ALABAMA

Lilly to build $6 billion weight-loss drug factory in Alabama

Eli Lilly announced plans to invest more than $6 billion to build a manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Ala. The plant will focus on weight-loss medications and other pharmaceutical ingredients. The site will manufacture orforglipron, Lilly’s first oral, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, which the company expects to submit to regulatory agencies. The factory is expected to bring 450 jobs to the area, including engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians. Construction is set for 2026 and 3,000 jobs are expected to be generated related to the Lilly project.

 

A 121-year-old manufacturer to invest nearly $800 million to expand in the shadows of downtown Birmingham

American Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO) has been producing product since 1905 in Birmingham, still a center for the metals industry. ACIPCO announced in January it will invest $793 million that would switch the company’s operations to electric-fired furnaces, reducing emissions by more than 90 percent. About 80 new jobs paying over $100,000 a year will be added to the deal. Jefferson County approved $320,000 worth of incentives for the project. 

 

Update on the relocation of the U.S. Space Command from Colorado to the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. 

• Transition Leader: Maj. Gen. Terry Grisham, an Alabama native with nearly 40 years of service, will direct the program management office in Huntsville.

• Location: The permanent home for U.S. Space Command is Redstone Arsenal, chosen for its ability to support long-term, mission-critical operations.

• Progress: An initial office has been established in Huntsville, and the move is expected to take place over the next three years.

• Economic Impact: The move is projected to bring 1,600 to 1,800 jobs, with thousands more “spin-off” jobs anticipated.

• Incentives: The Command is offering significant retention and relocation bonuses to employees moving from Colorado.

• Context: The decision follows a lengthy battle over the location, with the move now proceeding despite legal challenges from Colorado.

 

Bad Boy Mowers placing tractor assembly plant in Monroeville, Ala. 

Arkansas-based Bad Boy Mowers is investing $10.5 million in a new tractor assembly plant in the historic town of Monroeville, Ala. The new plant will be located in the former Vanity Fair distribution center there in Monroe County. The company plans to build several different models of tractors in Monroeville and anticipates producing about 9,000 per year. The project will create 50 new jobs. Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said Bad Boy’s expansion in Alabama is a strong vote of confidence in the state’s rural areas.

 

One of the largest private investments in Alabama history gets green light to build

The Bessemer City Council voted to approve a $14 billion data center on 700 acres of rural land southwest of the city of Birmingham. The project, called “Project Marvel,” is an 18-building hyper scale data center by Atlanta-based TPA Group. 

 

ARKANSAS

Another billion-dollar-plus data center; this one in Arkansas

AVAIO Digital Partners announced in January it will locate a $6 billion data center in Pulaski County, Ark., located near Little Rock. The campus will host the computer, networking, data storage technologies and power infrastructure that underpin cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications. The new data center campus is expected to ultimately create more than 500 new full-time permanent operations jobs over the next five years as the campus is built out. In addition, the construction phase will bring thousands of new jobs to the region.

 

InnovAsian Cuisine to build facility in Jonesboro

InnovAsian Cuisine Enterprises Inc., a subsidiary of Nichirei Foods Inc., will build a state-of-the-art frozen food manufacturing facility in Jonesboro, Ark. This major development will create approximately 200 new jobs, strengthening the region’s position as a vibrant hub for food manufacturing.

 

Arkansas is the “new game in town” for data centers

Data center developers are finding Arkansas to be pro-business, with competitive land prices, laws and regulatory timelines. Recent major investments include a $6 billion project in Little Rock and a $4 billion Google facility in West Memphis, attracted by fast-tracked approvals and substantial
infrastructure. 

 

The U.S. Army is partnering with Hanwha Defense USA to build a $1.3 billion munitions plant at the Pine Bluff Arsenal

The project aims to modernize the U.S. defense supply chain and enhance the safety and performance of munitions. The deal will create 200 jobs. 

 

FLORIDA

SpaceX is bringing its massive Starship rocket to Florida’s Space Coast for launches

Texas-based SpaceX is bringing its largest rocket to Florida for launches. The company will launch from Kennedy Space Center (LC39A) and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (SLC37) for lunar, Mars and national security missions. A huge “Gigabay” integration facility is being built near Titusville, with construction expected to finish by late 2026, alongside plans for a local manufacturing facility. These expansions aim for “airport-like” operations, potentially supporting up to 76 Starship launches and 152 landings annually. About 600 jobs are expected to be created. No data yet on investment numbers. 

 

New shipbuilder for Bay County

Voltari Electric Inc., a global leader in electric marine and autonomous vessel technology, has selected Bay County as the location for its U.S. headquarters, manufacturing operations and research and development center. Formerly known as Project Kilowatt, this project includes the acquisition and redevelopment of an existing shipyard and represents a $37.5 million capital investment in the community. The project is expected to create 285 new, high-wage jobs. 

 

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care proposes large investment in Jacksonville 

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care has announced a significant $550 million expansion of its Jacksonville facilities, which will include manufacturing upgrades and new packaging and distribution. The project will create 50 new jobs. 

 

Wells Fargo moving wealth management HQ to West Palm Beach

Wells Fargo is relocating the headquarters of its wealth management business to West Palm Beach from San Francisco, bringing more than 50 senior executives to South Florida. The bank has leased about 50,000 square feet in WPB and expects to house 100 workers in time. 

 

U.K.-based manufacturer selects Escambia for HQ and manufacturing hub

Field International, which provides engineering, tooling and ground support for a variety of industries including aerospace and energy, has selected Escambia County for its new United States headquarters and manufacturing operation. The company has operations in the United Kingdom, India, China and Singapore. The $8 million project will create 50 jobs. 

 

A confirmed reshored deal in Tampa

Lithium Battery Company is reshoring a fully automated, 100 percent domestic lithium-ion battery plant to South Tampa near the MacDill Air Force Base. It will feature five fully automated robotic manufacturing lines that can customize batteries in any shape or size imaginable. The plant will initially house 150 workers. The company expects to grow to 2,500 jobs as production scales. 

 

GEORGIA

Aerospace is leading the way in the South: Pratt & Whitney expanding in Columbus, Ga. 

With a $200 million investment, jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney is expanding its Columbus Engine Center. There, it assembles the GTF engines for Airbus’ A320neo aircraft made in Mobile, Ala., and the F135 engine programs. The project is expected to increase engine part production by 30 percent by 2028. The deal will create 15 jobs. It should be noted Columbus had one of its best quarters we have ever seen in the winter. 

 

London-based Finastra sets up new U.S. office in Atlanta

Financial services software firm Finastra is opening a new office in Atlanta at the iconic King building at Perimeter on the Northside. Opening the office is an effort to meet the rising demand for A.I.-enabled, cloud-ready financial technology used in data, engineering and product development. It will be Finastra’s first major U.S. hub. 

 

Virginia Transformer to create 400 jobs in Georgia

Virginia Transformer Corp. will invest $40 million to expand its existing manufacturing facility near Rincon, creating over 400 new jobs in Effingham County. The Rincon facility operates as Georgia Transformer and specializes in manufacturing custom-designed large power transformers for a wide range of industries, including utilities, data centers and renewable energy sectors.

 

Amazon places facility in New Brunswick, Ga.

Tech giant Amazon is locating its second Georgia last-mile delivery station on the coast in New Brunswick. The deal will create 100 jobs. 

 

Brazilian manufacturer sets up shop in rural Georgia

Grupo Vialume will invest $4.4 million in establishing its U.S. manufacturing operations in Colquitt-Miller County, creating 150 new jobs over approximately seven years. Based in the state of São Paulo, Grupo Vialume is a second-generation, family-owned enterprise founded in the 1980s that has grown into one of the largest global manufacturers of advanced visibility solutions for transportation safety. Its flagship business, Vialume, is Brazil’s largest producer of reflective raised pavement markers. 

 

KENTUCKY

Jim Beam pauses distillation at its main Kentucky bourbon distillery for all of 2026 

The primary James B. Beam distillery in Clermont will stop distilling new whiskey for 2026. The pause is happening in order to align production with demand, in part due to shifts in the market and trade issues on tariffs affecting spirits. 

 

Louisville Mayor announces economic development merger

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg recently announced that the boards of directors of the Louisville Economic Development Alliance (LEDA) and Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) have approved the transfer of their organizational assets into a new, combined organization. One Louisville will unify economic development, talent attraction, member services and advocacy under a single structure. 

 

Green Energy Parks announces $142 million deal in Kentucky

Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted major growth in Kentucky’s energy sector as Green Energy Parks announced plans to locate a new $142 million agricultural waste-to-energy facility in Arlington that will create 20 high-wage positions. The project represents a record investment in Carlisle County and the first private-sector announcement in the county in more than a decade.

 

Stord announces expansion in Northern Kentucky

In December, logistics company Stord Inc. announced a significant expansion in Hebron, Ky., investing over $40 million to grow its e-commerce fulfillment center, creating more than 500 new jobs by modernizing existing facilities and adding a new warehouse. This expansion aims to boost capacity with automation and A.I.-driven tech, leveraging Hebron's strategic logistics location. 

 

AKFA Aluminum to locate plant in Bowling Green

AKFA Aluminum Solutions, a division of Uzbekistan’s AKFA Group, announced plans to become the first Uzbekistani company to establish a manufacturing operation in the U.S., making a significant investment to locate a new facility in Bowling Green, creating 331 jobs. The new facility will serve as a full-cycle production hub. AKFA’s first U.S. operation will integrate recycled aluminum billets and energy-efficient systems to support a low-carbon supply chain. 

 

Nice project for Louisville

Anthro Energy, an advanced materials and battery developer, announced plans to locate a new manufacturing facility in Louisville, investing over $42 million and creating 110 new, full-time quality jobs in addition to 390 construction jobs. The new manufacturing facility will be the company’s first operation in the commonwealth and will focus on advanced electrolyte production.

 

Kroger to establish $391 million distribution center in Simpson County, Ky. 

Kroger, the largest traditional grocer in the United States, announced intentions to establish a new $391 million distribution center in Simpson County, a project that will create approximately 430 new full-time jobs. The new operation will serve as a full-line distribution center. This is in addition to the $204 million expansion in Bowling Green where Country Oven, a bakery owned by the Kroger Co., has reinvested in Kentucky.

 

GE Appliances (a Haier company) to add more punch in Louisville

In January, GE Appliances announced the launch of its first-ever in-house water filter manufacturing operation at Appliance Park in Louisville. The new plant is part of GE’s $3 billion investment in new manufacturing over five years and includes the addition of 800 jobs. 

 

Foxconn investing in Kentucky

Foxconn Technology USA Corp. (FTC USA), the American subsidiary of Taiwan-listed Foxconn Technology Co. Ltd., will locate its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Louisville with a $173 million investment that will create 180 new jobs. The project will include a state-of-the-art production system, incorporating artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) and cutting-edge computing technologies. The new facility is expected to become operational in the third quarter of 2026.

 

New North American HQ slated for Louisville

Glovesafe OpCo Inc., doing business as GLVUS, announced plans to locate its North American headquarters in Louisville, with a nearly $6 million investment, creating 200 new jobs. The project will see GLVUS establish its North American headquarters in Louisville’s LOUMED Medical & Education District in addition to a Louisville-based manufacturing facility. The new facility will produce the nation’s first domestically manufactured premium sterile surgical gloves for the U.S. market.

 

A.I. company lands in Louisville

Vsimple Inc., a leading A.I. company that specializes in improved operational inefficiencies for mid- to large-sized companies, has celebrated the ribbon-cutting of its newly relocated headquarters from Southern Indiana to Louisville, a $5.1 million investment that will create 194 jobs.

 

LOUISIANA

Another big deal in Southeast Louisiana

ElementUSA announced an $850 million investment to build a rare earth and critical minerals refining facility in St. James Parish, strengthening the U.S. supply chain for materials essential to advanced manufacturing, national defense and energy technologies. The company is expected to create 200 direct new jobs with an average salary of $90,000, which is 28 percent above the average St. James Parish wage. 

 

Big deal in Louisiana

ATALCO will establish an alumina production facility in Gramercy, La., with a $450 million investment. The plant will be the country’s first large-scale gallium plant and is a partnership with the U.S. government. 

 

Shaw Group adding 200 jobs in Livingston Parish

The Shaw Group announced it will more than double the workforce at its manufacturing facility in Walker, La., as it scales operations to support current project needs across Louisiana. The company is expected to create 209 direct new jobs. 

 

Drone manufacturer expands in Lafayette

Drone Institute announced an expansion of its Lafayette headquarters to consolidate its drone operations, data processing and pilot training within a single facility. The new facility will support the company’s growing national operations and development of advanced aerial imaging software for infrastructure assessment. The company is expected to create 610 new direct jobs over the next 10 years while retaining seven current positions in Lafayette Parish.

 

Amazon to invest $12 billion in Louisiana data center campuses in major U.S. expansion

The project is expected to create 540 on-site new jobs and support an additional 1,700 in the community overall. The investment establishes Amazon’s first data center campus in Louisiana, supporting cloud computing technologies to serve customers and continues Amazon’s commitment to the state of Louisiana.

 

Giant shipyard deal in Louisiana

Saronic Technologies is expanding operations in St. Mary Parish to increase production capacity at its autonomous surface vessels shipyard. The $300 million investment will strengthen Louisiana’s advanced manufacturing base and create new opportunities for skilled workers in one of the state’s most historic maritime communities. The company is expected to create 1,500 direct new jobs. “Saronic’s shipyard expansion in Franklin represents a major step forward for American shipbuilding, and we’re proud to deepen our roots here in Louisiana,” said Dino Mavrookas, Co-Founder and CEO of Saronic.

 

Hut 8 selects Southeast Louisiana for $10 billion A.I. data center

Another new $10 billion artificial intelligence data center will locate in Louisiana’s West Feliciana Parish. A.I. firm Anthropic has signed a long-term deal to use the facility, which will require about 1,100 construction workers. 

 

Walmart modernizes Opelousas distribution center

Walmart is adding robotics and other advanced tech at its Opelousas center. The deal calls for a $330 million investment. 

 

MISSISSIPPI

xAI investing more than $20 billion in Southhaven, Miss. 

U.S.-based, Elon Musk-owned xAI will be locating a data center in Southaven, near Memphis. Musk already has super-computing operations in Memphis. Google is also building a large data center across the river in West Memphis, Ark. The Southaven-DeSoto County data center, which will create hundreds of permanent jobs, will be known as MACROHARDRR, and is being created from an existing building being retrofitted near xAI’s newly acquired power plant in Southaven. When completed, the latest xAI data center will increase the company’s computing power to nearly 2 gigawatts. 

 

Siemens Energy plans $300 million deal in Rankin County

As part of a $1 billion investment by Siemens Energy
in its U.S. manufacturing operations, the company is investing up to $300 million and creating up to 300 new advanced manufacturing jobs through an expansion in Rankin County. Siemens Energy is a global energy technology leader that operates across the full energy landscape. The company is constructing a new manufacturing facility at the West Rankin Industrial Park in Pearl to produce electrical grid components, increasing its existing production capacity in Rankin County. 

 

Poultry processor creating 190 jobs in Laurel, Miss. 

South Carolina-based Amick Farms is expanding its chicken plant in Laurel. The $75 million deal will create 190 jobs. Gov. Tate Reeves said, “Agriculture has been at the core of Mississippi’s economy for centuries. This $74 million investment and nearly 200 jobs in Laurel builds on that strong foundation and legacy. Mississippi has the natural resources, transportation network and pro-growth environment in place to help ensure our state keeps feeding America for generations to come.” 

 

Firehawk Aerospace to establish new rocket engine plant in Lowndes County, Miss. 

Firehawk Aerospace is investing $16.5 million to establish a new rocket engine manufacturing and integration facility in Crawford, Lowndes County, Miss. The project, which includes a 636-acre site, will create 100 high-tech jobs focused on producing proprietary 3D-printed propellant rockets for defense. Operations are set to begin soon, supported by Mississippi’s
MFLEX tax incentives.

 

Pascagoula captures $316 million project 

Bulk liquid storage and logistics services provider BWC Terminals is locating a new terminal facility in Pascagoula. The project represents a corporate investment of nearly $316 million and will create 25 jobs. 

 

NORTH CAROLINA

Swiss drug maker surges investment in Wake County, N.C., to $2 billion, 500 jobs

Genentech (Swiss/California-based drugmaker) will invest $2 billion in Holly Springs, N.C., to produce next-generation anti-obesity drugs. The deal will create 500 high-wage manufacturing jobs and 1,500 construction jobs.

 

Raleigh beats Austin and Atlanta for California firm's 300-job hub

BuildOps, a software-for-contractors company, has established a new East Coast hub in downtown Raleigh. The company will hire nearly 300 to support its rapid growth. The expansion, which includes roles with an average salary of $75,000 to $220,000, solidifies the firm's presence in North Carolina. 

 

US Forged Rings announces new steel facility and up to 625 new jobs in Hertford County

The company plans to invest up to $875 million over three phases in the historic project for Hertford County. US Forged Rings (USFR), a manufacturer of large steel components, announced the big deal at the end of February. Products include critical service fabrications and specialty tubulars and forgings used in power generation such as reactors, heat-exchangers; and industrial components such as rings, shafts and cylinders used in a variety of industries, like the marine, mining, defense and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) markets.

 

Johnson & Johnson to build second major facility in Wilson County

Johnson & Johnson, the world-leading healthcare company, will expand its presence in North Carolina.
The company says it will make an additional multi-billion-dollar investment in the City of Wilson. According to the company, the project is estimated to create up to 500 new jobs at a state-of-the-art drug manufacturing facility to help deliver transformational medicines for oncology and neurological diseases. The project marks the third time in just over a year that Johnson & Johnson has selected North Carolina’s life sciences cluster to help meet its goal of manufacturing the majority of its advanced medicines in the U.S. 

In October 2024, J&J announced its first project in Wilson, a $2 billion investment that will create 420 jobs on a pharmaceutical manufacturing campus for innovative biologics. Construction of that facility is underway, and the company reports it is already ramping up hiring. In August 2025, the company secured a 160,000-square-foot site in Holly Springs dedicated to biopharmaceutical manufacturing. That $2 billion commitment over the next 10 years will create 120 jobs, according to J&J.

 

Corning and Meta announce multiyear, $6 billion agreement to accelerate U.S. data center buildout

Corning announced it will expand its North Carolina workforce 20 percent after a $6 billion Meta deal on data center development. The company will build a manufacturing facility in Hickory, N.C., in addition to expanded capacity across its North Carolina operations. 

 

OKLAHOMA

Century Aluminum to build primary aluminum plant in Inola, Okla. 

Emirates Global Aluminum and Century Aluminum Company announced that they have entered into a joint development agreement to build the first new primary aluminum production plant in the United States since 1980. The new plant, to be built in Inola as previously announced by EGA, is expected to produce 750,000 tons of aluminum per year, larger than previously envisioned and more than doubling current U.S. production. The Inola plant will create
1,000 permanent direct jobs at the facility and 4,000 jobs during construction. 

 

Unmanned aircraft systems facility opens in Oklahoma City

MyDefence officially opened its U.S. counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) manufacturing and innovation facility in Oklahoma City on February 26, solidifying the company’s North American production footprint. By producing C-UAS technology on U.S. soil, MyDefence guarantees speed and access to the end user and a secure supply chain. Drone threats continue to evolve in complexity, range and frequency, driving increased demand for agile and scalable counter-UAS.

 

Mecad USA has chosen the Tulsa Port of Catoosa for its U.S. operations 

The project will create nearly 300 new jobs in northeastern Oklahoma. Mecad specializes in precision components, industrial automation and advanced systems serving sectors such as aerospace, energy and manufacturing.

 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Food fiber plant goes to rural South Carolina

JGB Brothers, a food fibers manufacturer, announced it is establishing operations in Bamberg County. The company’s $7 million investment will create 40 new jobs. The manufacturing site will be used to produce plant-sourced food fibers, which are used as additives in human and pet food, and have extensive applications for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and building materials. 

 

Cyclic Materials to invest $82 million in South Carolina

Canada-based Cyclic Materials, a leader in recycling solutions for rare earth elements, announced it selects Chesterfield County to establish the company’s first East Coast operation. The over $82 million investment will create 90 highly skilled jobs.

 

Approximately $40 million investment will create 50 new jobs in Sumter County, S.C.

Georg Utz, Inc., a plastic container manufacturer, announced it selected Sumter County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation. The approximately $40 million investment will create 50 new jobs. 

 

Data solutions contractor to settle in Orangeburg

Texas-based Mission Critical Interior Solutions, Inc. (MCIS), a data center solutions contractor and manufacturer, announced it has chosen Orangeburg County to establish its first South Carolina operation. The $7.4 million investment will create 49 new jobs. MCIS creates architectural solutions for the data center industry. The company specializes in the design and installation of containment, raised access flooring, security cages and cabinets, and structural ceiling systems. 

 

Resin manufacturer expands in Florence, S.C. 

PRET Advanced Materials announced in the winter it will invest $18 million to expand its thermoplastic resins plant in Florence. The deal will create 74 jobs. 

 

HVAC maker expands in Lexington County, S.C. 

Hoffman & Hoffman is expanding its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions plant near Columbia. The $8.5 million project will create 60 jobs. 

 

Boat maker opening first manufacturing operation near Myrtle Beach

Asis Boats, a manufacturer of rigid, inflatable boats, announced in December it has selected Horry County to establish its U.S. manufacturing headquarters. The $10.8 million investment will create 93 new jobs.

 

Metal fabricator creating jobs in South Carolina

Advanced Metalworks, a metal fabrication company, announced it is expanding its operations in Anderson County. The company’s $10.5 million investment will create 69 new jobs.

 

A $13.5 million investment will create 170 new jobs in Columbia MSA 

A Sweden-based manufacturer of modern oral pouches, WiJo Pouches, announced it will locate the company's first North American manufacturing operation in Lexington County. 

 

TENNESSEE

Nuclear fuel supplier will invest more than $560 million to expand its Oak Ridge facility

Nuclear fuel supplier Centrus Energy plans a major expansion in East Tennessee, transitioning its Oak Ridge facility to a high-rate manufacturing plant. As part of the expansion, Centrus plans to create nearly 430 new jobs and invest more than $560 million in Anderson County over the next several years to support both the growth in workforce and investment in the production of thousands of advanced centrifuges.

 

FedEx to add 1.6 million square feet at Memphis hub

Federal Express, headquartered in Memphis, is building a five-story, 1.6 million-square-foot sorting facility for e-commerce small package at its largest hub there. 

 

Laser Isotope Separation Technologies expanding in Roane County

LIS Technologies will create 203 jobs and invest $1.38 billion in an Oak Ridge, Tenn., facility on the formerly named Duct Island. This announcement marks the third-largest nuclear-related investment since the creation of TNECD’s Nuclear Energy Fund.

 

Big South Korean project lands in Tennessee

Korea Zinc will create 420 new jobs in Montgomery County, Tenn., and an additional 320 jobs in Smith County over the next five years. The project is a huge, $6.6 billion investment. The announcement, made by the world’s leading comprehensive nonferrous metal manufacturer, represents the company’s first U.S. locations and the largest single private corporate investment made in Tennessee state history.

 

TEXAS

Google moves into the Sail Tower in Austin after all

Google has begun occupying downtown Austin’s Sail Tower, officially ending years of the building sitting mostly dark despite the company leasing the entire space. Let me repeat that: the entire space of a 35-story building. The building at 601 West Second Street is humming with workers, indicating a real move by Google. That activity started late in 2025 and is continuing in early 2026. The Sail Tower (pictured) broke ground in 2019 and was finished in 2022. Google’s lease, if they wish to renew it, runs to 2038. 

 

Bezos’ Blue Origin has its eyes on Texas

According to sources, Blue Origin, the space exploration company founded and backed by Jeff Bezos, is reportedly eyeing Central Texas for a major aerospace project valued at nearly
$1 billion. The planned investment would involve building a large-scale manufacturing and logistics hub in the Austin region. Blue Origin’s search is reportedly focused on about 100 acres of land within 15 miles of Interstate 35, with about 20 acres for manufacturing and 80 acres for logistics operations. The deal could bring over 2,000 jobs over the course of five years to the Austin area according to several sources. Blue Origin already has a major launch site in Van Horn, Texas. 

 

Tax breaks approved to lure $1 billion rare earth magnet plant to Northlake, Texas

MP Materials, which opened the only large-scale U.S.-based rare earth magnet plant in Fort Worth in 2023, is on the hunt for another one, this one in Northlake, Texas. The magnets are essential components in aerospace (drones) and defense systems as well as the F-35s built in Fort Worth. The MP Materials deal could be worth $1.2 billion and generate 1,000 jobs or so, according to reports. 

 

Stellar Energy looking to place data center supplier in Fort Worth; potential 1,400 jobs

The City of Fort Worth is mulling capturing a company that produces modular cooling equipment for data centers, as that sector has seen rapid growth. Stellar Energy Americas is the target, which claims it will quickly create over 1,400 jobs by 2027. 

 

A $500 million investment made in Bee Cave, Texas

Advanced space communications company Cesium-
Astro plans to invest more than $500 million in a new, high-tech advanced manufacturing facility and global headquarters in Bee Cave, Texas. The project will create more than 500 new jobs in the next five years. The company’s work centers on aviation, aerospace and the defense industries. 

 

Tekscend Photomask expands in Round Rock

Tekscend Photomask is expanding its photomask production in the Austin MSA in Round Rock. The project will represent a $223 million investment and create 50 new jobs. The photomasks are used in the production of semiconductors. 

 

Building materials manufacturer to invest $170 million in San Antonio MSA

Ecor Global is investing $170 million to convert agricultural waste into recyclable structural panels as alternatives to plywood in Elmendorf, Texas. The facility is expected to employ about 150 workers once fully operational. 

 

GlobalWafers has begun production in Sherman, Texas

GlobalWafers’ first U.S. plant is producing 12-inch wafers with a $3.5 billion investment total. It opened in May 2025. The second plant there is a $4 billion facility. The product will be used by Texas
Instruments and Apple. 

 

Space-based cellular network creator investing billions in Texas

AST SpaceMobile is expanding its space-based satellite plant in Midland, Texas. The company now employs more than 1,800 people, the majority based at its west Texas
headquarters. It has also established a new facility in Homestead, Fla. AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation BlueBird satellites feature advanced cellular broadband communications technologies for low Earth orbit, including the largest phased-array antennas ever built. The company plans to continue working alongside its U.S. strategic partners, including AT&T, Verizon, American Tower and Google, to deploy a global satellite network.

 

Japanese solar manufacturer opens, aims for the creation of 750 jobs in Texas

Japanese solar manufacturer TOYO Co., Ltd. (Toyo Solar) has opened its flagship U.S. solar module plant near Houston, in Humble, Texas, starting production and aiming to create up to 750 jobs by scaling to five assembly lines by 2027, bolstering U.S. solar supply with American-made panels. The facility, which received its certificate of occupancy in October 2025, is a major step in Toyo's strategy to serve the growing demand for domestic solar components, leveraging Inflation Reduction Act incentives. 

 

Microsoft to add another data center in Medina County, Texas

Microsoft is significantly expanding its data center presence in Medina County, west of San Antonio, with plans for multiple massive facilities totaling over $1.4 billion in investment, adding significant capacity for cloud and A.I. services in the region. These new projects include several buildings along U.S. 90 West and County Road 381, with construction underway or planned through 2027-2028, adding to the already large land holdings and operations belonging to Microsoft in the area. 

 

Drone maker picks Buda, Texas

Defense tech startup Perseus Defense has chosen Buda (dubbed “America’s Golden Dome for Drones”) for its new headquarters and manufacturing hub, aiming to build low-cost micro-missiles for drone defense, creating hundreds of high-tech jobs in a major boost for the region’s defense innovation sector. The new facility at Tower Business Park will handle R&D, testing and production of their guided missiles, creating 400 jobs within five years. 

 

Southwest Airlines to expand with 2,000 jobs in Austin

Austin has become a key hub for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines. In the winter quarter, the airline announced it is establishing a new crew based at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, with new hires of pilots and flight attendants. The project will create 2,000 jobs. The city of Austin is offering $2,750 per new hire over five years. 

 

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer to create 900 jobs in Taylor, 100 in Georgetown, Texas

Compal USA Technology — a wholly owned subsidiary of Compal Electronics Inc. that has built computers, tablets and smartphones for companies like Apple Inc., Alphabet Inc., Dell Technologies Inc. and Toshiba Corp. — has a notable plan to expand near Austin. 

 

AT&T HQ to leave downtown Dallas for Plano

AT&T is relocating its global headquarters from downtown Dallas to a 54-acre site in Plano. Construction and transition are expected to take place through 2028, with partial occupancy targeted in the second half of 2028. AT&T has said it will consolidate several North Texas offices (Dallas, Plano, Irving) into the new campus, which will house thousands of employees, including the 6,000 at its current headquarters in downtown Dallas. 

 

Pegatron plans to create 100 jobs at future Georgetown, Texas manufacturing plant

Electronics contract manufacturer Pegatron Corp. plans to create 100 jobs and invest $35 million at its new Georgetown facility, according to requirements outlined in a proposed incentives agreement with the city. The project will mark the Taiwanese company's first U.S. factory.

 

VIRGINIA

Another data center announced in the American South. . .nearly 80 data centers announced in the South in calendar year 2025 

CleanArc Data Centers will invest $3 billion to construct a new state-of-the-art data center campus in Caroline County, Va. At full capacity, the project will create 50 new jobs in the Commonwealth. “Virginia is the data center capital of the world, and I am thrilled that CleanArc has selected Caroline County as the site to invest $3 billion for their newest data center campus,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.

 

Federal court grants Dominion injunction, allowing offshore wind construction to proceed

Dominion Energy‘s $11.2 billion CVOW project off the coast of Virginia Beach, which was ordered to pause work in December 2025 by President Trump, has now been allowed to resume. 

 

Plant expansion announced in Danville

Infinity Global Inc., an international leader in high-end packaging solutions, plans to expand operations at its Danville headquarters with a $34 million investment. The investment will more than double the company’s Virginia workforce, creating 150 new jobs in the Commonwealth. Founded in the City of Danville in 2005, Infinity Global provides end-to-end packaging solutions for global luxury retailers across 70 countries. From product development and manufacturing to global distribution to data management, the company works with clients to design and source custom, sustainable packaging for high-end fashion, jewelry and beauty products.

 

Company investing in Chesterfield County, Va. 

Solstice Advanced Materials announced plans in the winter to invest over $220 million in multiple projects to expand operations at the company’s existing ballistic fiber manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County. Upon completion, the expansion will create 100 new jobs in the Commonwealth. Solstice Advanced Materials is a global specialty materials company. It offers high-performance solutions that enable critical industries and applications, including refrigerants, semiconductor manufacturing, data center cooling, nuclear power, protective fibers, healthcare packaging and more. 

 

Avio selects Pittsylvania County for $500 million-plus investment

Avio USA Inc. — a subsidiary of global aerospace company Avio S.p.A — will invest approximately $500 million to establish an 860,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park in Hurt, Va. The new facility will produce solid rocket motors for defense, tactile propulsion, missile systems and the commercial space sectors. The Pittsylvania
County facility will bring more than 1,000 new jobs to Southside Virginia through a major custom investment incentive partnership with the Commonwealth.

 

Cable maker investing big in Virginia

LS Cable & System, a leader in power and communication cable and system solutions, announced plans for a significant additional investment in Chesapeake, Va. Undertaken through three LS C&S subsidiaries, the $689 million project is expected to be the single largest capital investment in the history of the Hampton Roads region and create over 430 new jobs.

 

Power solutions manufacturer investing $50 million in Richmond MSA

Eaton, an intelligent power management company, will invest over $50 million to expand its existing manufacturing footprint in Henrico County, Va.. Upon completion, the project is expected to create 200 new jobs.

 

Window and door manufacturer turns deal in rural Virginia 

Cornerstone Building Brands will invest $4.9 million and create 50 new jobs to expand production capacity at its Rocky Mount, Va., campus. The Franklin County production facility manufactures the company’s PlyGem® Windows & Doors.