In calendar year 2021 and so far in 2022, new players (almost all of which are rural and small markets) earned special recognition for their efforts in economic development in the South. Significant project activity in the region has been turned on its head like no two years we can remember. Here are the markets from the tiniest hamlets to the largest markets in the South that captured the biggest deals in 2021 and 2022.
(Under 50,000 population)
Haywood County, Tenn. Ford Motor
Mississippi County, Ark. U.S. Steel
Bainbridge, Ga. Danimer Scientific
Wythe Co., Va. Blue Star MBR AGI
Cameron Parish, La. Venture Global
Lumberton, Miss. Idaho Forest Group
(50,000 249,999 in MSA population)
Bowling Green, Ky. Envision AESC
Hardin County, Ky. Ford/SK
Jonesboro, Ark. Nestle USA
(250,000 749,999 in MSA population)
Huntsville, Ala. Mazda Toyota
Savannah, Ga. Hyundai
Greensboro, N.C. Toyota
Charleston/North Charleston, S.C. Google
Brevard County, Fla. Terran Orbital
Charleston-Huntington-Ashland, W.Va. Nucor
(750,000 2.499 million MSA, CSA population)
Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham), N.C. Apple
Nashville, Tenn. Oracle
Memphis, Tenn. Ford Motor
Austin, Texas Samsung
(Over 2.5 million in MSA population)
Atlanta, Ga. Microsoft
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Texas Instruments
Co-States of the Year
North Carolina Apple, Google, Vinfast, Toyota
Georgia Microsoft, Hyundai, Rivian
Honorable Mention
Tennessee Ford Motor, Oracle, Ultium Cells
Arkansas U.S. Steel, Atlas Tube
Kentucky Ford Motor, Amazon, Envision AESC