Steelmaker ArcelorMittal is planning a $1.2 billion expansion near AM/NS Calvert in Mobile County, Ala.
A European steel manufacturer announced it is proceeding with plans to build a $1.2 billion advanced, non-grain-oriented electrical steel plant in Mobile County. Construction start is expected later this year. The deal will create 200 full-time jobs and an estimated 1,300 construction jobs.
Federal government aviation partner Science and Engineering Services celebrates expansion in Huntsville
Science and Engineering Services LLC (SES LLC), an aviation partner to the U.S. government and more than 30 foreign military partners, marked the official opening of a new 111,000-square-foot facility at Huntsville International Airport as it expands its capabilities. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Huntsville, SES LLC is a recognized industry leader in system development, maintenance, modification, reset, integration, training and contractor logistics support for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.
Bama spending $2 billion on Tuscaloosa stadium
For reference, The Alabama Crimson Tide is investing $2 billion in upgrades at Saban Field in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide football program was responsible for $140.6 million in revenue and $113.8 million in expenses in the 2024 fiscal year.
Longtime Birmingham manufacturer invests $45 million in neighboring Walker County
Nelson Brothers, a maker of explosives chemicals for the mining industry, is investing $45 million in its plant near Parrish in Walker County. The deal secures the current workforce of 55 and will add five jobs.
Georgia-Pacific announces $90 million investment in Arkansas
Georgia-Pacific is investing $90 million at its Crossett, Ark., mill to continue growing its retail consumer tissue business. The investment at the Crossett mill will add 50 new jobs and will increase converting capacity for high quality bath tissue, including Georgia-Pacific’s valued Angel Soft® brand. Initial production from this investment is expected in 2026. By the end of this project, Georgia-Pacific will have invested more than $250 million at Crossett since 2019.
Key Tronic Corporation executes new lease to expand domestic operations in Arkansas
Key Tronic Corporation, a provider of electronic manufacturing services, is expanding its clean-tech manufacturing operations in Arkansas, establishing its flagship manufacturing and research and development location in Springdale. The company anticipates investing more than $28 million in the new facility and expects to create over 400 new jobs in the next five years.
Messer expands presence in the South with new air separation unit in Berryville
Messer, a leading industrial gases company, has announced a strategic investment of over $70 million to construct a state-of-the-art air separation unit (ASU) in Berryville, Ark. The new facility will address the growing demand for industrial gases in the southern part of the U.S., reinforcing Messer’s commitment to supporting expanding industries in the region. Messer’s site in Berryville will create quality career opportunities, will employ more than 20 people and provide temporary local jobs during the construction phase of the project. This new ASU will also complement the company’s existing facility in Lewisville, Ark., enhancing production capacity to meet the increasing demand for essential gases.
L3Harris breaks ground on solid rocket motor “factories of the future” in Arkansas
In February, L3Harris Technologies marked the beginning of construction on four new solid rocket motor production facilities at the company’s Camden site, hosting Department of Defense officials, industry customers and state and local dignitaries at a ceremony in the winter quarter. The expansion is part of a $215.6 million cooperative agreement with the Defense Department. The new facilities will incorporate modern equipment and processes.
Charles Schwab expands in Maitland
Charles Schwab & Co., one of the nation’s leading financial services firms, will expand its presence in the Orlando region with a major investment. This economic development project marks the 200th company announcement since the inception of the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) in 2017. Schwab already employs over 1,200 people in the area and recently acquired four office buildings in Maitland.
Jacksonville Jaguars break ground on $1.4 billion stadium redo
The home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 Alltel Stadium Place, began its $1.4 billion renovation in early January, a team spokesperson said. Current work includes driving test piles to ensure they’re strong enough to support the weight of loads. Such work was approved through a foundation permit in December.
Duracell to relocate from Connecticut; invests $56 million into R&D center near Georgia Tech
Chicago-based Duracell will invest $56 million into a new research and development headquarters in Atlanta. The company will place the new hub at Georgia Tech’s Science Square, creating 110 jobs. It’s set to open in summer 2026, and will be part of the Science Square Labs. Duracell is relocating the R&D facility from Bethel, Conn., said a company spokesperson.
Seventeen-billion-dollar data center campus proposed in West Coweta County
Atlas Development has filed plans with the state for “Project Sail,” a $17 billion, 13-data-center development in Coweta County in West Georgia. Each data center could consume 72 megawatts of power, according to a site plan submitted to the county. This could mean the project would require more electricity than all of the county's households.
Aerospace company opens North American HQ in metro Atlanta
PBS Aerospace will establish its North American headquarters in Roswell, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. The small turbojet engine manufacturer’s deal will include the headquarters and manufacturing and research and development operations. The company is investing $20 million and will create 95 jobs. Aerospace products were Georgia's top export in 2023.
Irving Tissue expanding in Georgia to the tune of $600 million
In the fall quarter, Gov. Brian Kemp announced that Irving Tissue will add 100 new jobs as part of a nearly $600 million expansion at its facility in Macon, Ga.
Buffalo Trace finishes $1.3 billion distillery expansion in the capital city of Frankfort, Ky.
In early January, a 10-year, $1.3 billion expansion plan completed at Buffalo Trace’s distillery in Frankfort. The company recently added eight fermenters, at 93,000 gallons each, giving it 32 total on the campus.
Churchill Downs unveils $920 million new Kentucky Derby experience
Churchill Downs announced in the winter hundreds of millions in capital projects (stretching out over multiple years) to "enhance and expand the Kentucky Derby experience." The Louisville-based company projects are, collectively, the largest expansion and renovation undertaken in the 150-year history of the storied racetrack.
UniFirst expanding in Owensboro
UniFirst Corp., a North American leader in providing customized business uniform programs, facility service products and first aid and safety services, will expand its existing facility in Owensboro with a nearly $28 million investment.
Nitto to locate new multi-million-dollar facility in Frankfort, creating 220 manufacturing jobs
Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Nitto, a global developer of state-of-the-art technology and provider of products and services for automotive, electronics, aerospace and other industries, will open a new facility in Frankfort, creating 220 full-time jobs.
“The economic momentum Kentucky is seeing is a direct result of tremendous growth among our largest and most vital industries, and manufacturing, automotive and aerospace are at the center of that growth,” said Gov. Beshear.
Kitchen Food Co. investing $69 million to build world-class facility in Hopkinsville, creating 925 Kentucky jobs
Governor Andy Beshear recently announced one of the largest job-creation projects in the commonwealth of Kentucky since the start of his administration. Kitchen Food Co., a premium ready-meals business originally founded in Australia, will locate a new world-class prepared foods facility in Hopkinsville with a $69 million investment creating 925 quality ongoing for Kentucky residents. This represents the single largest job-creation announcement in Christian County in over 20 years, and the fifth largest job-creation project statewide under the Beshear-Coleman administration.
Cinis Fertilizer to build $109.2 million green fertilizer production plant, creating 65 jobs in Hopkinsville
Cinis Fertilizer, a Sweden-based producer of green fertilizer, plans to locate a new $109.2 million production plant in Christian County, a project that will create 65 new full-time jobs. The company will construct a new facility and the operation will recycle waste salt from battery production at the nearby Ascend Elements facility to produce low-carbon fertilizer. New jobs created at the facility will include, among others, process operators, warehouse personnel, process engineers and general
administration.
Next-generation agritech facility represents a $50 million investment in Pulaski County
Bosch Berries, an international grower of bell peppers, strawberries and blackberries, celebrated the grand opening of its new $50 million greenhouse operation in Pulaski County. Kentucky has captured several of these high-end greenhouses of late. Twenty-eight jobs are being created.
Chick-fil-A Supply to set up $100 million distribution center in Kentucky
Chick-fil-A Supply is building a new $100 million distribution center in Kenton County, Ky. The deal will create 178 jobs and will support about 150 Chick-fil-A retail locations.
Stellar Snacks cuts ribbon on largest economic project in West Louisville in over 20 years
In the winter, Stellar Snacks, a mother-daughter-owned pretzel company based in Carson City, Nev., joined Kentucky officials to cut the ribbon on the company’s newest operation, a $137 million investment set to create 350 full-time jobs.
DHL Express to build $292 million plant in Northern Kentucky
German shipper DHL Express broke ground on a large facility in the fall quarter. The aviation maintenance operation will create 300 new jobs across the river from Cincinnati.
Climeworks proposes $50 million investment to expand hub into Southwest Louisiana
The direct air capture (DAC) technology developer Climeworks recently announced plans to build a facility in Southwest Louisiana as part of the “Project Cypress” DAC Hub. Climeworks will mobilize an additional $50 million in private investments to match the initial $50 million in DOE funding. The company will hire 140 in the deal.
Packaging maker investing $35 million to enhance and upskill its workforce at its plant in Hammond
Graham Packaging, a leader in design and manufacturing of sustainable packaging, is investing $35 million to expand its production facility in Tangipahoa Parish. The expansion will modernize equipment and upskill its workforce of 100.
Stark Aerospace expanding in Columbus, Miss.
Global aerospace and defense company Stark Aerospace is expanding in Lowndes County, Miss., as it has won a new U.S. Navy contract. The deal will create 96 jobs. Investment totals were not available.
Southeastern Timber Products investing more than $120 million in Choctaw County
Southeastern Timber Products is expanding its operations in Ackerman. The project represents a corporate investment of $123.4 million and will create 40 new jobs. Mississippi-based Southeastern Timber Products is a family-owned-and-operated manufacturer of southern yellow pine lumber, timber and decking products. The company is expanding its Ackerman sawmill to increase production capacity from 120 million board feet per year to 300 million board feet per year.
Yancey Engineered Solutions locating operations in Panola County
Generator enclosure and fuel tank manufacturer Yancey Engineered Solutions, a division of Yancey Bros. Co., is locating operations in Batesville. The project is a $20.8 million investment and will create 250 jobs.
ROCKWOOL expanding operations in Marshall County
ROCKWOOL is expanding its operations in Marshall County. The project represents a corporate investment of more than $100 million and will create approximately 30 new jobs. ROCKWOOL, the world’s leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly stone wool insulation, has been operating in North America for over 35 years. The company’s Marshall County facility, which has been in operation since 2014, produces a range of residential, commercial, industrial and roofing stone wool insulation.
Chemical manufacturer to invest $540 million in Harrison County
PCC GulfChem Corporation is locating manufacturing operations in DeLisle. The project represents a corporate investment of at least $540 million and will create at least 84 jobs. In addition to the direct jobs being created by PCC GulfChem, hundreds of contractor and construction jobs also will be created during the project’s initial phases.
Koch Foods expanding in Mississippi
Food production and distribution company Koch Foods is expanding in Scott County. The project is a $145.5 million investment and will create 128 jobs. Founded in 1973, Koch Foods is a U.S.-based retail, wholesale and industrial food-service provider that stands out as one of the nation’s largest poultry processors. To better serve its customers, Koch Foods is expanding its processing and distribution operations and rehabbing its facility in Morton.
Massive facilities from some of the world’s largest drug developers soon to be operational in the Research Triangle
North Carolina is one of the South’s major hubs for bio-manufacturing, specifically in the Triangle and just outside of it to the west and east, such as Durham, Wilson County and elsewhere. The Triangle’s largest project underway is Novo Nordisk’s $4.1 billion expansion in Johnston County. The Danish drugmaker began building a new facility that will bring 1.4 million square feet of production space once online. Other projects being built in and near the Triangle include Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, which is finishing its multi-billion project in Holly Springs, among several others underway.
Norwegian outerwear manufacturer adding jobs at HQ in North Carolina
Helly Hansen, a Norwegian outerwear and workwear brand, is adding jobs in Greensboro, N.C., at Kontoor Brands’ headquarters there. There are a yet-to-be-known number of new jobs announced in the deal.
Hendrick Motorsports expanding its racin’ HQ in North Carolina
The NASCAR team is investing $65 million to expand its presence in Concord, N.C. No jobs reported.
MetOx International to create 333 jobs in Chatham County
MetOx International, a pioneering manufacturer of high-temp superconducting wire, will build a major production facility in Chatham County, creating 333 jobs. The company will invest $193.7 million in North Carolina. Met-Ox, with headquarters in Houston, Texas, is a leader in High Temperature Superconducting technology (HTS) and the company is dedicated to advancing new energy solutions and establishing a resilient HTS manufacturing base in the United States.
Finnish furniture maker SBA Home announces first North American manufacturing facility
SBA Home, a furniture manufacturer, will create 250 jobs in Davie County, N.C. The newly created company says it will invest more than $70 million to establish its first North American furniture production facility in Mocksville.
SBA Home is the largest division of SBA Grupe UAB, a Lithuanian conglomerate that exports furniture to 50 different countries around the world. After more than 20 years, the company has grown to employ more than 3,000 employees in four manufacturing facilities and a distribution center in Lithuania. This new location will be a 500,000-square-foot innovative production facility to manufacture and distribute trendy furniture products to meet the demand of its U.S. customer bases.
Carolina Panthers secure as much as $800 million to improve Bank of America Stadium
The Panthers are spending as much as $800 million on updates to their Charlotte stadium. The stadium opened in 1996.
Vanguard buys Centene’s office in Charlotte
Pennsylvania-based Vanguard has purchased what was to be Centene Corp.’s East Coast headquarters in Charlotte. Vanguard is consolidating its Charlotte operations and 2,400 employees to its new office digs.
Triangle’s Wake County has worked “lots of prospects in the winter”
According to Michael Haley, executive director of Wake County Economic Development, the area he serves has about 40 project requests, and if all the deals are captured, they would equal 13,000 jobs and $7.6 billion in capital investments. Most of the working projects in Wake are in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, office deals and headquarters.
Lufthansa Technik to expand component workshop in Tulsa
In the winter quarter, Lufthansa Technik announced its plans to expand its component workshop in Tulsa during a groundbreaking ceremony. The groundbreaking ceremony marks the next phase of a multi-million-dollar investment aimed at further solidifying Lufthansa Technik’s position as a premier partner for aircraft component services in the Americas. The expansion will increase the facility’s total size to over 140,000 square feet, with an additional 25,000 square feet of new space. Overall, 90 new workstations will be created to accommodate the facility’s expanded operational needs.
A $99.6 million investment will create jobs in the Palmetto State
Cardiff Products, a beverage packaging company, has selected Lexington County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation. The $99.6 million investment will create 94 new jobs.
Eastern Engineered Wood Products selects Anderson County
Eastern Engineered Wood Products (Eastern), a wholesale distributor of engineered wood products, announced it has selected Anderson County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation. The $18.7 million investment will create 31 new jobs. Founded in Pennsylvania in 1998, Eastern supplies engineered wood products to building materials dealers and lumberyards across the East Coast.
Eaton expands its South Carolina footprint with new facility in Union County
Eaton, a global leader in intelligent power management technologies, announced it is growing its South Carolina footprint with new operations in Union County. The company’s $340 million investment will create 700 new jobs and establish a new manufacturing facility for three-phase transformers, critical to the nation’s power grid across multiple industries. A longtime South Carolina employer, Eaton provides intelligent power management solutions for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. The company serves customers in more than 160 countries.
Project anticipates creating over 250 new jobs in South Carolina
HII, a global defense provider, announced it has selected Berkeley County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation through the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of W International SC, LLC and Vivid Empire SC, LLC (collectively, “W International”), a South Carolina-based complex metal fabricator specializing in the manufacture of shipbuilding structures, modules and assemblies. Through its investment, HII anticipates creating over 250 new jobs. Headquartered in Virginia,
HII manufactures naval ships and defense technology solutions for customers including the U.S. Navy.
Charms LLC to expand in Tipton County, Tenn.
Charms will invest $97.7 million and create 62 new jobs to expand its manufacturing plant and distribution center near Memphis in Tipton County. Established in 1912, Charms is the manufacturer of Blow Pops™ and has been manufacturing candy in Covington since 1973. The company was acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries in 1988. Upon completion of the project, Charms will employ nearly 500 people in Tipton County.
West Star Aviation to expand in Hamilton County
West Star Aviation will create 200 new jobs and invest nearly $32 million in Hamilton County. West Star Aviation has been operating in Chattanooga for the last decade. The announcement marks the company’s third expansion in Tennessee.
AAON to establish operations in Memphis
AAON has selected the former American Snuff facility in Memphis to house its new HVAC production operations. Through the project, the company plans to create 828 new jobs and invest $238 million in Shelby County over the next five years.
The expansion to Tennessee will position AAON to better serve its customer base, and upon completion, the 787,000-square-foot facility will produce various types of thermal management equipment for data centers under the BASX brand, including air-cooled systems, computer room air handlers, direct evaporative coolers and liquid cooling distribution units. Based in Tulsa, Okla., AAON, Inc. is a global leader in HVAC solutions, employing nearly 4,000 people worldwide.
Washington-based software giant Microsoft announces two massive Texas data centers in Medina County
Microsoft is planning two new massive data centers in Medina County, according to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Dubbed “SAT93” and “SAT94,” the two structures will be 245,000 square feet each, and rise at a parcel of land the firm owns north of the County Road 381 and 385 intersection. The two projects combined are estimated to cost $700 million, though those estimates are subject to change. The greater San Antonio region has attracted a number of data center players over the years.
Scheduled: Over 1,000 acres of data center projects in Dallas/Fort Worth in the bag (almost)
North Texas has captured new proposed data center developments, and plans have come to light for new data center developments on a little more than 1,000 acres spread across North Texas. Four large data center campuses are proposed in Red Oak, Grand Prairie, Lancaster and Garland over the next few years. D/FW is already a huge data center market.
Semiconductor supplier expanding in Texas
Korean semiconductor supplier Samsung Electronics is investing $110 million at its facility in Killeen, Texas. The deal will create 24 new jobs.
Texas Biomedical Research Institute expanding in San Antonio
Texas Biomedical Research Institute has launched a major expansion of its West San Antonio campus. The company is spending $210 million to expand its 200-acre campus where it conducts research and development. It is looking to leverage the gains made through its involvement in efforts to combat COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The company is recruiting scientific talent at this time.
Nearly 6,000 acres on the fringe of Dallas-Fort Worth are slated for data center development
As 5,900 acres have gone up for sale in Southern Dallas-Fort Worth, sales pitches to data center operators have begun on several sites near Midlothian, Texas.
Electronics giant Delta picks D/FW for 1,500-employee plant
Taiwan-based Delta Electronics is expanding its manufacturing capacity at its campus in Plano, Texas. The company focuses on developing smart energy-saving products and solutions for artificial intelligence and cloud data centers, telecom networks, electric vehicle charging and more. The project will create 1,500 new jobs.
Serioplast to open manufacturing site in Shenandoah County
Serioplast, a global manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging, will invest $25,725,000 to occupy a 140,000-square-foot industrial facility in Shenandoah County. The company is headquartered in Seriate, Italy, and provides packaging for companies like Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser and more. The project will create 45 new jobs.
Japanese prosthetic leg maker sets up U.S. HQ in NOVA
BionicM, a Japanese developer of prosthetic devices that use humanoid robotics technologies, has announced its new U.S. headquarters in Loudoun County, Va.
Oasthouse Ventures to open sustainable indoor farming operations in Carroll County
Oasthouse Ventures Ltd., a leading sustainable business development firm in the United Kingdom specializing in low-carbon greenhouses, will invest $104.8 million to construct its first U.S.-based controlled environment agriculture operation in Carroll County. Over the next three years, the company will produce and package over 45 million pounds of tomatoes for distribution to major retailers throughout the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest United States.
With a focus on sustainability, the company plans to source more than 31,000 tons annually of Virginia-grown hardwood residuals from local sawmills to heat its greenhouses. The project will create 118 new jobs.
“Oasthouse Ventures’ decision to locate its U.S. operations in Virginia is a testament to the advantages that make the Commonwealth the best location in the country for Controlled Environment Agriculture,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This project is a technological leap forward and helps solidify Virginia as a leader in the agriculture and technology industries. I am pleased to welcome Oasthouse Ventures to Virginia and look forward to their growth.”
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