in the region.
Sports medicine company expanding in Norfolk, Va.
Embody, a Norfolk-based medical device company, will invest $5 million to expand its headquarters at Innovation Research Park at Old Dominion University in the City of Norfolk. The expansion project will create 92 new jobs.
Fortune 500 company moving 1,000 jobs from Buckhead to The Battery
Truist Securities, the combined entity of the former SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and BB&T Capital Markets divisions, is moving its longtime headquarters in Buckhead’s Atlanta Financial Center to a new tower immediately behind Truist Park. The securities division will bring 1,000 jobs to Cobb County when the building opens in 2024. Some of those jobs are relocating from the Atlanta Financial Center, and it is unclear whether new jobs will also be added.
Nuclear fuel company announces plans for Oak Ridge, Tenn.
A nuclear fuel company is coming to Oak Ridge and plans to employ at least 400 people. TRISO-X LLC has selected the Horizon Center Industrial Park in Oak Ridge as the site for its operations. It will be the United States’ first commercial advanced High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) based nuclear reactor fuel fabrication facility of its kind.
Raytheon plans $200 million expansion in McKinney, Texas
Raytheon is growing its already substantial presence in McKinney. Last September, Raytheon Technologies opened a 178,000-square-foot intelligent manufacturing facility at its McKinney campus. At the time, the company promised to build an even larger second plant and lab by 2025. Now Raytheon has filed plans with the state for a $216 million expansion of the campus, which is expected to generate 700 jobs.
Battery manufacturer building plant in West Virginia
Battery manufacturer Sparkz has announced that it will begin construction in 2022 of a gigafactory in West Virginia, which will initially employ 350 workers, to commercialize its zero-cobalt battery.
F&E Aviation Maintenance adding 250 jobs at CVG
F&E Aircraft Maintenance, a provider of aircraft maintenance and engineering services, will locate a new three-bay hangar at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, creating nearly 250 full-time positions, with a $40.2 million investment.
Baxter International establishes Mississippi distribution hub
Global medtech company Baxter International will locate its new U.S. distribution operation hub in Byhalia, Miss. The $11.6 million project is expected to create 105 jobs in Marshall County.
Goldman Sachs doubles DFW hub
In less than a year, Goldman Sachs has grown its North Texas presence from more than 2,000 employees to nearly 4,000. Dallas is now Goldman’s second-biggest U.S. office outside of New York, surpassing Salt Lake City.
Meta chooses Kansas City for $800 million data center
Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, has selected the Kansas City region for a new $800 million hyperscale data center. The nearly 1 million-square-foot facility will be located in the Golden Plains Technology Park, a 5.5 million-square-foot data center campus in Kansas City, Mo.
EV supplier building $325 million plant near Statesboro, Ga.
Aspen Aerogels is building a $325 million manufacturing plant in Bulloch County that will produce special materials to prevent potentially disastrous fires in electric vehicles. The company will invest a minimum of $325 million to build a factory south of Statesboro for production of aerogel thermal insulating material used in electric vehicle batteries. Company officials expect the plant to create more than 250 advanced manufacturing jobs.
Macy’s to build 2,800-job distribution center in Rowan County, N.C.
Macy’s has announced plans to build a distribution and online order fulfillment center in central North Carolina that ultimately will employ about 2,800 people. The retail giant said it will invest $584 million in the project in China Grove, 35 miles northeast of Charlotte.
Southern Research breaks ground on $84 million biotech center in Birmingham, Ala.
Southern Research broke ground recently on an $84 million biotech center in Birmingham on the former site of an abandoned apartment building. The new facility is expected to create about 150 new jobs. The center will be a hub of scientific research for Southern Research scientists and UAB scientists to work on treatments for cancer, COVID-19 and other diseases.
Virongy to create 70 new jobs at Northern Virginia Bioscience Center
A bioscience company is expanding in Prince William County by investing nearly half a million dollars and creating up to 70 new jobs at the new Northern Virginia Bioscience Center in Manassas. The company, Virongy Biosciences, develops viral diagnostic technologies, anti-viral drugs and therapeutic viral vectors.
Volkswagen Chattanooga’s EV push to fill 1,000 new jobs
Volkswagen is holding a job fair aimed at hiring 1,000 production workers for its assembly plant in Tennessee.
New facility bringing 200 jobs to Concord, N.C.
Tavia Jackson and her husband Derrick are serving it up at Tastebuds Popcorn in Concord. The City of Concord announced in May that a $27 million facility is set to open and will bring in around 200 high-paying jobs.
Monmouth Rubber & Plastics establishing operations in Barnwell County, S.C.
A family-owned rubber and plastic foam company announced plans to establish operations in Barnwell County. The company’s $5.6 million investment will create 65 new jobs. Founded in 1964, Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp. produces sponge rubber and plastic foam.
MANA Nutrition establishes Georgia facility
MANA Nutrition, a nonprofit that produces ready-to-use therapeutic food to fight global malnutrition, will expand its facility in Ben Hill County, Ga. The $36 million project is expected to create 10 jobs.
Atlantic Building Components & Services plans North Carolina manufacturing complex
Atlantic Building Components & Services, a manufacturer of wood trusses and building components for the construction industry, will locate a new manufacturing facility in Fairmont, N.C. The $6 million project is expected to create 105 jobs in Robeson County.
Utz Brands to add North Carolina manufacturing facility and 115 jobs
Utz Brands, a manufacturer of branded salty snacks, has purchased a recently completed snack food manufacturing facility in Kings Mountain, N.C., from Benestar Brands. The 125,000-square-foot facility can be expanded to 200,000 square feet and is expected to add over 115 local jobs.
East Jordan Plastics establishes Georgia operations
East Jordan Plastics, a Michigan manufacturer of plastic plant containers, will establish a new facility in Lyons, Ga. The $44 million project is expected to create 80 jobs in Toombs County.
Arlee Home Fashions opening second facility and adding 80 new jobs
Arlee Home Fashions, a manufacturer of decorative home fashions and pet products, announced that it will expand in West Plains, Mo., investing up to $300,000 and creating up to 80 new jobs.
Warrior Met Coal relaunches Blue Creek Project in Alabama
Work will resume at Warrior Met Coal’s Blue Creek reserves after more than a year-long delay. The company plans to develop its Blue Creek reserves into a “world-class” longwall mine after work was halted on the site following a 2020 announcement due to the pandemic, market conditions, labor issues and the company’s financial positioning. Warrior Met Coal plans to invest $650 million to $700 million in the site over the next five years, which it expects will ultimately increase its annual production capacity 60 percent.
Wayne Farms adding jobs in Decatur, Ala.
Poultry processor Wayne Farms will add at least 80 employees in Decatur after completing a major upgrade and expansion at its prepared foods facility. The company already employs over 1,000 workers there.
Cash app to bring 100-plus jobs to Atlanta
A payments processing giant will soon add over 100 jobs to Atlanta. Mobile money transfer and payment service Cash App has leased 30,000 square feet at The Mill, which could support roughly 150 employees.
Paschall Truck Lines constructs Kentucky HQ
Paschall Truck Lines is constructing a new headquarters office in Calloway County, Ky. The $8.2 million project is expected to create up to 150 jobs.
Sarasota airport getting $72 million expansion
A major expansion project will happen at the southern portion of the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. The $72 million project will help with handling the tremendous growth the Florida airport continues to experience.
Avelo Airlines expanding at Orlando International Airport
Houston-based Avelo Airlines announced plans to install a new “base” in the Orlando airport where planes stay overnight for the following day’s flights. In addition, the new base of operations will translate into 150 total new jobs from Avelo and its supporting businesses.
VinFast picks North Carolina for $2 billion EV assembly plant
VinFast has selected North Carolina for its first North American automotive assembly and battery manufacturing plant. The Hanoi, Vietnam-based auto manufacturer will create 7,500 jobs and invest up to $2 billion in phase 1 of its project at the Triangle Innovation Point megasite in Chatham County. It will be North Carolina’s first car manufacturing plant.
Distribution project bringing 190 jobs to South Carolina
Sagebrook Home will create 117 new jobs with a $80 million investment in Berkeley County, S.C. Located in Summerville, Sagebrook Home’s new 500,000-square-foot facility will serve as a state-of-the-art distribution center for the company’s home décor and wholesale operations.
South’s oldest maker of pontoon boats expands in Little Rock
Waco Manufacturing aims to expand its family business as the South’s oldest maker of pontoon boats. The company moved in March into a much larger assembly plant in Little Rock, Ark., and expects its staff of 80 will grow to as many as 150 over the next year or two. They also have plans to open a second manufacturing facility in Florida this fall.
Vanguard Furniture expands North Carolina operations
Vanguard Furniture Company plans to add 100 new jobs in Burke County, N.C. The company will invest more than $5.9 million for an expansion of its upholstery manufacturing operations to Morganton.
Edenton, N.C., awarded grants to create 136 new jobs
The town of Edenton has been awarded two state grants totaling $700,000 that officials say will create 136 new jobs and attract $1.5 million in new investment. The largest grant will support the reuse of a now vacant building that will be occupied by Hermes Marine, which manufactures advanced technology sports boats.
Google to invest $300 million in Virginia
Google announced it will be investing more than $300 million in Virginia in 2022. Google has more than 480 full-time workers in Virginia, and the company said it’d be investing in more data centers in Northern Virginia. The money is part of $9.5 billion the company is spending nationwide on offices and data centers this year. They said they’ll be creating at least 12,000 new full-time jobs nationwide; they didn’t provide any Virginia-specific jobs numbers.
Company expanding in Saluda County, S.C., with 73 new jobs
Palmetto Gourmet Foods is investing an additional $11.6 million into its operations in Saluda County. The company already employs about 200 people and looks to add 73 more with its latest investment.
Kelley Engineering establishes Pelzer, S.C., operations
Kelley Engineering, a designer and manufacturer of custom automation equipment, will establish operations in Pelzer. The $6 million project is expected to create 80 new jobs in Anderson County.
March 2022
Amazon- and Ford-backed electric vehicle maker Rivian gets a break in Georgia
In the fall of 2021, electric vehicle startup Rivian announced one of the South's largest-ever economic development deals. The company announced it would build a $5 billion, 7,500-employee facility to make batteries and electric vehicles for U.S. and global consumption. The company is well financed, with major stockholders coming from Amazon and Ford Motor Company, among other major players. But like many mega-projects located near large MSAs (the deal is being built on a site just east of Atlanta in an area bordered by Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton counties), there is some local opposition. However, the state of Georgia has taken over the project and its site in Stanton Springs. Commissioner Pat Wilson of the Georgia Department of Economic Development said in the winter quarter, by taking the steps to acquire the property, "streamline the entire project process, giving community members a strong voice throughout." The state's ownership of the 2,000-acre Rivian site will erase the need for local governments to conduct public hearings on zoning and other controversial developments. Construction on the battery and electric vehicle plants is expected to start this summer and production to begin in 2024.
Ford picks construction company for Blue Oval City project in West Tennessee
Detroit-based construction company Walbridge will be the general contractor for Ford Motor Company's Blue Oval City, a $5.6 billion battery and electric vehicle assembly facility being built in Haywood County, Tenn., between Memphis and Jackson. The campus will be constructed on a nearly six-square-mile site to build Ford’s next-generation all-electric F-series pickups and SK Innovation’s advanced batteries. Ford and battery maker SK Innovation announced the project in September. A joint venture called BlueOvalSK will also construct twin battery plants in Glendale, Ky., in an estimated $5.8 billion investment. The two projects in Tennessee and Kentucky are expected to create an estimated 10,800 jobs and shift the automaker’s future manufacturing footprint to the South.
Another new semiconductor plant expansion under consideration in the South
Germany-based Infineon Technologies is considering putting $700 million into its chip fab plant in Southeast Austin. The company, if the deal is approved, will invest $625 million in new machinery and adding space at the plant. Several large semiconductor plants have been announced in the South as manufacturers struggle to find enough computer chips for automobiles, smart phones and other products. The chip shortage in the automotive industry is expected to cost $210 billion in revenue and has increased car prices by more than 10 percent in the last year. . .over 7 million vehicle units will not be built this year.
Atlanta's airport passenger traffic coming back
The world's busiest airport is coming back from collapse in the COVID-stricken year of 2020, when just 42 million passengers flew in and out. In calendar year 2021, the airport hosted 75 million passengers. That is still a far cry from the record 110 million passengers that used the airport in 2019. Delta remains the largest carrier by a long shot in Atlanta with an 80 percent market share. It has been 10 years now since Dallas-based Southwest began serving Atlanta, and its market share is below 10 percent.
Goldman Sachs: U.S. facing worst labor shortage since World War II
Economists with Goldman Sachs stated in the winter quarter that the U.S. economy is facing the worst labor shortage in close to a century, or since World War II. The company estimated that there is a shortage of 4.6 million workers in the U.S. This has sent wages rising as much as five percent this year, while consumer prices surged over seven percent in January. There are over 10 million available jobs in the country as of February. Pre-pandemic available jobs were below 8 million.
Nissan Mississippi joins the electric vehicle parade
There are no less than 22 major automotive assembly plants undergoing some kind of large expansion in an effort to build electric vehicles. Some of those single investments total more $5 billion. Add Nissan's Canton, Miss., plant to the mix. The Japanese automaker is investing $500 million to construct a new electric vehicle line with production beginning in 2025. Nissan is investing $18 billion worldwide to electrify its vehicle line.
New mail truck plant to stay -- for now -- in South Carolina
Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Defense is sticking with its decision to build a plant in Spartanburg County, S.C., to produce U.S.P.S. mail trucks despite efforts by Wisconsin officials and union leaders to keep the company’s new investment in their state. Company officials said in the winter quarter that the project was too far into development stage to change sites and that there were no facilities available in Wisconsin large enough to house the 1,000 workers expected to be hired.
U.S. is energy independent
Remember the early 1970s and gas lines for miles? For decades, U.S. politicians have stressed that achieving energy independence was one of the most important goals for the nation's economy. For the first time, the U.S. produced more petroleum than it consumed in 2020, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Been to downtown lately; that's the problem right there
COVID-19 has emptied many of America's downtowns. With offices gone all-remote, estimates say that post-COVID will see as much as one-quarter of its pre-COVID workforce disappear from downtowns. That would leave some parts of cities, especially large ones, with big patches of closed businesses. . .from barbers, to clothiers, to restaurants. Yes, downtowns are in trouble. Office buildings anchor just about every economic aspect of central business districts, especially large transit systems. Less people working in those buildings means less taxes, less customers and unused major investments.
Toyota begins grading North Carolina megasite
Japanese automaker Toyota has begun to prep the Greensboro Randolph County Megasite where it is building a major electric vehicle battery plant. The plant is expected to house 1,700 workers with an annual payroll of over $100 million and will begin production in 2025. Toyota also announced in the winter quarter that it is investing $73 million in a new facility at its Buffalo, W.Va., plant that will produce electric vehicle components.
South Carolina exports near $30 billion in 2021
The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the SC Ports Authority announced in the winter that the Palmetto State's exports totaled $29.7 billion last year. South Carolina is the nation's largest exporter of tires and fully assembled automobiles.
TVA launches new nuclear program
Tennessee-based TVA, the nation's largest public utility, is launching a program to develop small modular nuclear reactors as part of its strategy to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company will spend $200 million in the program's first phase.
Largest private project in Arkansas history breaks ground
In the winter quarter, U.S. Steel broke ground on a new $3 billion steel mill in Osceola, Ark., that will bring thousands of jobs to Northeast Arkansas. The steel mill will be the most advanced in the world and is expected to produce automotive parts such as hoods and roofs that are not available with current steel making technology.
Nucor is the latest steel plant to call the South home
Charlotte-based Nucor is bringing a new steel plant to West Virginia, but as of this writing no site in the state has been chosen. Once operational in 2024, the mill will have the capacity to produce up to 3 million tons of sheet steel per year for the automotive, appliance, HVAC, heavy equipment, agricultural, transportation and construction markets, according to the steel and steel products manufacturer. The new plant will feature an advanced high-end automotive line.
Wow! Big job gains in the airline industry last month of 2021
The U.S. airline industry, including both passenger and cargo airlines, added over 728,000 workers in December 2021. That is nearly as many jobs as were created pre-COVID December 2019, when 749,000 jobs were created. In December, U.S. cargo airlines employed 283,000 workers and passenger airlines employed 445,000.
Nissan investing $500 million in Mississippi expansion
Nissan will build two all-new, all-electric vehicles at its Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Mississippi. The automaker will invest $500 million in its Canton facility to support the expansion, which will bring the company’s total investment in Mississippi since 2003 to $4 billion.
Carvana adding 3,500 employees in Atlanta
Fueled by high demand for used vehicles, Carvana said it plans to hire as many as 3,500 new employees in Georgia over the next few years as the online retailer expands its campus in Dunwoody. The fast-growing firm recently subleased a 21-story building at the suburban State Farm complex, which was the city’s biggest lease of 2021.
Messer building $50 million gas plant in McGregor, Texas
Germany-based Messer will build a $50 million air separation unit on 85 acres in McGregor’s industrial park powered by its own solar farm, the first such facility in the United States, according to the company. Messer produces gases used in industries including aerospace, health care, electronics, food and more.
Swedish manufacturer chooses South Carolina
A Swedish manufacturer plans to open an $18 million facility and hire 90 people in Clinton, S.C. Blue Diamond Industries makes polyethylene conduits for fiber optic and power cables.
New York company relocating to West Tennessee
Wall Innovations will relocate its manufacturing and distribution from Long Island City, N.Y., to Bolivar, Tenn. The company, which will specialize in architectural aluminum systems, will invest $6.4 million and create 72 new jobs in Hardeman County.
Louisiana will spend $75 million on EV charging stations
Louisiana is set to receive $75 million in federal funding over the next five years to install a network of electric vehicle charging stations along the state’s highways. The funding is part of a $5 billion program included in the infrastructure law approved by Congress that is expected to result in $14.1 million allocated to Louisiana for this fiscal year.
Georgia-Pacific investing $20 million in South Carolina plant expansion
Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific, one of the world’s largest wood pulp and paper manufacturers, is spending $20 million to expand its operations in Alcolu, a tiny mill town in northern Clarendon County. Most of the money will go toward the addition of a third line to produce oriented strand board, wood panels similar to particle board.
Tech manufacturer could bring up to 2,000 jobs to Georgetown, Texas
California-based tech company CelLink has plans to put a 300,000-square-foot facility in Georgetown, Texas. The new $130 million factory will supply electric vehicle manufacturers with intelligent wiring systems.
Electric truck manufacturer to locate in Osceola, Ark., bringing 800 jobs
Envirotech Vehicles will locate a multimillion-dollar commercial electric vehicle plant in Osceola, with plans to hire up to 800 workers over the next 10 years. The 90-acre, 580,000-square-foot manufacturing facility will be located in a vacant Fruit of the Loom factory in Mississippi County in northeast Arkansas.
Chick-fil-A plans distribution hub in Antioch, Tenn.
Chick-fil-A Supply will expand operations and launch its fourth U.S. distribution center in Antioch. The $16.3 million project is expected to create 45 new jobs over the next five years.
AutoZone’s new distribution center in New Kent County, Va., creating 352 jobs
AutoZone, the nation’s leading auto parts retailer, will invest $185.2 million to establish a new warehouse and distribution center in New Kent County. The 800,000-square-foot facility will serve as the company’s East Coast distribution operation, creating 352 new jobs.
Circular SynTech to expand in New Madrid, Mo
Circular SynTech (CST) is expanding to New Madrid, investing up to $91.4 million and expecting to create 45 new jobs. CST’s one-of-a-kind facility on a 200-acre campus will convert municipal solid waste and construction and demolition debris into valuable renewable chemicals.
Volvo global HQ for financial services coming to Greensboro, N.C.
Volvo will move its global headquarters for financial services to Greensboro, the company announced during a news conference and groundbreaking ceremony in February. Volvo executives said 360 colleagues will relocate to this new facility. The company is investing $41 million in the Triad to make this happen.
Office expansion in Hoover, Ala., to create 400 new jobs
Two real estate companies announced an expanded corporate presence in Hoover, adding 400 jobs over the next five years. Lake Homes Realty and sister company RealSource Title Insurance and Real Estate Closing will move into a new corporate headquarters in Shelby County next year. The office will get a $1 million remodel of its fourth and fifth floors as part of the project.
Envision grows Dallas footprint adding 200 jobs for the visually impaired
Envision’s purchase of a new campus in the Dallas area is another indicator of the demand for jobs for those who are blind or visually impaired, said David Stupay, managing director of Envision Dallas. Envision already employs about 200 people to support its manufacturing, warehousing and call center operations in North Texas and plans to hire another 200 over the next two years.
Nordfab expands North Carolina manufacturing complex
Nordfab, a manufacturer of ductwork used in environmental filtration systems, will invest $5.5 million at its production facility in Thomasville. The company plans to hire an additional 25 employees.
Global shipping company expanding in Charleston County, S.C., adding 135 jobs
MSC USA, a division of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, announced a $13.7 million dollar investment that will add 135 new jobs in its cargo shipping division in Charleston County.
DeLorean Motor Co. plans new San Antonio HQ and 450 jobs
DeLorean Motor Co. is planning a comeback that will include electric vehicle production and a global headquarters in San Antonio. The company was previously based in Humble, just outside of Houston. The deal, contingent on final approval of various incentive packages, would bring approximately 450 new jobs to the Alamo City.
Schneider Electric investing $100 million in El Paso, Texas
Schneider Electric will be building a huge new manufacturing plant in northwest El Paso that will house 400 jobs. The company says the $100 million investment in the El Paso area will help relieve the supply chain issues of the products they manufacture.
Australia-based Syrah expands Louisiana graphite processing facility
Syrah Resources is investing $176 million to expand its Syrah Technologies graphite processing facility in Vidalia, La. The project is expected to create 36 new jobs to process graphite into material used in lithium-ion batteries for the electric vehicle industry. The expansion comes on the heels of a December 2021 agreement with Tesla to supply graphite AAM for use in batteries.
ExxonMobil to finish $500 million Baton Rouge plant expansion in 2022
ExxonMobil’s $500 million expansion of its polyolefins plant in Baton Rouge, La., is expected to finish at the end of this year, according to company officials. The expansion will boost production of polypropylene, which is used to make lightweight plastic for car parts, as well as appliances, recyclable food packaging and other products. Construction on the project paused in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down vehicle demand. Work restarted later in 2021 as demand for polypropylene ramped up again.
SoPoly expands Georgia manufacturing operations
Recycled furniture manufacturer SoPoly plans to invest $5 million in its operations in Eastman, Ga. The project is expected to create 200 jobs in Dodge County. After opening there in January 2021, the company currently employs 30 at its 70,000-square-foot facility.
MGP Ingredients announces $12 million expansion in Williamstown, Ky.
MGP Ingredients, a provider of distilled spirits, has begun a $12 million barrel warehouse expansion to meet growing consumer demand for its American whiskey. The company is constructing a new barrel warehouse facility in Williamstown.
EV supplier coming to Bulloch County, Ga.
Aspen Aerogels is opening a manufacturing plant in Bulloch County, Ga., that could add more than 250 jobs and $300 million in investment. The plant will make thermal barriers that will insulate batteries on electric cars.
Pharmaceutical company adding 400 jobs near Charlotte, N.C.
Over-the-counter pharmaceutical company BestCo is investing another $177 million in expanding its Mooresville facilities and adding nearly 400 jobs. BestCo, based in Mooresville, develops and manufactures over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and dietary supplements.
Omnis Building Technologies plans West Virginia manufacturing plant
Housing material manufacturer Omnis Building Technologies will construct a $40 million, 150,000-square-foot facility in Bluefield, W.Va. The project is expected to create 150 to 300 jobs. The company plans to be operational by the end of 2022.
Biorefinery bringing $1.7 billion investment to Newton County, Texas
A $1.7 billion biorefinery reported to be bringing 142 jobs to Newton County was announced in February. USA BioEnergy, through its subsidiary Texas Renewable Funds, will be building the advanced bioenergy refinery in Bon Wier.
Crypto mining headed for Oklahoma
New York-based private equity firm YZY Capital Holdings plans to invest $100 million to develop two data centers in Muskogee County. One crypto mining operation will be built on a 15-acre tract near the city of Oktaha, and the second will be built on 126 acres in Muskogee City.
Manufacturer expanding in Cherokee County, S.C.
Bericap, a plastic closure manufacturer, announced plans to expand operations in Cherokee County with a $19.7 million investment. Located in Cowpens, Bericap supplies closures to the water, dairy, carbonated soft drinks and sport beverages markets.
Lowe’s plans distribution hub in Roanoke County, Va.
Lowe’s will invest $11 million to locate a warehouse and distribution center at Valley TechPark in Roanoke County. The project is expected to create 70 new jobs.
Toyota adds hybrid product in Tennessee
Toyota has announced plans to increase the workload at its facility in Jackson, Tenn., known as Toyota Tennessee, by investing $17 million to give the plant the technology to begin casting hybrid transaxle cases and housings.
Mattress company creating 55 jobs in Cherokee County, S.C.
A mattress company is coming to Cherokee County and creating 55 new jobs with a $13 million investment. Somnus Mattress International is a manufacturer of hybrid, memory foam mattresses.
Mt. Olive Pickles expanding into Goldsboro, N.C.
Mt. Olive Pickles is expanding for the first time outside of its hometown, with new manufacturing and distribution operations in Goldsboro, N.C. The company, which was founded in 1926 in Mount Olive, will create 167 jobs with the expansion.
U.S. Steel breaks ground in Osceola, Ark.
United States Steel broke ground in February on its advanced steel mill in Osceola. The $3 billion project is expected to create at least 900 full-time direct and indirect jobs. The steelmaking facility will be the most advanced in North America and largest private project in the history of Arkansas.
Ford E-Transit shipments begin from KC plant
In February, Ford began shipping its E-Transit van -- its second fully electric vehicle EV -- from its Kansas City-area assembly plant, which is the first such facility to build both batteries and vehicles themselves in-house. The Claycomo, Mo., plant gained a $100 million investment from Ford and created 150 new jobs to help make the electric version of the popular cargo van, which has more than 10,000 orders.
Ryder plans 250 Atlanta jobs
Growing logistics company Ryder System will invest $44 million in a new third-party distribution center in Locust Grove, Ga., that is expected to create more than 250 jobs.
Alliance Compressors announces $45 million expansion in Louisiana
Alliance Compressors is investing $45 million over the next two years to expand its compressor assembly facility in Natchitoches. The company is also creating 78 new jobs.
Paint giant bringing $324 million investment to North Carolina
Sherwin-Williams is bringing more than 180 new jobs by expanding operations in Statesville, citing “demand,” and plans to invest some $324 million in new and expanded facilities.
Tissue maker expanding in Henrico County, Va.
American Paper Converting, a maker of bathroom tissue, facial tissue and paper towel products, is spending $17 million to expand its East Coast operations, including a relocation and expansion in Henrico. The Woodland, Wash.-based company is hiring 69 in the deal.
Nucor announces largest investment in West Virginia history
Charlotte, N.C.-based Nucor will make its single largest investment in company history with the location of a $2.7 billion state-of-the-art sheet steel mill in Mason County, W.Va. The project also represents the largest capital investment in West Virginia history. Additional sites in northern West Virginia are also under consideration for a transload and processing facility to better serve customers in the upper Midwest and Northeast regions.
Nucor to open $350 million “micro mill” in the Southeast
Nucor announced it will build a rebar micro mill in the South Atlantic region, but hasn’t name a specific location or how many jobs the project is expected to create. Estimated cost of the mill is $350 million.
Ecommerce company building new HQ in Florida
Athletic wear online retail company NVGTN (pronounced “navigation”) plans to invest $15 million in a 100,000-square-foot facility in Pasco County, Fla. The company’s new headquarters will house its customer service and fulfillment operations, with at least 30 new full-time positions.
Hundreds of jobs coming to Lebanon, Tenn., at EV plant
Tritium, a leader in the electric vehicle charging industry, is expecting to double existing operations in Australia, Europe, Asia and the U.S. by creating 500 new jobs over the next five years. Tritium’s Tennessee site will serve as the company’s sole U.S. facility for manufacturing modular direct current (DC) fast chargers.
IT company plans new office in Richmond, Va.
A Northern Virginia-based information technology company is planning to open a new office in Richmond that is expected to create 125 jobs. Fairfax County-based Intact Technology, a software consulting and managed services firm, will invest $1.5 million to establish a second Virginia location in the city of Richmond.
Construction on Tellurian’s $30 billion Driftwood LNG plant in Louisiana set for April
Construction on the $30 billion Driftwood LNG liquefied natural gas production plant in Calcasieu Parish should begin in April, even though financing for the project hasn’t quite been solidified. According to Charif Souki, executive chairman of Houston-based Tellurian, “We have enough capital, or access to enough capital, to make sure that we can do the first year worth of construction.”
February 2022
State revenues booming
The Urban Institute think tank reported in the winter that state revenues between April and November increased 24 percent from 2020 to 2021. According to the National Association of State Budget Officers, 32 states said collections for fiscal 2022 were ahead of projections. As a result, states are proposing tax rebates and pay increases for public employees.
Dallas-Fort Worth led the nation in investment property deals
Dallas-Fort Worth led all markets in U.S. real estate transactions in calendar year 2021. Transactions totaled $47 billion last year, more than doubling the 2020 totals. Only New York City has ever topped the $47 billion in sales in North Texas.
Kentucky bourbon industry continues to soar
According to officials, the Kentucky bourbon industry poured $9 billion into the Commonwealth's economy in 2021. The industry supports almost 23,000 jobs and $1.23 billion in annual payroll. Currently, the bourbon industry in Kentucky is undergoing a $5.2 billion capital investment binge and contributes $285 million in state and local tax revenue.
Military and defense industry huge in Florida
According to the recently published 2022 Florida Defense Industry Economic Impact Analysis by the Florida Defense Support Task Force (FDSTF), defense spending in Florida was nearly $100 billion in the state in 2021. The total is mind boggling as it contributes 8.5 percent of Florida's entire economy.
Tesla to delay Cybertruck production in Austin
Austin-based Tesla will delay assembly of its electric Cybertruck vehicle at its new plant near the Austin–Bergstrom International Airport. A change in the vehicle's features is the reason for the delay in the yet-to-open plant.
Pandemic drives new business growth
New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in the winter quarter showed that new business applications filed in calendar year 2021 set a new record. According to Census, 5.4 million new businesses were launched, surpassing the previous record of 4.4 million started in 2020.
South Carolina Ports, Port of Virginia: Record volumes in 2021
South Carolina Ports had its best calendar year in history in 2021 with an unprecedented amount of cargo. SC Ports handled 2.75 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in 2021. That was nearly a 20 percent increase from 2020. The Port of Virginia in Norfolk handled more than 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units in 2021, a 25.2 percent increase from 2020.
New Alabama rail corridor to help fix supply chain
The new "Alabama-USA" rail corridor, a $231 million program of rail projects, will help solve some of the nation's supply chain issues. The Port of Mobile is one of the fastest growing container ports, and the new container development in Montgomery will open up many opportunities for companies like Mazda Toyota, Hyundai and the AM/NS steel mill north of Mobile. The first phase of the "Alabama-USA" rail corridor, costing $71.6 million, will focus on the rail connection to the McCalla Intramodal Facility near Birmingham.
D-FW tops all in industrial space construction
A new report from Cushman & Wakefield showed that the Dallas-Fort Worth area has left everyone else in the dust in new industrial building construction. In 2021, more than 50 million square feet of new warehouse, distribution and logistics buildings were under construction in North Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth market is seeing unrivaled low vacancy and incredibly high demand for industrial space, and demand is outpacing supply.
U.S. creates a record 6.4 million jobs
In calendar year 2021, the U.S. created 6.4 million new jobs -- or 537,000 new jobs per month -- as the nation continued to recover from the job losses in 2020 from the pandemic. The other years making up No. 2 and No. 3 in U.S. job growth were in 2014 (3 million new jobs) and 2015 (2.7 million new jobs).
Clarksville, Tenn., ranked
Clarksville, Tenn., located northwest of Nashville, was ranked in the winter by San Francisco-based real estate company Opendoor.com as the most "desirable zip code in America." Tiny Clarksville beat out Austin, Atlanta, Orlando and Nashville among others. The ranking was based on location, living costs and amenities.
Experts: China's GDP to overtake U.S. by 2030
Officials with the British consultancy Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) published their predictions for the coming decade on U.S. vs. China GDP. For decades, economists have predicted that the Chinese economy would have passed the U.S. economy, but that has not been the case so far. However, new data shows that the Chinese economy, based on gross domestic product, will surpass the U.S. by 2030.
Largest incentive package in Texas history agreed upon
The incentive package agreed upon between the state of Texas, local governments and Samsung for its new semiconductor plant in Taylor is the largest in state history. Taylor is located near Austin where Samsung, the Korean chipmaker, operates a multi-billion-dollar plant. Samsung will invest $17 billion in the next-generation semiconductor factory in Taylor. . .that figure is also the largest direct foreign investment in Texas history. The incentive package Samsung will capture will be nearly $1 billion.
Tampa named hottest housing market by Zillow
According to the new Zillow analysis, the hottest housing market in the U.S. will be Tampa, Fla. Zillow expects the housing market to slow somewhat in 2022 and 2023 because of rising prices and other factors. Zillow's top five real estate markets for this year are all from the South, including Jacksonville, Charlotte, San Antonio and Raleigh.
Dell's deal from 2004 being replayed in North Carolina?
In this publication in the mid-2000s, we claimed the incentive package given to Dell to set up a computer assembly plant in Winston-Salem, N.C. -- well over $200 million -- was a great overpayment considering that amount of money at the time could have garnered an automotive OEM, the "Big Kahuna" of economic development projects in the South. By 2009, the Dell plant had closed and with it 1,500 good jobs. Now, a think tank called the Center for Economic Accountability claims that the Tar Heel State's $846 million incentive package to bring Apple to the Research Triangle Park the "worst economic development deal of 2021." The think tank was quoted, saying about the incentives, “further than any other. . .to exemplify the massive wastefulness and ineffectiveness of state government subsidy programs.” Of course, comparing Dell to Apple is not an easy comparison. Apple announced in the spring of last year it will invest $1 billion and hire 3,000 at the RTP.
New CEO of Virginia Economic Development Partnership wants more investments in large industrial sites
Jason El Koubi, the former executive vice president at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and now the interim president and CEO of VEDP, said in the winter quarter that the Commonwealth needs shovel ready sites to land some of the large projects announced in the South the last six months of 2021. El Koubi was referring to the electric vehicle and battery plants announced in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. In an article in Virginia, El Koubi was quoted as saying, “The cost of not investing in site development has become very clear and very alarming.”
Dallas-Fort Worth ranks No. 1 for moves
According to a new annual report by real estate firm Zillow and Allied Van Lines, the Dallas-Fort Worth MSA ranked No. 1 as the top 2021 destination for people relocating from other parts of the country. Most of the migrants to D-FW were from Los Angeles, Chicago and Phoenix. Charlotte and Sarasota, Fla., joined Dallas-Fort Worth as the top three inbound markets.
What a year for Tennessee
The year 2021 was historic for Tennessee when it came to large scale economic development projects. Leading the way was the Oracle announcement in Nashville that will eventually create 8,500 jobs. The other megadeal came from Ford Motor Company and the creation of the Blue Oval City just east of Memphis. That $5.7 billion project will create 5,800 to 6,000 jobs.
American Electric Power to develop $100 million transmission control center in Shreveport, La.
American Electric Power (AEP), which manages the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, will invest $100 million to develop a new Shreveport Transmission Control Center. The project will create 20 direct new jobs, with average salaries of $115,000, and retain 20 jobs already in place in Shreveport. AEP, which is based in Columbus, Ohio, will develop the 77,000-square-foot facility on 30 acres in Shreveport.
Monogram Assembled Foods plans Tennessee production facility
Monogram Assembled Foods will invest $53.5 million to establish new operations in Dickson, Tenn. The project is expected to create nearly 400 new jobs. The company purchased a building formerly owned by Conagra, which announced in early 2020 its plans to close the facility. As part of Monogram Foods’ acquisition, the facility never closed, and the company offered employment to Conagra’s existing employees so that no jobs were lost during the transition.
Atlantic Digital Incorporated expands Tampa workforce
Atlantic Digital Incorporated, a specialized IT company and solutions provider for government, will expand operations in Tampa. The company plans to create 120 jobs over the next three years.
Amazon creating more than 500 jobs at a new distribution operation in Cumberland County, N.C.
Amazon is building a 1.3 million-square-foot fulfillment facility that will create more than 500 full-time jobs with hundreds of additional part-time opportunities. The new warehousing facility will be located on 94 acres and is the second project the company has announced in Cumberland County.
Pet care company expanding in San Antonio
Rover Group, a Seattle-based online marketplace for pet care, has expansion plans that include a significant Alamo City presence. While the company’s initial entry into San Antonio is expected to include a new operations home with about 100 employees, the organization is already exploring more opportunities there.
PennyMac Financial Services bringing 300-plus jobs to Franklin, Tenn.
PennyMac Financial Services, a residential mortgage company, will invest $3.9 million in a new location in Franklin. The project is expected to create 325 jobs in Williamson County.
Plumbing industry expansion in Davidson County, N.C., will create 100 new jobs
BrassCraft Manufacturing will create nearly 100 new jobs in Davidson County. The company will invest more than $13 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Thomasville.
Cinelease Studios expands operations in Covington, Ga.
Cinelease Studios will expand its Three Ring Studio in Covington. The 90-acre, $144 million project will be one of the largest film studios in the country. Cinelease opened its Atlanta doors in 2007 with 8,000 square feet of warehouse space in East Point and now employs nearly 60 Georgians.
Luxembourg-based Eurofins Genomics plans Kentucky research lab
Eurofins Genomics, an international provider of DNA sequencing, will invest $35.7 million in a new manufacturing facility in Louisville, Ky.
West Pharmaceuticals’ latest expansion in North Carolina
West Pharmaceutical Services, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of drug-packaging and delivery components (such as stoppers for vials) in the Eastern North Carolina community of Kinston for the last four decades, will invest another $70 million and add 70 more employees to expand its production capacity there. The announcement comes just a year after the company embarked on a $19 million expansion, adding about 90 new jobs to the Lenoir County plant’s current workforce that now exceeds 500.
Veterinary company plans national hub in Louisville, Ky.
Texas-based Ellie Diagnostics, a veterinary lab services company, is going to invest $10 million to open a national hub in Louisville. The investment will create up to 100 full-time jobs with an average hourly wage of $33.
Building components startup investing $17.7 million in a new Kentucky facility
Startup manufacturer SteelBlue Building Components announced it will settle down in Frankfort, Ky., creating 146 jobs. The investment totals approximately $17.7 million. SteelBlue will take over a 55,000-square-foot former shoe manufacturing facility that will become the company’s main manufacturing location of building components for the commercial construction industry.
Atlanta supply chain company adding 100 new jobs in McDonough, Ga.
Verte, an Atlanta-based, cloud-based supply chain company, is bringing 100 jobs to Henry County with the expansion of fulfillment operations into the former Snapper/Briggs and Stratton plant in McDonough.
Auto supplier opens in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Dura Automotive Systems celebrated the opening of its new Muscle Shoals manufacturing facility. The $75 million plant, which will employ more than 270 full-time workers at peak production, manufactures battery enclosures for electric vehicles to be made by Mercedes-Benz.
FedEx leases new shipping facility in Greater Nashville
FedEx Ground is leasing a forthcoming 251,000-square-foot distribution facility in Clarksville. It’s expected to open in the fall.
Peanut growers investing $64 million in South Carolina
A company owned by peanut growers is planning to invest $64.3 million and bring 130 new jobs to Orangeburg County. Portions of the new peanut shelling facility are expected to be operational by the spring of 2022.
Central North Carolina home for New Eli Lilly manufacturing campus
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co. will build a new manufacturing operation in central North Carolina on the site of a former cigarette plant. The company plans a five-building campus at The Grounds economic development site in Concord. The nearly $1 billion investment will lead to nearly 600 jobs that will offer average salaries of $70,000. Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly will manufacture injectable products and devices at the plant.
Confluent Health establishing HQ in Louisville, Ky.
Confluent Health, a group of companies specializing in physical and occupational therapy, will relocate and expand its headquarters in Louisville. The $10 million project is expected to create 350 jobs.
Piston Automotive expanding Kentucky plant
Piston Automotive, a provider of automotive assemblies including electric and hybrid vehicle battery systems, will further expand its operations in Jefferson County, Ky. The $26.3 million project is expected to create 117 jobs.
Injection molding company expanding in Tennessee
A manufacturer of injection-molded plastics will invest millions to expand its thermoplastic molding facility in East Tennessee. Parkway Products said it will spend $5.7 million on its Greeneville operations, which will allow the company to add more lines and invest in new space, tooling and assets. The project is expected to create 160 new jobs over the next five years.
Decking company creating Tennessee facility with 310 jobs
Fiberon, a company that makes composite decking, railing and cladding, plans to set up a new facility in Columbia, Tenn., that is expected to create 310 new jobs.
Quadrant’s new facility bringing 200 jobs to Kentucky
Quadrant will build its first mass production facility in the U.S. in Louisville. The facility will manufacture rare earth magnets for use in electric vehicle motors and other fields. The $95 million plant will create 200 full-time jobs.
Contract firm doubling space, adding 40 jobs in Durham, N.C.
Alcami Corp., which has offices in the Triangle and Wilmington, is investing $10 million to double its existing lab space in Durham. Alacami manufactures oral solid dosage forms, including hard shell capsules, tablets and powders.
One thousand more jobs available at Mazda-Toyota plant
Toyota and Mazda are looking for 1,200 more employees to help build vehicles at their new joint plant in Huntsville, Ala. After the recent rollout of Mazda’s first vehicle from the plant -- the CX-50 crossover SUV -- VP of production Janette Hostettler said, “The team members here have worked so hard and put so much heart and passion into the vehicle, but I still need about 1,200 more of y’all.”
EV company announces $25 million investment in Jax
New Jersey-based Cenntro Automotive will invest $25 million in its proposed 100,000-square-foot facility in Jacksonville, Fla., -- its first manufacturing plant in the U.S. -- to produce the company’s line of delivery and logistics trucks and vans beginning in the first quarter of 2022. The facility is expected to house a workforce of 34 employees.
Samuel Packaging Systems expands South Carolina operations
Samuel Packaging Systems Group plans to invest $11.5 million to expand operations in Fort Mill, S.C. The project is expected to create 90 jobs.
Levi Strauss plans Kentucky e-commerce distribution center
Levi Strauss & Co. will establish a new e-commerce distribution center in Erlanger, Ky. The $48 million project is expected to create 300 jobs.
80 Acres Farms plans Kentucky vertical farming facility
80 Acres Farms plans to locate a new vertical farming facility in Boone County, Ky. It will include a high-tech indoor vertical farm and harvesting, packaging and distribution capabilities for leafy greens, microgreens, berries and tomatoes. The $74 million project is expected to create 125 jobs.
Tractor Supply investing $100 million in Arkansas distribution center
Tractor Supply Company will invest about $100 million to build a new distribution center in Maumelle, Ark. The 900,000-square-foot facility is expected to create more than 450 new full-time jobs by the end of 2023.
North Carolina chosen for supersonic passenger jet plant
“Project Thunderbird” has been identified. . .Colorado-based Boom Supersonic announced that Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro will be the home for its first full-scale manufacturing plant for its proposed Overture supersonic airliner. Boom estimates it will create over 1,750 jobs by 2030, with a goal of reaching more than 2,400 jobs by 2032. State and local governments have offered $230 million in financial incentives to make the project a reality, including money for airport improvements.
New York-based manufacturer moves HQ to Irving, Texas
A New York-based company that designs specialty materials used in products like electric vehicle batteries or COVID-19 masks is relocating its headquarters to Irving. Alkegen, formerly known as Unifrax, will move its headquarters to Las Colinas, after being headquartered in the Buffalo area for nearly 30 years. CEO and president John Dandolph will join 250 employees in making the move to North Texas.
Amazon announces a second facility in Pasco County, Fla.
Online shopping giant Amazon will build a new distribution site in Pasco County that will feature a unique robotics system. Once completed, the $150 million facility will provide 500 new jobs. Construction is expected to take less than a year.
Titan Steel Door expanding Georgia operations
Titan Steel Door will invest more than $11 million in expanding its operations to Gateway Industrial Park in Hart County. This expansion will create 90 new jobs in Northeast Georgia.
VXI Global Solutions Lubbock announces 350 new jobs
VXI Global Solutions Lubbock will add more than 350 new full-time positions as it expands its contact center location in Lubbock, Texas.
Ice Cream Factory bringing new jobs to Missouri
Family-owned Ice Cream Factory has purchased an 86,000-square-foot industrial building that will serve as its new manufacturing plant. The project will create 130 jobs in Lebanon, Mo.
3M to invest $470 million in Tennessee Plant, creating 600 new jobs
3M is investing approximately $470 million and adding around 600 new jobs by 2025 at its plant in Clinton, Tenn. The expansion supports two of its fast-growing product lines -- Filtrete air filters and Command adhesive strips.
Cryptocurrency data center coming to Spartanburg County, S.C.
Greenidge Generation Holdings -- a cryptocurrency mining and power generation company – will invest $264 million and create 40 new tech-sector jobs. Company officials said Greenidge Generation’s Upstate operations will house some of the most advanced and efficient cryptocurrency mining computers available.
Southern Research improving health in Alabama
Birmingham’s Southern Research is building an $84 million facility that will enhance its research capabilities, create nearly 550 jobs and double the organization’s economic impact to $300 million per year. The new building will be at the center of efforts to improve public health across Alabama.
New autism therapy centers planned for Orlando area
Six new autism therapy centers planned for the Orlando area will create 275 new jobs for behavioral analysts, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists.
Defunct shopping center becomes lumberyard in Bay County, Fla.
The city of Parker, Fla., has announced that there are plans in place to clean up and revive the Hickory Plaza shopping center after it has sat vacant for over three years. New owner Fulcrum Building Group says the property will become a lumberyard and has promised to hire upwards of 60 individuals from the Parker area.
Halter Marine doubling workforce in Pascagoula, Miss.
Halter Marine in Pascagoula will double its workforce over the next two years. . .that’s an additional 850 jobs, not only in the traditional shipbuilding trades, but also in the support positions that a company with 1,800 employees needs.
Joint venture will create 210 new jobs in Virginia
In a joint venture, Kamine Development Corporation and Nicollet Industries will invest $267 million to establish a new paperboard recycling and production facility, Celadon Development Corporation, at the Chesapeake Deepwater Terminal site in the City of Chesapeake. The project will create 210 new jobs.
Chief Buildings bringing over 100 jobs to South Carolina
Chief Buildings will invest $22 million to establish manufacturing operations in Lancaster County. The metal building system manufacturer will create 102 new jobs in the Charlotte region over the next five years.
Grant to improve infrastructure for Caldwell Parish Biodiesel Plant
Nearly one year after Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the creation of a renewable diesel plant at the Port of Columbia, the plant has received a $15 million state grant for infrastructure improvement. On top of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, the project is expected to bring about 635 jobs to Caldwell Parish. At peak construction, there will be about 1,500 jobs created.
Ammunition plant coming to the Texarkana area
Expansion Industries is planning to hire hundreds of people at its new facility in Hooks, Texas, which will specialize in making parts for the small arms industry. The company is looking to hire a large workforce ranging from custodial work to skilled labor and technicians.
Walmart fulfillment center to open in Olive Branch, Miss.
Walmart announced recently that it will build a million-square-foot fulfillment center in Olive Branch. The new facility will create approximately 250 full-time, permanent jobs across the region.
New snack company bringing 300 jobs to St. Louis County, Mo.
A Canada-based manufacturing plant has opened in Hazelwood and is bringing more than 300 jobs to north St. Louis County. Instead of a traditional ribbon-cutting, there was a ceremonial “first tasting” of dried fruit and nuts made at the new plant.
SWEPCO to open new facility in Caddo Parish
SWEPCO (Southwestern Electric Power Company) will open a $100 million transmission control center in Shreveport’s Resilient Technology Park. The project will create 20 new jobs in Shreveport with an average salary of $115,000, and will retain 20 already working there.
Fetch Rewards bringing 200 new jobs to Birmingham, Ala.
Fetch Rewards plans to open a new office and support hub in downtown Birmingham creating 200 new full-time jobs. Fetch Rewards is a mobile shopping network that rewards users for purchasing from a variety of brands.
Tenaris to add 250 jobs in Mississippi County, Ark.
A welded pipe mill in Mississippi County will be ramping up production by adding 250 jobs. “Hot rolled coil prices have begun to drop following massive gains last year and customer demand continues to grow for domestically made pipe,” said Luca Zonotti, Tenaris U.S. president. “These conditions make it the right time for a meaningful restart of welded production, part of the ramp-up across the United States that began late 2020.”
Lafayette, La., call center to expand multilingual operations
A Lafayette call center will expand its multilingual operations that will add 50 jobs. Calls Plus, which specializes in safety, healthcare and counseling hotline services, will retain its 37 jobs and eventually employ nearly 100 at its operations in Lafayette.
Manufacturer opening first U.S. facility in Upstate South Carolina
Kostwein announced plans to open its first U.S. facility in Greenville and will create 95 new jobs in the area. Kostwein is a family company based in Austria with a 100-year history in the build-to-print business.
Kevin Charles adding 75 jobs in New Albany, Miss.
For the second time in three years, Kevin Charles Fine Upholstery is expanding. The New Albany-based company is investing $6 million and creating 75 jobs to manufacture furniture.
Rowan County, N.C., chasing rabbits
Commissioners in Rowan County have approved a $27 million incentive plan in the hope that it will secure what has been described as the largest economic development project in Rowan County history. Codenamed “Project Rabbit,” it is said to be a distribution center for an unnamed company. The project could create 2,500 fulltime jobs.
Electric bus manufacturer chooses South Charleston, W.Va.
Canada-based electric bus manufacturer GreenPower Motor Company will lease/purchase a 9.5-acre manufacturing facility in South Charleston, W.Va. The company will manufacture zero-emission, all-electric school buses there. The project is expected to create up to 200 jobs by the end of the year, and employment at the facility may reach up to 900 jobs when full production is reached in 24 months.
FedEx Ground delivering 200 new jobs to Hattiesburg-Laurel, Miss.
A new FedEx Ground facility is opening at Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport‘s I-59 Supply Chain Park. The distribution center will employ 200.
FGP Holding investing $20 million in Alabama expansion
Mobile, Ala.-based FGP Holding, which owns Frios Gourmet Pops and FGP Manufacturing, will invest more than $20 million in a rapid expansion and production ramp-up as the frozen novelties company moves into the former Crown Products facility in Mobile. The project is expected to create approximately 200 full-time jobs over the next three years.
Pittsburgh company to reactivate Fairfield, Ala., plant
HarbisonWalker International plans to pump $25 million into a shuttered Fairfield property, transforming it into a manufacturing, service and distribution hub for steel customers by the end of this year. The plant, which will be known as Alabama One (AL1).
Trex breaks ground on new HQ in Winchester, Va.
Winchester, Va.-based decking materials maker Trex has broken ground on a new corporate headquarters and it, along with a new production facility, will create hundreds of new jobs in Frederick County. The company expects to move into the new facility, which will house 200 corporate employees, in mid-2023.
Facebook expands to Texas
Facebook’s parent company Meta recently leased a large office space in Texas, making the tech giant the latest company to move jobs and people from California to the Lone Star State. Meta leased half of a building under construction in downtown Austin that will be the city’s tallest skyscraper when completed, and has pledged hundreds of new jobs in Texas.
Novelis to expand Todd County, Ky., facility
Aluminum producer and recycler Novelis will move forward with the Phase 2 expansion of its recently opened operation in Todd County with a roughly $365 million investment to construct a new recycling center. The expansion is set to create 140 well-paying jobs.
Manufacturing expansion brings 50 new jobs to Darlington County, S.C.
Fiber Industries announced a $30 million investment to expand its operations in Darlington County, S.C., which will create more than 50 new jobs. Fiber Industries produces polyester fiber for high-end performance fabrics, workwear, knit goods, the automotive industry and more.
Home Town stars creating 85 jobs in Laurel, Miss.
HGTV’s Home Town hosts Erin and Ben Napier will create 85 jobs in Laurel with a new manufacturing location for Scotsman Manufacturing Company. The new company, housed in a revitalized and once-shuttered industrial facility, will be committed to American-made goods.
Fujifilm Diosynth expanding Texas factory with $300 million investment
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies — a contract manufacturer that develops and produces medical drugs and gene therapies — announced in December that it plans to invest $300 million to expand its current campus in College Station, Texas. The project is expected to create about 150 new jobs when it is completed in 2024.
Microsoft invests $50 million in Georgia biorefinery
Microsoft is investing $50 million in a LanzaJet facility in Georgia that will produce jet fuel from ethanol. Governments and investors are trying to boost incentives to produce lower-carbon emitting jet fuel.
MycoWorks creating 400 jobs in Union County, S.C.
MycoWorks plans to establish operations in Union County with a $107 million investment that will create 400 new jobs. MycoWorks is a biotech company that specializes in mycelium-grown materials for use as leather alternatives.
Outdoor retailer REI bringing 280 jobs to new facility in Lebanon, Tenn.
Seattle-based Recreational Equipment Inc., known as REI, has announced plans to open a 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Lebanon. The center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2023 on about 41 acres.
Farming operation bringing 100 jobs to Henry County, Ga.
Bowery Farming, the largest vertical farming company in the U.S., will open a smart indoor vertical farm in Locust Grove, Ga., creating more than 100 jobs. The company’s expansion to Georgia comes in response to a sharp increase in demand across the Southeast for its freshly grown greens and lettuces.
Project “Lightning Strike” bringing hundreds of jobs to Bay County, Fla.
Central Moloney, which manufactures distribution transformers, is expected to open a 140,000-square-foot facility owned by St. Joe Company. The project will bring 200 new jobs to Bay County.
Wax manufacturer creating new jobs in Laurens County, S.C.
Shamrock Technologies has announced plans to invest $19.4 million to manufacture wax, dispersions and emulsions, and related products.
CPR equipment maker to establish facility in Franklin County, N.C.
Medical equipment supplier Innosonian America will create 34 new jobs in Franklin County. The company will invest $345,000 to relocate its warehousing and sales facility to the Town of Youngsville.
Jax City Council okays $7 million incentive for J&J Vision Care expansion
Jacksonville, Fla.’s City Council unanimously approved a $7 million property tax refund for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care’s proposed $200 million local manufacturing expansion. The expansion will also mean the addition of 100 jobs at the facility.
RTP biotech primed for expansion
A biotech firm that researches and manufactures ribonucleic acid, or RNA, is expanding its footprint in Research Triangle Park ahead of the expected approval of its first product. Massachusetts-based GreenLight Biosciences started research and development in RTP for the plant-health side of its business near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. About two years later, the company is expanding into a facility that includes 40,000 square feet of lab and office space and 15,000 square feet of greenhouse space.
Adidas’ Spartanburg distribution center creates new shift, over 200 jobs
The Adidas Spartanburg distribution center is creating a new shift that will result in the creation of over 200 new jobs. The new positions will work the weekend night shift.
FedEx Ground establishes facility in Panama City, Fla.
FedEx Ground plans to build a 251,000-square-foot facility at the port in Panama City. No word yet, but the facility will definitely mean new jobs for Bay County.
Animal food supplier investing $100 million in Arkansas
A manufacturer of poultry, pet and animal nutrition products is expanding one of its factories in its home state. The project is expected to create 100 new jobs. Siloam Springs-based Simmons Foods announced that it will invest $100 million to expand its prepared foods facility in Van Buren, Ark.
Forty-million-dollar movie studio coming to Texas
A 546-acre film studio and entertainment district is headed for Bastrop, Texas, 35 miles east of Austin. The first phase is expected to open in August 2023.
Montauk Renewables opening plant in Turkey, N.C.
Montauk Renewables, which specializes in the conversion of biogas into Renewable Natural Gas, will open a plant in Sampson County. The project is expected to create 70 jobs over the next five years. The company plans to use its patented technology for the conversion of agricultural residuals – specifically swine waste -- into renewable energy.
Iron Ox expands Lockhart, Texas, operations
California-based Iron Ox, a farming innovation company with expertise in plant science, robotics and artificial intelligence, will invest over $100 million to locate a 1 million-square-foot facility on 85 acres in Lockhart. The company’s mission is to make growing fresh produce carbon negative.
Atlanta company expands operation into Charlotte region
An Atlanta-based bottling company is building a plant in Mooresville, N.C. Battle Copacking will invest $13.6 million in the facility about 45 minutes outside of Charlotte. The plant will create 20 full-time jobs to package beverages.
Stoughton Trailers opening new plant in Texas
Stoughton Trailers is adding a new plant in Waco, Texas, later this year. The plant will manufacture chassis products, and bring 125 to 150 jobs to the area located about 100 miles south of Dallas.
New manufacturing campus bringing 70 jobs to Claremore, Okla.
Lufkin Industries is making Claremore its home for a new manufacturing campus, and creating 70 new jobs. The company manufactures oilfield equipment, and plans to make rod pumping systems at its new Oklahoma headquarters.
Giant U.S. chipmaker eyes Triangle for $40 billion-plus plant
A U.S. semiconductor company is scouting a Chatham County site for what could be one of the largest economic development projects in North Carolina history. The project, if it comes to fruition, could have a capital investment of $40 billion or more with 5,000 to 10,000 jobs at full buildout. Sources say the project is on an accelerated timeline as the world rushes to fill the global chip shortage.
General Mills eyes upgrades at Tennessee plant
General Mills has announced it will invest $65 million to upgrade its Yoplait yogurt and Pillsbury dough products plant in Murfreesboro.
Beef plant expected to create 1,300 jobs in Missouri
Wisconsin-based beef processing company American Foods Group (AFG) has announced plans to build a large new facility in Warren County, Mo. Pending final approval, AFG expects to settle on a precise location by next spring. The project could result in AFG investing $450 million into the St. Louis area and creating more than 1,300 new jobs
Ruiz Foods hiring 100 in Florence County, S.C.
A frozen food distributor is looking to bring dozens of new jobs to the Pee Dee. Ruiz Foods Florence is hiring 100 more jobs for its facility there.
January 2022
Kroger plans fulfillment center in Concord, N.C.
Kroger has purchased a 53-acre site in Cabarrus County. The site will be home to a 200,000-square-foot facility that will employ about 722 people. The total investment is $138 million.
Dollar General distribution center bringing hundreds of jobs to North Little Rock
Dollar General recently announced plans to build a $140 million warehouse distribution center in North Little Rock, Ark. It will initially bring in 300 new jobs with 600 happening over time.
Canadian company’s investment brings 140 jobs to rural Tennessee
Silicon metal producer Sinova Global will invest $150 million to open a metal refining plant in Tiptonville. The investment from the Canadian company is expected to create 140 jobs in Lake County, Tennessee’s most distressed county.
Gregory Industries establishes plant in Athens, Ala.
Steel products manufacturer Gregory Industries will invest $30 million to build a 325,000-square-foot facility in Athens. The project is expected to create 100 jobs in Limestone County.
Over 100 new jobs opening at brewery in Richland County, S.C.
A new brewery in Richland County needs to fill more than 150 jobs this year. Mark Anthony Brewing, best known for making White Claw Hard Seltzer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade, is holding a jobs fair to hire for its new South Carolina brewing facility at Pineview Industrial Park in Columbia.
Ternium USA investing $98 million in Louisiana expansion
Steel producer Ternium USA will expand its facility at the Port of Caddo-Bossier with an investment of $98 million. The project will create 35 new jobs in Louisiana’s Northwest Region.
Camfil USA investing $50 million in Texas expansion
Sweden-based Camfil, a manufacturer of systems for air filtration and air pollution control, will invest more than $50 million to build a new manufacturing facility at Synergy Park in Kilgore, Texas. The new facility will create more than 200 jobs within five years.
Lancium plans data center-bitcoin campus in Texas
Houston-based energy technology and infrastructure company Lancium will build a large-scale, renewable-energy-powered data center campus in Abilene. The project is expected to create 57 jobs. Lancium and its customers plan to invest $2.4 billion over 20 years, building their Clean Compute Campus on approximately 800 acres in Taylor County and Abilene.
Toyota will build $1.3 billion EV battery plant in North Carolina
Toyota announced on December 6th that it will indeed build a $1.3 billion electric vehicle battery plant near Greensboro that will employ at least 1,750 people and help meet the auto giant’s growing goals of EV sales this decade. Officials gathered to unveil the project on the 1,800-acre Greensboro-Randolph Megasite in Liberty, about 70 miles west of Raleigh, where the plant will be located. It is the largest capital investment in state history.
Gov. Ivey awards grant to create 130 new jobs in Heflin, Ala.
Gov. Kay Ivey awarded nearly $1 million to bring new business to the city of Heflin and create 130 jobs. The $950,000 Community Development Block Grant will pave the way for a Great American RV Superstore and a companion recreational vehicle resort. The development will be located on a 30-acre site in the Heflin Industrial Park.
Small Tulsa business expands to Broken Arrow adding 100 jobs
Tulsa-based Automotive Industries, a vehicle fleet repair company, recently purchased a 106,000-square-foot facility in Broken Arrow, Okla., with plans to add more than 100 new jobs. The 40-acre facility will also be the new headquarters for Automotive Industries.
Tennessee approves multimillion-dollar grant for French IT consulting company
The Tennessee state Funding Board unanimously approved a $5 million jobs grant for Capgemini, which has announced plans to launch a new facility in Nashville in 2022. The Nashville center will complement the recent expansion of Capgemini sites in Columbia, S.C., and Houston, Texas. The global IT consulting company pledged to create 500 jobs within five years, with a target twice that large.
Commonwealth Rolled Products investing $167 million in Kentucky mill
Commonwealth Rolled Products is investing more than $167 million in its Lewisport aluminum rolling mill, a project that will create 40 full-time jobs. New equipment and building upgrades are planned for the 2.3 million-square-foot facility to modernize the operation and better position Commonwealth to support automotive and industrial customers.
Savion Solar Project locating on former Kentucky coal mine
The Martin County Solar Project, which is currently under development by Savion, will be located on a former coal mine in Martin County. Savion will invest up to $231 million.
New jobs and big investments coming to Kentucky communities
Universal Piping Industries (UPI) will be constructing a new operation in Georgetown, Ky., and relocating its existing Lexington facilities. The new 108,000-square-foot facility will create 25 high-wage jobs. In Radcliff, Ky., one of the largest graphic communications companies in North America, Taylor Corporation, will invest $18.8 million in its existing operation, adding an additional 28 jobs. Taylor Corporation produces pressure sensitive labels for a variety of industries, such as consumer packaged goods, manufacturing and distribution, health care and retail. In Lewisport, Commonwealth Rolled Products plans to add 40 well-paying jobs in a $167 million investment for its aluminum rolling mill in Hancock County, which supports its automotive and industrial customers. Building components startup, SteelBlue Building Components, will create 146 full-time jobs in Frankfort with a $17.7 million investment. This facility will serve as the company's primary manufacturing location of building components for the commercial construction industry.
Firm plans $30 million film studio in Fort Smith, Ark.
A Los Angeles-based entertainment company has plans to build a $30 million film and television studio in Fort Smith to support the movie industry in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Westrock Coffee to expand Arkansas facility, add 250 jobs
Westrock Coffee Co. will upgrade its extract manufacturing facility in Concord, opening a state-of-the-art plant in Conway, Ark., and launching operations in Malaysia to serve the Asia-Pacific and Middle East and North Africa markets. The 524,000-square-foot Arkansas facility will create up to 250 jobs over time.
Humminbird kicks off expansion project at Alabama facility
Humminbird, a maker of marine electronics products, officially launched construction on a multimillion-dollar expansion project at its Eufaula facility to increase production by 25 percent.
Amazon plans major expansion in Austin, to hire 2,000
E-commerce giant Amazon is planning a major expansion in Austin. Amazon says it will create more than 2,000 corporate and tech jobs in the city over the next few years. Positions will include data engineers and financial analysts.
Medline invests in Georgia distribution center
Medline, a leading manufacturer for the healthcare industry, has opened five newly constructed distribution centers in 2021, with two more to be completed in 2022, to support the long-term needs of healthcare providers. The newest LEED-certified distribution center is located in Richmond Hill, Ga., less than 30 miles from the Port of Savannah.
FAA approves commercial launch site in Southeast Georgia
A federal agency has granted a license for a launchpad that would fly commercial rockets from coastal Georgia. The Federal Aviation Administration’s approval of a launch site operator license for Spaceport Camden marks a significant milestone for the Georgia space project, though many reviews and permits are needed before any rockets can actually launch.
GE Appliances to invest $118 million in Georgia factory, hiring 600
GE Appliances, a division of Chinese appliance maker Haier, announced it will invest more than $118 million to expand its Roper Corporation factory in northwest Georgia, hiring 600 additional workers by the end of 2024. The company needs to expand because of increased demand for the electric ranges, wall ovens and gas and electric cooktops it makes at the Walker County facility.
Ability Tri-Modal expanding in Charleston County, S.C.
Ability Tri-Modal, a third-generation distribution and transportation provider, announced plans to expand operations in Charleston County. The $24 million investment will create 27 new jobs. Ability Tri-Modal provides warehousing and distribution services.
Innovative Construction Group establishing operations in Florence County, S.C.
Innovative Construction, an off-site construction company that offers framing solutions, design services, wall panels and other products with on-site installation, will invest $35.6 million in a new facility in Florence County. The project will create 179 new jobs.
Poplar Bluff, Mo., getting new factory and 175 new jobs
Missouri-based commercial refrigeration manufacturer True Manufacturing announced it will build a new facility in Poplar Bluff, investing $21 million and creating 175 new jobs.
Science 37 selects Research Triangle for new HQ
Clinical research company Science 37 will relocate its corporate headquarters from California to North Carolina’s Research Triangle region and create 250 jobs over five years in Wake County. The company will invest nearly $1.5 million to establish operations in the Town of Morrisville.
New plastics manufacturing facility to create 300 Jobs in Chesterfield, Va.
A new plastics manufacturing facility coming to Chesterfield County, Starplast USA, will create 300 jobs. The company will invest about $17.7 million to build the new facility. “Starplast USA produces a wide range of high-performance plastic products, like plastic housewares, garden storage, and toys,” according to a release. Virginia competed with Ohio and Pennsylvania for the project.
Another EV announcement in South Carolina
Proterra, a leader in the design and manufacturing of zero-emission electric transit vehicles and EV technology solutions for commercial applications, has announced new manufacturing operations in Spartanburg County. The company’s $76 million investment is expected to create more than new 200 jobs. Proterra’s new Spartanburg County operations will produce the company’s battery systems for commercial electric vehicles, including delivery and work trucks, industrial equipment, buses and more.
Westinghouse investing in nuclear fuel in South Carolina
Westinghouse, a global supplier of innovative nuclear technology, will invest $131 million to upgrade its operations in Richland County. The Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility (CFFF) in Hopkins houses fuel manufacturing and testing labs. Approximately 10 percent of U.S. electricity comes from nuclear fuel manufactured at CFFF.
Steel tube manufacturer expands in Texas
Lock Joint Tube, a steel tubing manufacturer, plans to expand its existing facility in Temple, Texas. The $21 million project is expected to create 30 new jobs.
Sandman Bedding expands Mississippi operations
Sandman Bedding, manufacturer of bedding and mattresses, will locate operations in Belden, Miss. The $2.3 million project is expected to create 25 jobs.
Tony’s Tamales expands to Mississippi
Tamales producer Tony’s Tamales is increasing capacity by opening a production facility in Flora, Miss. The $690,000 project is expected to create 30 jobs.
Clean energy plant coming to Shreveport, La.
A “carbon capture” green energy venture may result in a $550 million investment in Shreveport. This project could lead to 465 new (direct and indirect) jobs. The company at the center of this proposal is called Bia Energy Operating Company, and their concept for this project centers around blue methanol production. The plant would be constructed at the Port of Caddo-Bossier in Shreveport.
Lightsource bp secures funding for big Alabama solar project
Lightsource bp has successfully closed on a $100 million financing package for its Black Bear Solar energy project in Montgomery County. The project was first announced in May 2019.
Bossier Parish to get $110 million sawmill
Teal Jones Group owners Tom and Dick Jones announced that the company is looking to bring a $110.5 million Southern Yellow Pine lumber plant to Bossier Parish, La. The facility will support 125 new direct jobs.
Old South Wood Preserving to establish operations in Lawrence County, Tenn.
Old South Wood will invest more than $5 million and create 35 new jobs as the company locates a lumber treatment facility in Summertown. There, the lumber will be placed in airtight cylinders, flooded with a chemical concentrate, and stored until dry and ready for shipment.
Pratt Industries breaks ground on $500 million Kentucky factory
Pratt Industries in Henderson broke ground on a $500 million paper mill and box factory that will create 321 well-paying jobs across the two facilities, and is the largest investment in the region in more than 25 years.
Pallet maker announces first factory in North Carolina
The developer of a trackable shipping pallet plans to establish its first production facility in North Carolina. Palltronics, based in Detroit, pioneered a pallet embedded with an electronic chip to allow companies to track shipments all over the world. The pallets, composed of a wood substrate with an antifungal and antimicrobial coating and sensor to monitor product quality, can last up to 10 years. The company says its first-of-its-kind pallet is sold out for the first three years of projected production.
Delco Trailers planning major expansion and 300 new jobs in Texas
Lamar County Commissioners recently approved a tax incentive for Delco Trailers that will bring a $29 million investment and an expected 300 new jobs to the county over the next five years. Construction is underway on the 550,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.
CoStar creating 2,000 jobs in Richmond, Va.
The CoStar Group is expanding its corporate campus in Richmond by building a new 26-story building and creating 2,000 new jobs in the city. Co-Star is a provider of real estate information, analytics, and online marketplaces. The company is expecting to invest more than $460 million in this project, with $4 billion in payroll over the next 10 years.
Space balloon company bringing 240 jobs to Brevard County, Fla.
Space Perspective, which plans to send tourists up on a space balloon from the old Kennedy Space Center shuttle landing facility, has chosen to also build a campus and manufacturing complex on the Space Coast. The company plans to invest $38 million, hire 240 employees and be ready for its first passengers in 2024.
Tech company plugs into San Antonio suburb with more than 100 Jobs
Business software provider Zoho Corp., whose U.S. headquarters is in Del Valle near Austin, has opened an office in New Braunfels that eventually could be home to more than 100 employees. Zoho recently set up shop in 10,000 square feet of office space at the historic Saengerhalle building.
LT Apparel Group growing operations in North Carolina
LT Apparel Group, a manufacturer of children’s apparel, is expanding operations in North Carolina with an investment of at least $57 million in Greensboro. The company’s project will add a minimum of 116 new jobs.
Rivian will build a second, $5 billion EV plant in Georgia
Amazon-backed EV startup Rivian is going to build a second factory in Georgia where it will assemble up to 400,000 electric vehicles per year. Rivian will start construction of the $5 billion facility in the summer of 2022 and expects to start making vehicles there in 2024.
Technology services company creating 50 new jobs in Marceline, Mo.
CoffeeTree Group announced it will establish a new technical delivery center in Marceline, investing $100,000 and creating 50 new jobs.
Canada-based company plans Virginia sawmill
Ten Oaks, a manufacturer of residential hardwood floors, will invest nearly $9.3 million to construct a state-of-the-art hardwood sorting and stacking facility in Patrick County, Va. The project is expected to create 11 jobs and will lead to the purchase of more than $18 million of Virginia grown forest products over the next three years.
German shipping giant plans HQ and 250 jobs in Georgia
Hamburg, Germany-based shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, which already employs 500 at two locations in metro Atlanta, will locate its North American headquarters at a 125,000-square-foot office in Dunwoody, investing $18 million and adding another 250 jobs in finance, marketing, human resources, IT and more.
Bosch Rexroth expanding in Greenville County, S.C.
Bosch Rexroth, a global leader in the field of drive and control technologies, announced it will expand its existing hydraulics manufacturing campus in Greenville County. The $12.8 million investment will create 60 new jobs over the next five years. The company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility currently produces hydraulic pumps and motors used in construction, agriculture, mining, material handling and oil and gas exploration.
Expansion bringing $11.5 million investment and 96 new jobs to Henderson County, N.C.
CanvasPrints.com, a local online printing and manufacturing company, has announced an $11.5 million expansion plan for Fletcher, N.C., that is projected to create 96 new jobs. The company plans to consolidate its three locations in Henderson County to Fletcher Business Park.
Pfizer cuts the ribbon on Durham gene therapy plant
Drug giant Pfizer recently cut the ribbon on a new manufacturing facility in Durham, N.C., that will focus on gene therapy treatments for various illnesses. The $68.5 million, 85,500-square-foot plant will be home to Pfizer’s BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences group. More than 50 jobs will be created, and another 40 will move from a Pfizer site in Chapel Hill.
Vir Biotechnology expanding in St. Louis, Mo.
Vir Biotechnology, a San Francisco-based immunology research company, is expanding its presence in St. Louis. The company will invest more than $41 million and create 36 new jobs.
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies announces additional facility in College Station-Bryan, Texas
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies will expand its campus in College Station-Bryan with an additional commercial manufacturing facility. The partnership between FUJIFILM and Mitsubishi Corporation is a world leader in the development and manufacture of recombinant biopharmaceuticals and viral gene therapies. The project is expected to create 150 new jobs and $300 million in capital investment.
Over two hundred jobs headed to Greenup County, Ky.
Addiction Recovery Care’s (ARC) purchase of part of the former Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital complex is expected to bring 250 jobs to Greenup County to operate and support the facility.
Nokian Tyres adding 100 jobs in Tennessee expansion
Nokian Tyres plans to hire more than 100 workers for its Dayton, Tenn., manufacturing plant “in the next couple of years.” Nokian Tyres says the factory grew from 175 to about 325 employees in 2021 after an aggressive hiring campaign at the first of the year. Nokian continues to accept applications.
Deloitte expanding in the Orlando area
Deloitte will bring new jobs and expand its facility after a tight vote by the Seminole County Commission, which approved a grant worth $480,000 in exchange for 400 new jobs. In addition, Deloitte will add 50,000 square feet to its existing Lake Mary office with a $12.61 million investment.
International expansion firm picks Tampa for new HQ
HSP Group, a firm that helps other companies expand internationally, plans to establish a headquarters in Tampa and create 200 to 300 jobs in the coming years. The company launched virtually in late 2020 (due to the pandemic), but sees a need to establish a physical headquarters to train new hires and build a company culture.
Jones Capital establishes Hattiesburg corporate HQ
Jones will invest $40 million to construct a new corporate headquarters facility in Hattiesburg, Miss. The project is expected to create more than 200 jobs. The 80,000-square-foot headquarters facility will be located in Midtown Hattiesburg across from the University of Southern Mississippi. Jones Capital's portfolio includes Jones Logistics and Jones Lumber.
Lineage Logistics expands footprint in Savannah, Ga.
Lineage Logistics announced the expansion of its facility network near the major port in Savannah. The company will invest $62 million in a new building, which, upon completion, will create 65 new jobs in Chatham County’s Port Wentworth, in addition to nearly 100 jobs required for the project’s construction.
Kiyatec expands in Greenville, S.C.
Kiyatec announced plans to expand operations in Greenville County with an investment of $5 million that will create 91 new jobs. The company’s new downtown facility will allow it to expand its existing clinical testing operations and drug-development services which are currently located at nearby Prisma Health’s Memorial Campus.
Canadian Biopharma firm selects site outside Dallas, bringing 300 jobs
Evolve Biologics, a Canadian plasma-derived therapeutics company, has chosen a site in Collin County, Texas, for its first commercial manufacturing facility and headquarters. The project will cost about $180 million.
Sherrill Furniture plans Conover, N.C., upholstery facility
Sherrill Furniture will invest $2.9 million to open a new custom upholstery production facility in Conover. The project is expected to create 90 new jobs in Catawba County. “Backlogs within the furniture industry are at an all-time high,” said Thad Monroe, President of Sherrill Furniture Company. “We are 100 percent focused on substantially reducing lead times for our customers and are willing to invest heavily to more quickly fulfill orders of our USA-made products.”
Venture Global plans Cameron Parish LNG plant
Venture Global will invest more than $10 billion in a new liquefied natural gas facility in Cameron Parish, La. The new facility, named CP2, is expected to create 200 jobs.
Signify Health to create 200 jobs in Oklahoma City
Signify Health, a Dallas-based home health company that went public in 2021, plans to open a service center in Oklahoma City that will create 200 jobs. Founded in 2017, Signify Health uses an online platform and a network of independently contracted doctors, nurses and social workers to shift health care away from acute care facilities and into patients’ homes.
Northern Kentucky candymaker plans $9.8 million expansion
Perfetti Van Melle, the candy manufacturer responsible for well-known brands such as Airheads and Mentos, is planning a $9.8 million expansion that will create at least 16 new jobs in Erlanger, Ky. The company will add a new candy manufacturing line at its facility and an additional packaging area in response to increased demand for its products.
Qualtrics expanding in Fairfax, Va.
Software company Qualtrics will invest $15.9 million to expand in Fairfax County with a new location in Reston. Virginia successfully competed with Pennsylvania and Ohio for the project, which will create 400 new jobs.
Memphis getting $250 million and 265 new jobs for healthcare supply chain
Memphis was recently the recipient of some good news. Medtronic, a global producer of medical devices and therapies, plans to spend more than $130 million on a new facility there, and CEVA Logistics plans to spend $126 million and create 265 new jobs. Medtronic and CEVA Logistics have been at the forefront of medical device logistics and technological development for some time now.
Oregon-based cellphone company bringing 500 new jobs to Louisville, Ky.
Consumer Cellular is investing $15 million in a new location, bringing nearly 500 jobs to Kentucky, the vast majority of which will be created in 2022. The company will move into an existing facility, and the new jobs will include positions in management and call center support.
ULab expanding with 230 new jobs in Tennessee
A grant from the state of Tennessee will enable uLab to expand its Memphis facility to manufacture millions of its uSmile teeth aligners a year. The grant will also create more than 230 jobs over the next five years.
Manufacturing company bringing 200 new jobs to Belle Glade, Fla.
One of the largest manufacturing companies in Florida is expanding into the Belle Glade area, and with that expansion comes more than 200 job opportunities. Design-build firm Finfrock is constructing a new facility there and in the meantime, the company is hiring all sorts of manufacturing and construction jobs.
Greater San Marcos Partnership announces big investment for Kyle
Redbird Flight Simulations, a flight training technology company, has selected a new 50,000-square-foot facility in Kyle, Texas, for its latest expansion. The company will invest an initial $2.2 million at the facility and bring 71 full-time jobs to the region.
Startup bringing jobs to Lebanon, Tenn.
Startup company Nashville Box announced it will invest $3.3 million to establish new operations in Wilson County. The corrugated box manufacturer will create 48 new jobs in Lebanon.
Amazon opening new facility in Lenoir County, N.C.
Amazon is coming to Kinston. Mark Pope of NC Global TransPark Economic Development Region confirmed that crews have been working to renovate an empty facility on Enterprise Boulevard, but doesn’t know exactly how many jobs Amazon will bring.
Hanwha Cimarron breaks ground in Opelika, Ala.
Hanwha Cimarron, a maker of carbon fiber-wrapped storage tanks, recently broke ground on its $130 million manufacturing plant at Northeast Opelika Industrial Park that will employ 261 people.
Silicon metal refining plant coming to Tennessee
Canadian quartz and silicon supplier Sinova Global will invest $150 million to establish manufacturing operations in Tiptonville, Tenn. The company will create 140 new jobs with its new state-of-the-art silicon metal refining plant, to be located in Tennessee’s Lake County.
Forty-million-dollar expansion in Richland County, S.C.
AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe Company announced that it will be investing $40 million to expand operations in lower Richland County. The expansion, to be completed in phases, is expected to be complete in 2025 and will create 100 new jobs.
Riceland Foods expanding in Arkansas
The world's largest miller and marketer of rice, Riceland Foods, announced it will add 80 new jobs and expand its operations in Stuttgart and Jonesboro with a $13.2 million investment. The majority of the expansion will be at the Stuttgart location, including two new packaging lines.
Anatolia Granite and Marble expanding in Tennessee
Anatolia Granite and Marble will invest approximately $567,000 to expand its operations in Baxter, Tenn. The project is expected to create 40 jobs in Putnam County.
EV maker adding more jobs, opening third facility in Charlotte, N.C.
Arrival, a British electric vehicle company, is expanding yet again in Charlotte, adding 150 jobs and investing $11.5 million in a battery module production facility. It’s the latest announcement from the London-based firm that has brought hundreds of jobs to the region in recent years. Arrival is also opening a microfactory in Rock Hill, S.C., another near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and its North American headquarters in South End.
New 60-acre solar energy park coming to Hopkins, S.C.
The development of a 60-acre agricultural and solar energy park is coming to Hopkins that will not only bring jobs to the community, but also enhance a horticultural program at a local school. Solar company Fusion Renewable and international energy firm iSun will be partnering on the project with a $15 million investment. State Senator Kevin Johnson said, “It is going to create 20 to 40 jobs in this community that is something we’ve never seen in this community.” The project includes greenhouses, solar farming and agrivoltaics.
Walmart bringing 300 new jobs to Middle Tennessee
Walmart recently announced new plans to open an automated fulfillment center in Lebanon, Tenn. This will be Walmart’s first fulfillment center in Tennessee and will create up to 300 full-time jobs.
GML Industries establishing operations in Spartanburg County, S.C.
GML Industries, a manufacturer of wire harnesses for various industries, announced it is establishing operations in Duncan. The company’s $966,000 investment will create 74 new jobs.
Five-hundred-job facility to open in Midtown Atlanta
Micron Technology, a manufacturer of semiconductors based in Boise, Idaho, will open a design center in Midtown Atlanta. The new 93,000-square-foot center is set to bring 500 new jobs to the Atlanta area.
Poultry processor expanding to Winchester, Va.
A Minnesota-based poultry company has purchased the long-dormant Sunshine’s Pride Dairy cheese processing plant and pledges to create more than 100 jobs at the site. TFC Poultry will invest $31.5 million to open a turkey deboning facility in Winchester’s North End this year.
Transcom establishing North American presence in South Carolina
Global customer experience specialist Transcom Worldwide will expand into Greenville County to establish a North American network to support global clients. The Swedish company will hire at least 450 for customer care, sales, technical support and credit management services through its network of contact centers and work-at-home agents.
Danimer Scientific breaks ground on $700 million expansion in Bainbridge, Ga.
Danimer Scientific recently broke ground on its new 2-million-square-foot facility, which will be an expansion of its 25-acre campus, already located in Bainbridge. The eco-friendly company is a leading developer and manufacturer of biodegradable products for food packaging, bottling and other traditional packaging sectors.
SmartCap to expand in Fort Worth
South African company SmartCap plans to expand operations into Fort Worth. The international vehicle accessories firm will create 250 jobs to work in a distribution center for modular truck camper and bed enclosures and other accessories for recreation and commercial uses. The project has a capital investment of $55 million.
Bio Pappel subsidiary to add Texas plant
The Dallas-based McKinley Packaging subsidiary of Mexico-based Bio Pappel has announced it will locate its seventh packaging plant in the United States in Lancaster, Texas. The 500,000-square-foot, rail-served building will require some 100 employees when running at full capacity across three shifts.
Manufacturer moving forward with $50 million expansion in North Carolina
Egger Wood Products said recently it is proceeding with the next expansion of its Lexington laminate-floor manufacturing plant, adding up to 40 jobs and spending $50 million to build a recycling center and add another production line. The Austrian company announced plans in July 2017 for its $700 million, 1-million-square-foot plant, which opened in September 2020. Egger said its Lexington workforce is at 450 — 50 more than it projected would be created in a $300 million Phase 1 expected to take six years. Overall, it has pledged to have 770 employees at full production capacity in 2035.
SendCutSend opens Kentucky operation, creating 75 jobs
SendCutSend, a manufacturer of customized laser-cut metal parts, recently opened its $3.9 million operations in Paris, Ky., creating 75 jobs.
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway getting $75 million facelift
Nashville’s mayor, Bristol Motor Speedway and the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway have announced a deal that will provide $75 million in renovations in hopes the fairgrounds will become home to a NASCAR Cup series race. The Metro Sports Authority will issue 30-year bonds to pay for the renovations, and Bristol Motor Speedway has agreed to lease, manage and operate the track for 30 years.
Piedmont Triad International Airport getting a boost
U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning (D-Greensboro) announced that $5,117,453 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program would be coming to PTI. Perhaps now “Project Thunderbird” can be revealed. . .rumored to be the relocation of an “airplane manufacturer” to PTI.
Beyond Distilling Company establishing in Charleston County, S.C.
Beyond Distilling Company, a craft spirit and distilling company, announced plans to establish operations in Charleston County. The $767,000 investment will create 63 new jobs.
Milwaukee Tool expands in Mississippi
A $60 million expansion by Milwaukee Tool is expected to create 800 jobs in Grenada, Miss., and the manufacturer says it will add 400 more among its plants in Greenwood and Jackson and its distribution center in Olive Branch.
Port of Charleston getting $250 million industrial park
A Savannah, Ga.-based firm -- Capital Development Partners -- has purchased 135 acres near the Port of Charleston’s newly opened Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal for $65 million. The Savannah company plans to develop Shipyard Creek Logistics Center, an industrial park exceeding $250 million in value. Construction will start immediately, with delivery expected in 2022.
Wellness company creating 80 new jobs in Charleston
A wellness company that uses technology to analyze body composition has announced plans to establish operations in Charleston County. Evolt, which was founded in Australia in 2015, will create 80 new jobs. The new facility in North Charleston will serve as the company’s North American corporate headquarters and distribution center.
Thousands of new jobs coming to Texas through CBRE Group
Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis (CBRE Group) -- the largest commercial real estate services company in the world -- will bring more than 1,000 jobs to two Texas cities. CBRE Group will invest nearly $30 million in its Dallas headquarters, creating 460 new jobs; and $13 million in an operations center in Richardson, Texas, where the group aims to create 550 new jobs.
Intralox expanding manufacturing plant in Hammond, La.
Intralox, which produces modular plastic conveyor belts, is investing $60 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Hammond. The project is expected to create 425 jobs.
December 2021
No end in sight for lack of labor
There is no data available about the fact that our labor keeps decreasing, and there may not be for a decade or more. In the last three years, About 10,000 people a day on average retired in the U.S. Compare that to a little over 2,000 joining the workforce by turning working age (16), and you can easily see where the labor issues are. People are aging out of the workforce faster than the rate of people entering it.
But the U.S. should not feel like the Lone Ranger. People are aging out of the workplace virtually around the world. In fact, for most countries -- especially the U.S. -- "job creation" is no longer the most important factor for an economy. Particularly in the South, the region that has seen the toughest time since the Great Depression, job creation has been paramount. But that is no longer the case. Some years, the South creates as many new jobs as the other three regions combined.
We are now entering an era when our politicians stumping for office should literally slow the promotion of job creation and instead figure out how they are going to fill those jobs. There are well over 10 million jobs available in this country as of October and only 8.4 million people looking for work.
Also affecting the labor market in the U.S. -- 15 percent of the population was retired in 2010. In 2020, that figure rose to 20 percent.
So, what to do? Millions of economists say, "not much." The U.S. can increase legal immigration, which could result in reversing the trend, but for how long? Also, increasing legal immigration under President Trump literally gave it a bad name. His last year office, legal immigration -- we are talking about working visas -- dropped by 85 percent from over 1 million to 200,000.
Then again, a more productive workforce with the aid of automation and AI could help, too.
Did one Northwest Florida man cost the region Disney World?
In a fall article published by the Northwest Florida Daily News, that question was asked in the headline. The man's name is Ed Ball, who was the CEO of St. Joe Paper Company, which to this day owns a lot of land in North Florida (nothing like the amount it owned in the 1960s.) Walt Disney, the story goes, wanted to develop nearly 30,000 acres of land near Panama City. Walt Disney paid Ball a visit and some said the St. Joe executive kept Mr. Disney waiting outside his office for hours. According to former St. Joe CEO Peter Rummel, at the end of the day, Ball’s secretary simply handed Disney a note that read, “We don’t deal with carnival people.”
Retirees are ‘unretiring’ — and that’s good for the labor market
The “unretirement” rate, which measures those who switch from retirement to employment, has been accelerating, according to an analysis by Nick Bunker, an economist at Indeed. At a time when jobs cannot be filled by employers, people reentering the job market is positive news. Early retirements increased during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. It may be just a matter of time before data shows that these workers are rejoining the workforce. Early retirements among older Americans were among the many labor distortions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to economists, as health risks and other factors led many to leave their jobs. But there’s an open question: Are these retirements permanent, or will these workers rejoin the labor force? U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data has shown that the October 2021 unretirement rate was 2.6 percent.
VEDP CEO Stephen Moret named president and CEO of Strada Education Network
Effective January 2022, Stephen Moret has been named president and CEO of Strada Education Network, a nonprofit social impact organization dedicated to improving lives by forging pathways between education and employment. For five years, Moret has led economic development at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Prior to that Moret was Secretary of Commerce at Louisiana Economic Development.
JPMorgan: Full global economic recovery in 2022
JPMorgan Chase is predicting 2022 will be the first year in nearly three years that will see a return to normalcy regarding the worldwide economy. The return to normalcy, according to the company, "is warranted by achieving broad population immunity and with the help of human ingenuity, such as new therapeutics expected to be broadly available in 2022.” The U.S.'s largest bank also predicted that there will be a strong recovery in 2022 based on robust spending by consumers and businesses.
Dallas-Fort Worth leads all markets in pay gains
In some cases, we have seen wages increase more than they have in decades, and Dallas-Fort Worth leads all markets in that department by a wide margin. The North Texas market also leads in job growth and in-migration among the nation's largest metros. Average weekly earning in North Texas rose 8.3 percent from October 2020 to October 2021, and 17 percent since October 2019, far higher than the state as a whole and the nation, and more than double the two-year gains in Austin, Houston and San Antonio.
More money sent to states from BP oil spill fund
In the fall, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced that Alabama, Florida and Mississippi are receiving more than $103 million in BP oil spill settlement money for new and continued coastal projects. The money will be used to protect and restore species and habitats. The foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund brings its total allocations across the five Gulf states to $1.6 billion.
South Carolina Ports again sets container record
For the ninth consecutive month, South Carolina Ports set its monthly record for containers handled in November. The increase is attributable to a rise in retail imports and cargo volumes at the Port of Charleston.
Demand for workers hits historic high in fall 2021
Businesses posted 11 million job openings in October, the Labor Department reported in the fall quarter. That is the highest number of job openings ever.
Specific type of coal seeing more mining permits
Southwest Virginia is one place in the U.S. where miners can dig for metallurgical or coking coal. The coal is not used by power plants, but is the type of coal essential for melting iron ore to make steel. There have been 17 applications for new mining permits or licenses to sell coal in Southwest Virginia. More than half of the metallurgical coal produced there is being exported overseas. The metallurgical coal is used in steel making, and as the global economy recovers from the pandemic, more steel is being produced.
A city is created in West Tennessee
Ford announced its plans in September to create Blue Oval City at the West Memphis I-40 megasite in Stanton, Tenn. The new "city" includes an investment of nearly $6 billion to make electric vehicles, including a next-generation electric Ford F-Series model. The city will also include, counting suppliers, up to 6,000 new jobs. Over $800 million has been earmarked in incentives for Ford in the deal. Earlier in 2021, Ford announced it had increased its planned EV investment to $30 billion by 2025.
Big battery plant in middle Tennessee on schedule
The construction of the Ultium Cells LLC battery plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., is on schedule as of the fall quarter, company officials announced. The 2.8 million-square-foot facility is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution. GM operates a large assembly plant in Spring Hill. One of the models that will use the batteries is a new one called the Cadillac Lyriq luxury crossover, Cadillac’s very first all-electric vehicle. The project will create 1,300 new jobs.
Renewable energy just about quadrupled over the last 10 years
The Environment America Research and Policy Center announced in the fall that energy sources from solar and wind nearly quadrupled from 2011 to 2020 in the U.S. The report found that at the current growth rate, wind, solar and geothermal will meet current electricity demand levels by 2035.
U.S. automakers beg Biden administration to waive tariffs on components from China
All domestic and foreign automotive OEMs and suppliers have pleaded with the Biden administration to lift tariffs on a wide range of components from China, especially those for electric-car batteries. Many of the components are not made anywhere but in China. One of those products is artificial or natural graphite. Big suppliers with plants in the South, such as Magna and SK Innovation, are asking for respite from tariffs on all the myriad switches, sensors, motors and other parts that go into a vehicle.
Furniture makers in the South are thriving
We first wrote about this in 2010 when the word "reshoring" was invented. It wasn't too long ago -- about 40 years -- that the South saw its base industries (furniture, textiles and apparel) collapsing. But since the word "reshoring" was invented (a result of rising wages and operating costs in Asia), those industry sectors have grown steadily in the American South. But a receding workforce and difficulties importing parts from overseas are a problem. For now, though, companies in Mississippi and North Carolina — two of America's largest furniture manufacturing states — are seeing huge upswings thanks to strong demand and limited supply.
Entergy replacing aging natural gas plants in Mississippi
Louisiana-based Entergy is replacing some aging natural gas plants in the state of Mississippi with 1GW of renewable energy over the next five years. The renewable power would, as a percentage of Entergy, represent 17 percent of the total power generation. Currently it sits at 1 percent.
With feds help, Virginia says achievement of universal broadband will be completed by 2024
Before the pandemic, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said universal broadband would be achieved in his state by 2028. But with federal COVID-19 relief funds, he moved the goal to 2024.
Norfolk Southern opens new Atlanta HQ
Gov. Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Bottoms officially cut the ribbon on Norfolk Southern's new headquarters in Midtown Atlanta. The railroad expects to house 800 workers at the new facility.
Renewable energy quadrupled in the U.S. in 10 years
According to the non-profit Environment America Research and Policy Center, the proportion of electricity the United States gets from solar and wind quadrupled between 2010 and 2020. At that rate, the analysis found that wind, solar and geothermal would meet current electricity demand levels by 2035.
Automotive manufacturing jobs lead job surge
Manufacturing job growth leaped in October as motor vehicles and parts manufacturers hired almost as many people as all other manufacturing sectors combined. In October, manufacturing added 60,000 jobs of the 531,000 jobs overall as the unemployment rate edged down to 4.6 percent. Automotive added 27,700 jobs as the electric vehicle market is just now really getting its legs under it.
In the hairball of supply chain networks, Port of Virginia stands out
The Virginia Port Authority's investments at Norfolk International Terminal and Virginia International Gateway paid off this year. The port in Hampton Roads avoided congestion issues that have plagued other ports. The port experienced best-in-class turn times in this fiscal year.
Virginia wind farm to cost $2 billion more
Dominion Energy's offshore wind farm on the coast of Virginia will cost about $2 billion more than expected, the Richmond-based utility reported in the fall quarter. Instead of the $7.8 billion initial cost, the 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) commercial project will cost approximately $9.8 billion.
Hyundai expects electric vehicle production to start next year
Korean automaker Hyundai will begin EV production on the Genesis GV70 EV at its plant in Montgomery, Ala., beginning in 2022. The assembly of electric vehicles in Alabama will be the first for Korean automakers. The company is also counting on proposed subsidies for electric vehicles produced on U.S. soil.
New Orleans to Baton Rouge industrial corridor has several locations that are hotspots for cancer risks
According to ProPublica, the 85-mile chemical corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, an 85-mile-long region that environmental advocates have long called Cancer Alley, contains several hotspots where cancer risks are far above levels deemed acceptable by the U.S. The corridor is the largest hotspot for cancer-causing air in the country, followed by two areas in Texas.
Whoa! Exxon Mobil to help turn 50-mile-long Houston Ship Channel into carbon capture and storage facility
Oil and gas giant Exxon Mobil suggested this fall it could turn one of the largest climate-harming emissions areas in the world into a “carbon capture and storage” (CCS) area. The Houston Ship Channel is home to petrochemical plants, refineries, power companies and other heavy industries. Exxon is calling on industry and government to capture carbon dioxide at industrial plants in the channel, carry it away in pipelines and inject it deep under the floor of the Gulf of Mexico.
Kentucky tops record year in economic growth
For the first time ever, Kentucky has topped the $10 billion mark in economic development growth in a calendar year. As of mid-November, private-sector and expanded projects exceeded $10 billion for the first time. Through the first 10 months of 2021, economic momentum in Kentucky exceeded any other full-year totals for investment growth. Year-to-date, more than 110 private-sector, new-location and expansion announcements include nearly $10.3 billion in total planned investment that will create more than 15,235 full-time jobs over the coming years.
Near-shoring, on-shoring, move-it-where-you-sell-it is all the rage
As a result of the current difficulties in distribution, more and more CEOs are rewriting the supply chain network by relocating plants closer to suppliers and buyers. Input shortages and supply line bottlenecks are disrupting the availability and quality of just about everything.
For decades, Southern politicians were the most anti-union bunch. Is that changing?
This fall, U.S. workers have been striking by the tens of thousands. In fact, it has been decades since U.S. workers walked off their jobs in these numbers. Will this mean that slow-growing wages seen in the South, along with the strikes, are changing the Southern politico's view of unions?
Ford, a union company, settles in West Tennessee
In the fall quarter, Ford announced it will assemble electric vehicles and batteries at a massive site just east of Memphis. The nearly 6,000-job, nearly $6 billion deal with SK Innovation, along with a companion facility in Hardin County in Central Kentucky, will blaze a new trail when it comes to the automotive industry morphing into electric innovation. It remains to be seen if the facilities will become unionized.
Developed nations to use tariffs to tackle climate change?
Governments in developed nations, including the U.S. and those in Europe, are discussing ways to use tariffs on trade to cut carbon emissions. Policy makers are looking at tariffs on steel, cement and chemicals. In November, the Biden administration announced tariffs with the European Union to jointly curb imports of steel and other products that generate high levels of carbon emissions. An estimated one-quarter of global greenhouse gases are produced by goods that cross borders, according to a 2018 report by economic and environmental consulting firms KGM & Associates Pty. Ltd. and Global Efficiency Intelligence LLC.
Energy shortage has China binging off of LNG from the South
At the height of the trade war in 2019, China essentially ended the import of U.S. liquefied natural gas. While it had every right to resist the then-U.S. tariffs, China cannot live on its own energy production. But without the United States' help -- especially with much needed energy sources such as U.S.-mined and modified liquefied natural gas – the environment of China (the world's largest user of dirty fuels, such as coal) will be a disaster. China's energy shortage will not be solved any time soon; therefore the U.S. will remain its largest energy trading partner for now mostly through LNG exports from Louisiana and Texas.
Speaking of LNG. . .
Southwest Louisiana, in and around the Lake Charles region, has changed and changed forever. Over the last decade, Southwest Louisiana has led the nation almost every year in net job growth. Billions have been spent on facilities that export LNG throughout the world. The pipelines in and around the Houston and New Orleans area have been there for decades because that is where most refineries were built to support World War II. Everything has changed in Southwest Louisiana as LNG exports from that region continue to be the main and most important bridge fuel that burns far cleaner than coal for developed countries in the world.
Amid the computer chip shortage crisis, two big deals are announced in Texas.
The computer chip shortage continues as outdated chips -- some as old as 10 years -- are having to help supply the market. Two big deals announced in Texas this fall will eventually come to the economy's rescue. Texas Instruments announced it plans to invest up to $30 billion to build as many as four new semiconductor fabrication plants in Sherman, Texas. TI said it will begin construction in 2022 on the first two plants producing its 300-millimeter wafers used in everything from cars and trucks to industrial machinery. The plants could house up to 3,000 workers when complete. The other big semiconductor facility is by South Korea chip manufacturer Samsung Electronics Co. It will build a second chip facility in the Austin area in Taylor, Texas.
Is an Amazon-backed electric truck set for the Atlanta area?
While Fort Worth is a finalist for a $5 billion electric truck and SUV factory, it’s looking as if a site east of Atlanta may have the inside track on the big deal. The factory would include a new battery and vehicle assembly plant.
Is Toyota eyeing megasite in North Carolina for electric battery plant?
Rumors have it that Japanese automaker Toyota is eyeing the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite for a large electric battery plant to ramp up electric vehicle manufacturing in the U.S. The site is a 1,825-acre site rezoned for heavy industry located near the center of the state. No formal agreement has been reached.
Mazda to assemble midsize crossover SUV at new Alabama plant
In the fall quarter, Mazda unveiled the first vehicle it will assemble at the new plant it shares with Toyota. The new model will be called the CX-50 and will join Toyota's Corolla Cross, a smaller SUV that will also be built at the new plant. The $2.3 billion, 4,000-employee plant will be in full production sometime in 2022.
Honda marks 20 years of production at its Alabama plant
In November, Honda marked 20 years of production at its assembly plant in Lincoln, Ala. The plant has expanded numerous times with several different models, mostly light trucks. The Japanese automaker also makes V-6 engines at the $2 billion facility that houses about 4,500 workers.
Rural Alabama has seen growth of 3,000 jobs in 2020 and 2021
Rural Alabama's counties of less than 50,000 residents have seen a spike in job creation over the last 18 months. According to the Alabama Department of Commerce, in 2020 and the first six months of 2021, 40 projects that created over 3,000 new jobs landed in "targeted" counties. The combined investments will generate at least $1.5 billion in new capital investment.
Bekaert Corporation expanding Arkansas facility
Bekaert, a company that specializes in steel wire headquartered in Belgium, recently broke ground on the new 50,000-square-foot addition to its facility in Van Buren, Ark. The $8.4 million project will create 35 new jobs and help increase internet access to rural areas.
MasterBrand adding 464 new jobs in Kinston, N.C.
MasterBrand Cabinets will add hundreds of new jobs to its existing plant. The cabinet maker currently employs 800 people and will add 464 more workers by adding an additional shift.
Samsung chooses Taylor, Texas, for $17 billion chip-making factory
Samsung Electronics plans to build a $17 billion chip-making plant in Taylor, Texas, roughly 30 miles from its existing giant manufacturing hub in Austin. It’s a mega investment by the South Korean tech giant, as the Biden administration pushes for an expansion of U.S. semiconductor production.
Toyota West Virginia expands assembly plant in Buffalo, W.Va.
Toyota West Virginia plans to invest $240 million to expand its assembly plant and add a dedicated production line of hybrid transaxles in Buffalo. The new investment will allow workers there to diversify their skillset and play a larger role in Toyota’s future producing electric vehicles in North America.
Mondelez to spend $123 million on Virginia expansion
Earlier this year, Mondelez announced plans to close bakery plants in Atlanta and Fair Lawn, N.J., citing aging infrastructure and location challenges. Recently, the company announced it will expand its Richmond Biscuit Bakery in Henrico County, where it manufactures Ritz crackers, Chips Ahoy! cookies, Nilla wafers, Wheat Thins and Premium crackers. The company plans to create a high-speed, modern Oreo production line.
Nashville to get a $20 million delivery center
Global IT consulting company Capgemini will invest $20.1 million in Tennessee to build a new delivery center in Nashville. The investment is expected to create 500 jobs, with the possibility of growth leading to another 500 jobs.
Shaw Industries to expand in Aiken County, S.C.
Shaw, a global flooring provider, has announced plans to expand its operations in Aiken County. The $400 million investment will create more than 300 new jobs at the manufacturing facility, which creates fiber used to manufacture residential carpet. This location currently employs more than 600 associates.
Siemens Gamesa brings 310 jobs to Virginia
A global wind energy company will build turbine blades for the U.S.’s largest renewable energy project at a new factory in Virginia. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy will lease more than 80 acres at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal near Norfolk to house its $200 million facility. The project is expected to create 310 new jobs. Siemens Gamesa is partnering with Virginia-based utility Dominion Energy on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project — a wind farm that will be located 27 miles off the state’s coast — but the new facility will also supply turbine blades to other offshore projects throughout North America.
Tyson investing $355 million in Kentucky bacon plant
Arkansas-based Tyson Foods, the largest meat producer in the U.S., plans to spend $355 million to construct a new bacon processing facility in Bowling Green, Ky., that is expected to create 450 jobs.
Auto products maker establishing East Coast hub near Charlotte, N.C.
Kentucky-based Holley Performance Products, a manufacturer of high-performance automotive products for cars and trucks, will invest $12.3 million to establish its East Coast hub in Mooresville.
Gregory Industries building manufacturing campus in Athens, Ala.
Gregory Industries is adding 100 jobs with a new manufacturing plant in Athens. The Ohio-based company, which makes highway safety and other roll form steel products, will build the 325,000-square-foot facility for $30 million on more than 80 acres in the Elm Industrial Park.
NOVONIX investing $160 million Chattanooga, Tenn.
Most of the materials used to make batteries for electric vehicles come from Asia, but NOVONIX is about to change that. The company will invest $160 million and hire 300 workers for its new manufacturing facility called “Riverside Recharged” in Chattanooga.
Wood finishes maker bringing $19 million investment to Greensboro, N.C.
RPM Wood Finishes, which makes furniture coatings, has received approval for economic incentives to bring a $19.7 million “center of excellence” to Greensboro and create 53 full-time jobs.
Walgreens announces $30 million fulfillment center in Liberty, Mo.
Walgreens has announced a $30 million, 65,000-square-foot facility that will serve as a micro-fulfillment center dedicated to retail prescription orders. The new facility will bring an estimated 200 jobs to the area.
Enclosure manufacturer expanding in Scott County, Va.
A $7.2 million investment by an enclosure producer will create 30 new jobs in Scott County. VFP’s expansion there will allow the manufacturer to “produce larger concrete shelters and meet future demand in the market.”
Agape Care Group selects Spartanburg County, S.C., for new HQ
Agape Care Group, a hospice, palliative and pediatric care provider, has announced plans to expand its presence and locate the company’s corporate headquarters in Spartanburg County. The $3 million investment will create 76 new jobs.
Honeywell plans $154 million expansion of Baton Rouge plant
Honeywell said it will expand its plant in Baton Rouge, La., to increase production of a chemical used in foam insulation, refrigerators and air conditioners that has low global-warming potential. The expansion will create 23 new jobs.
BMW Manufacturing expands South Carolina presence with logistics center
BMW Manufacturing is expanding its operations in Spartanburg County with the construction of a new $100 million logistics center. The facility, which will be located on 120 acres, will enhance BMW’s logistics operations supplying parts to the company’s 7-million-square-foot factory in Greer, SC.
The largest label company in the world investing in North Carolina
CCL Label will construct a new manufacturing facility in Fuquay-Varina, N.C. In a move that will bring $29 million in capital investment and 150 new full-time jobs to the community, the company will purchase a town-owned business park site consisting of 32.28 acres and construct a 110,000-square-foot manufacturing facility for production and office operations.
Meel Corp plans North Carolina packaging-cold storage hub
Frozen food company Meel Corp will invest $5.7 million to relocate a production facility to Oxford, N.C. The project is expected to create 24 jobs in Granville County. The expansion will include a state-of-the-art packing and cold storage facility.
Barzan Aeronautical plans South Carolina manufacturing plant
Qatari-owned Barzan Aeronautical, an aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems company, will invest $14.7 million to establish operations in Johns Island, S.C. The project is expected to create 34 jobs in Charleston County.
S.W.O.R.D. International plans manufacturing plant in Greenville, S.C.
S.W.O.R.D. International, a manufacturer of small arms and defense equipment, is relocating and establishing its manufacturing operations in Greenville. The $9.5 million project is expected to create 55 new jobs.
Online retailer becomes Texas city’s largest employer
Shop LC, a television shopping network and online retailer, will construct a 200,000-square-foot national headquarters in Cedar Park, Texas. The $50 million capital investment will create 1,000 jobs, making it Cedar Park’s largest employer.
Appliance manufacturer to build assembly plant in Georgia
Rinnai America Corp., a manufacturer of tankless water heaters, boilers and wall furnaces, is building a new assembly plant in Griffin, Ga. The project is expected to be completed in early 2022 and could employ as much as 150 people.
Nuclear manufacturer expands in Campbell County, Va.
BWX Technologies, a supplier of nuclear components and fuel to the U.S. government, will make a multimillion-dollar investment to create a manufacturing and research-and-development center in Campbell County. The facility is expected to create 97 jobs.
Conveyor belt maker doubling staff in Tangipahoa Parish, La.
Intralox, the Jefferson Parish-headquartered maker of conveyor belts used by companies like FedEx and Amazon, will add 425 jobs to staff a new assembly facility at its Hammond manufacturing plant, investing $60 million.
VP Racing Fuels expanding in Carroll County, Tenn.
VP Racing Fuels will expand its existing operations and establish a new location in Carroll County. The company will invest $14.2 million to expand its Huntingdon operations and acquire a new facility in McKenzie near the Carroll County Airport. The project will create 150 new jobs.
Meal delivery company will create 200 jobs in West Palm Beach
Ideal Nutrition will hire 200 more employees once it expands into a 43,000-square-foot facility in West Palm Beach.
Walmart will build two new facilities in Lancaster, Texas
Walmart has announced plans to build two new facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to support the retailer’s growing supply chain network. The 1,500,000-square-foot fulfillment center and 730,000-square-foot automated grocery distribution center, which will be among Walmart’s largest, will create approximately 1,000 full-time jobs.
Germany-based Aurubis plans Georgia recycling-smelting plant
Aurubis, a Germany-based recycler of copper and precious metals, will invest $340 million in a state-of-the-art recycling and smelting facility in Augusta. The project is expected to create 125 jobs.
Norfolk Southern opens new Atlanta HQ
Rail giant Norfolk Southern has opened its new 750,000-square-foot building that rests on a 3.4-acre campus in Midtown Atlanta’s Tech Square. The project will consolidate more than 3,000 jobs.
New Smucker’s facility will bring 750 jobs to Alabama
The J.M. Smucker Co. will invest $1.1 billion to build a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in the McCalla area of Jefferson County, Ala. Dedicated to the production of the company’s fast-growing Uncrustables sandwiches, the facility will create 750 jobs in the Birmingham region.
Texas Instruments chooses Sherman, Texas, for new $29 billion facility
Texas Instruments has announced plans to continue operations in Sherman through a new $29 billion production plant. The new 4.7 million-square-foot facility is expected to create an additional 3,200 jobs.
Avantive Solutions expands Tulsa presence with 375 new jobs
Avantive Solutions, a global technology and business process outsourcer (BPO), has announced the addition of 375 new jobs at its headquarters in Tulsa, Okla.
New beef processing facility headed to Warren County, Mo.
Warren County has been selected by American Foods Group as the planned location for a new state-of-the-art beef processing facility, pending final approval. Once established, the facility would create more than 1,300 new jobs and generate $1 billion in economic impact in the state of Missouri.
Biogen breaks ground on RTP gene therapy facility
Biogen has begun construction of its gene therapy manufacturing plant at its growing RTP campus in Durham, N.C. The company plans to invest $200 million in the plant and 90 new jobs will be created to operate it.
86 Pearson Lane establishing new operations in Lexington, Tenn.
Startup company 86 Pearson Lane will establish new manufacturing operations in Lexington. The commercial heat exchanger manufacturer will invest $16 million and create 155 new jobs at its first location.
Frozen produce company creating 67 new jobs in Warren County, Va.
Nature’s Touch Frozen Foods, a supplier of frozen fruits and vegetables for Canada and the United States, will invest $40.3 million to expand in Warren County. The company will establish a 126,000-square-foot facility and will hire 67 new jobs.
Luxor Scientific expands in South Carolina
Luxor Scientific, a full-service clinical laboratory, plans to expand operations in Greenville. The $3.2 million investment will create 54 new jobs.
Amazon establishes fulfillment center in Stafford County, Va.
Amazon will launch a new 630,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Stafford County. The facility on the Northern Virginia Gateway site, designed to serve as one of the company’s East Coast hubs, is expected to create 500 new jobs.
$100 million Cerrowire Plant coming to Hartselle, Ala.
The multimillion-dollar Morgan Center Business Park in Hartselle (vacant since its first phase was completed a decade ago) will receive its first tenant when Cerrowire builds a plant there that is projected to create 131 new jobs. Cerrowire, which already has a plant in Hartselle, has announced plans to build a $100 million, 270,000-square-foot facility at the Morgan Center.
New FedEx facility coming to Dothan, Ala.
A new $57 million FedEx logistics facility that will create at least 200 new jobs is coming to Dothan. The 317,000-square-foot FedEx Ground facility will stand on a 70-acre site in the Sam Houston Industrial Park.
Camfil Air Pollution Control constructs plant in Jonesboro, Ark.
Camfil Air Pollution Control, a manufacturer of industrial dust- and fume-collection systems, has begun construction on its new $37 million manufacturing facility in Jonesboro. The project is expected to add 67 new jobs to an existing workforce of 237 people.
Thermo Fisher to build new facility in North Carolina
Thermo Fisher Scientific is adding to its North Carolina operations with a capital investment of at least $192.5 million in Orange County. The company will build a manufacturing facility in Mebane as part of its federal contract to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services “to ensure domestic supply of critically needed laboratory pipette tips.” The Mebane site is expected to create 150 to 200 jobs in manufacturing, engineering and business operations.
Celadon to invest $155 Million in Georgia
Celadon Development Corporation will invest more than $155 million in opening a North American headquarters and a state-of-the-art recycling and advanced manufacturing facility in Chatham County, creating 117 jobs in the Savannah area. This represents Phase 1 of Celadon’s major investment project in Georgia.
Performance Food Group will invest $80 million in Hanover County, Va.
Performance Food Group will invest $80.2 million to establish a sales and distribution center operation in Hanover County. The company, a leader in foodservice distribution, will construct a new 325,000-square-foot facility in Ashland, creating 125 jobs.
Microvast Holdings establishes Florida innovation HQ
Microvast Holdings, which manufactures lithium-ion battery solutions, has purchased an $11 million existing facility to locate its research, development and innovation center in Lake Mary, Fla. The project is expected to create 100 jobs over the next 5 years in the Orlando region.
Dr. Schneider Automotive plans Mississippi operation
Germany-based Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems, a supplier of manufacturing air ventilation systems and window frame trim, plans to establish operations in Baldwyn, Miss. The $22.5 million project is expected to create up to 400 jobs over six years.
Big Easy Bucha expands New Orleans operations
Probiotic drinks manufacturer and bottler Big Easy Bucha is expanding its production facility in New Orleans, La. The project is expected to create 50 new jobs.
American Peanut Growers Group to open facility in Seminole County, Fla.
Georgia-based American Peanut Growers Group (APGG) will invest $85 million in expanding operations in Florida, creating 90 jobs. In addition to expanding its current Donalsonville, Ga., shelling plant, APGG will open a new food processing facility on its 45-acre campus in Seminole County.
Billion-dollar project will create 400 new jobs in San Marcos area
Southern California-based Chem-Energy Corp., whose specialties include petroleum products, unveiled plans in November to invest more than $1 billion to build a solar power storage plant and a battery power storage plant in Caldwell County, Texas. The facilities will employ 400.
Software company heading to Louisiana capital city
A new software development center is locating in downtown Baton Rouge and creating 150 new direct jobs for Louisiana’s capital city. Most of the hires for Atlanta-based Rural Sourcing will work in website development.
Amazon adding three new Alabama sites
About 900 new jobs will be created as Amazon opens three new facilities near the Alabama cities of Montgomery, Huntsville and Birmingham. A 650,000-square-foot warehouse opening in Montgomery next year will provide more than 500 jobs as it receives products from vendors and sends them to fulfillment centers for shipment to customers.
S&W Foods plans new distribution center in Hammond, La.
S&W Wholesale Foods will spend $12 million to build a distribution center near Hammond that will create 30 jobs. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the distribution center will also create 150 construction jobs.
Helpware adding jobs across two Kentucky locations
Digital customer service company Helpware will add 300 jobs across an existing location in Montgomery County and a new office in Mercer County, with $500,000 in total investment.
Defense electronics company expanding to Charleston County, S.C.
Elbit Systems has announced plans to establish operations in Charleston County, creating approximately 300 new jobs. Elbit Systems is a provider of products focusing on the defense, homeland security, commercial aviation and medical instrumentation sectors.
Tiger Companies establishes South Carolina campus
Tiger Companies, a distributor serving the construction, surveying, home, office and medical products markets, has invested $10.8 million to establish a 255,000-square-foot operations center in Union, S.C. The project is expected to create 61 jobs.
Voyant Beauty expands Mississippi production center
Voyant Beauty, a manufacturer of beauty and personal care products, will invest $13.17 million to expand operations in Olive Branch. The project is expected to create 80 jobs.
Pitman Creek Wholesale opens Kentucky HQ center
Fishing lure manufacturer Pitman Creek Wholesale opened its fishing tackle production and headquarters facility in Lincoln County, Ky. The $15 million project is expected to create 60 full-time jobs.
Phillips 66 to shutter Louisiana refinery
The Alliance Refinery in Belle Chasse will shut down and be converted into a storage terminal, and many of the 900 people who work at the plant may lose their jobs. Phillips 66 has been trying to sell the plant since August, but heavy damage from Hurricane Ida was too expensive to repair.
Gun maker moves to Georgia in $100 million, 856-job deal
Gun maker Remington Firearms will move its headquarters from Ilion, N.Y., to Georgia, with plans to open a factory and research operation there. The company will invest $100 million in the operation in LaGrange, southwest of Atlanta, hiring 856 people over five years.
Smith & Wesson breaks ground on new HQ in Tennessee
Gun maker Smith & Wesson has officially broken ground on its new headquarters in Maryville, Tenn. The company will invest $125 million to make the move and create 750 new jobs.
Pall Corporation to hire 300 for South Carolina manufacturing facility
Pall Corporation announced it will hire 300 people to staff its new 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Duncan, S.C. The facility makes products that will be used in the creation and packaging of antibiotics and vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines.
Nemak expanding in Glasgow, Ky.
Manufacturer Nemak announced it will create 170 well-paying jobs with a $27 million expansion of its Nemak Kentucky operation in Glasgow to support future electric vehicle-related business. Nemak’s investment will support upgrades and new equipment at its facility there.
APEX Mattress Manufacturing establishing operations in Colleton County, S.C.
APEX Mattress Manufacturing recently announced plans to establish operations in Colleton County. The $1.9 million investment will create 50 new jobs.
Tampa Airport seeks 600 new workers
With passenger traffic inching up toward pre-pandemic levels, Tampa International Airport needs to fill more than 600 positions. Airlines, shops, restaurants, rental car companies and ground handling services, among others, are hiring.
Amazon to hire 500 in El Paso, Texas
Amazon is hiring more than 500 full-time positions ahead of the launch of its new El Paso fulfillment center. According to its website, a fulfillment center warehouse associate works a 10-hour shift, four days a week, with wages starting at $15 an hour.
SKC to invest $473 million in semiconductor plant in Georgia
South Korea’s SKC, a maker of plastic films, is set to invest $473 million to locate a semiconductor parts venture at its existing plant in Georgia. SK also is home to SK Innovation, which has invested $2.6 billion to put an electric-vehicle battery plant in Jackson County and plans to ramp up a second plant on the complex as demand grows.
Distributor plans Louisville, Ky., hub
Republic National Distributing, a distributor of wine and spirits, will invest $50 million to relocate its distribution center and sales office in Louisville. The company will construct a 289,000-square-foot warehouse and 38,000 square feet of office space there.
Justice mining resumes production in Kentucky
Several West Virginia coal companies with ties to Gov. Jim Justice plan to resume coal production at four surface mines in Eastern Kentucky, bringing 150 new jobs to the region.
Minnesota-based company investing millions in Bledsoe County, Tenn.
Virnig Manufacturing, headquartered in Minnesota, is investing nearly $12 million in its expansion into Pikeville, Tenn. The expansion will create 74 new jobs in Bledsoe County to fabricate skid steer and tractor attachments.
New manufacturer bringing 200 jobs to Morristown, Tenn.
An outdoor equipment company is moving some of its manufacturing from China to Morristown, creating at least 200 jobs and investing at least $20 million in the process. Greenworks Commercial makes battery-operated outdoor power equipment with lithium-ion batteries.
Tea company creating jobs in Mississippi
A tea company setting up shop in Clarksdale Miss., will create 60 new jobs. Ilex Organics is going to refurbish a shuttered 30,000-square-foot factory building there and open a processing facility.
Supplier of building products hiring 120 in South Carolina
Builders FirstSource, a supplier of structural building products, announced plans to establish operations in Yemassee. The $16 million investment will create 126 new jobs over the next five years. Builders FirstSource specializes in value-added components and services for the construction industry.
Central Motor Wheel of America opens 145-job expansion in Paris, Ky.
Central Motor Wheel of America recently held the grand opening of the expansion of its existing operations in Bourbon County. The automotive wheel manufacturer will add 145 new jobs.
LA firm to open Tulsa center
Los Angeles-based diagnostic imaging company RadNet announced plans to hire as many as 500 customer service coordinators at a new center in Tulsa, Okla.
Lodge Manufacturing expands Tennessee plant
American-made cast iron cookware manufacturer Lodge Manufacturing will invest $56 million to expand its facility in South Pittsburg, Tenn. The project is expected to create 239 jobs.
WestRock expands North Carolina facility
WestRock Company, a manufacturer of paper and packaging solutions, will invest more than $47 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Claremont, N.C. The project is expected to create 50 jobs in Catawba County.
