January 2026

Regional

 

Ford and SK On are ending their BlueOval SK joint venture

In the final month of 2025, Ford announced it is taking full ownership of the two large EV battery plants in Glendale, Ky., and SK On is taking the Tennessee plant, reflecting a shift due to slower-than-expected EV demand. Ford will operate the Kentucky facilities, which have faced reduced output, while SK On will focus on its Tennessee plant and expanding its energy storage system business to improve profitability, with the split officially closing in Q1 2026. 

 

Key Details of the Split

·       Kentucky Plants: Ford will fully own and operate both BlueOval SK battery plants in Glendale, Ky., including the one that started production in 2025. That plant will be converted to grid-scale battery manufacturing lines for energy storage that will serve the data center industry. 

·       Tennessee Plant: SK On will own and run the battery plant near the BlueOval City assembly plant in Stanton, Tenn., north of Memphis. 

·       Reason for Split: A cooling EV market, reduced demand and policy changes have prompted a strategic shift, with both companies aiming for better profitability and market responsiveness.

·       Future Operations: SK On plans to use its Tennessee plant for energy storage systems (ESS) to offset lower EV volumes while continuing to supply Ford. No word yet if the F-150 EV assembly line will be activated or discontinued; most likely delayed. 

·       Timeline: The agreement is expected to be finalized by the first quarter of 2026. 

·       Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed optimism that Ford will retain significant activity at the Kentucky plants, citing Ford's strong local presence, especially in Louisville.

·       The move is seen as a way for both companies to adapt to market realities, though it introduces uncertainty for the large Kentucky project. 

 

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 in 2026 and 3,000 jobs are expected to be generated related to the Lilly project.

 

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. 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. “This is a growth-minded company that sees a bright future in Monroeville, Monroe County and the surrounding area,” McNair said. “Bad Boy builds innovative products, and Alabama’s workforce is the right choice to help the company achieve its goals.”

 

Arkansas

 

Data center supplier investing in Arkansas

 

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. 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. 

 

Swisher announces $135 million Jacksonville expansion, adding 240 new jobs

In the winter quarter, Swisher announced a $135 million expansion of its Jacksonville, Fla., manufacturing operation to support the growing demand for its nicotine and caffeine oral pouch products. The company said the project is expected to create at least 240 jobs by the end of 2027.

 

Georgia

 

Big bio deal for Columbus, Ga. 

BioTouch, a global healthcare logistics company, will invest $12.5 million to expand two existing facilities in Columbus, creating a combined 480 new jobs in Muscogee County over the next four years. BioTouch is a single-source, global provider of healthcare kitting and logistics solutions. Its offerings include custom healthcare kitting, specialty courier services, printing and promotional solutions, end-to-end technology platforms, and advanced temperature-controlled logistics, supporting healthcare organizations and laboratories around the world. Across its two facilities in Muscogee County, BioTouch currently employs approximately 390 team members.

 

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. 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. 

 

Georgia approves Georgia Power’s massive expansion plan

To serve the incredible demand for power in this new A.I. world, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) recently authorized nearly 10 gigawatts of new power capacity for Georgia Power. The new capacity will be in the form of new gas-fired plants and battery storage. 

 

Amazon places facility in New Brunswick, Ga. 

Tech giant Amazon has located its second Georgia facility of its kind – a last-mile delivery station -- along 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. 

 

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, which specializes in manufacturing custom-designed large power transformers for a wide range of industries, including utilities, data centers and renewable energy sectors, among others.

 

Kentucky

 

Ford splits with SK On, to repurpose plant in 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 being done to align production volumes with demand, in part due to shifts in the market and trade issues affecting spirits. 

 

Stord announces expansion in Northern Kentucky

In December, 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 United States, making a significant investment to locate a new facility in Bowling Green, creating 331 Kentucky jobs. The company’s new facility will serve as a full-cycle production hub, featuring advanced extrusion, anodizing and finishing capabilities aligned with U.S. energy and environmental standards. 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 Inc., 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 jobs in addition to 390 construction jobs. The new 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 for Kentuckians. The operation will serve as a full-line distribution center, featuring scalable and automated operations to help supply the region. 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.

 

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 Kentucky jobs. In response to changes in the global supply chain and opportunities within the international advanced manufacturing market, FTC USA will establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility. The project will include a state-of-the-art production system, to produce advanced consumer electronics. The new facility is expected to become operational in the third quarter of 2026.

 

Toyota Boshoku America opens new Kentucky plant

Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and leadership at Toyota Boshoku America (TBA) to celebrate the grand opening of the company’s new, state-of-the-art $225 million facility in Hopkinsville. The new facility, located on nearly 50 acres in Christian County, is officially TBA’s first “smart plant,” implementing technologies to create a more efficient and environmentally responsible operation. Last month, the facility began production of seat frame mechanism parts such as seat tracks, seat recliners and motors, hiring 157 full-time jobs

 

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. healthcare 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, 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

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

Epic Piping expands in Louisiana, creating 76 jobs

Epic Piping, LLC, announced a $25 million expansion and upgrade of its advanced manufacturing operations in Livingston Parish to meet rising demand across natural gas, nuclear power, data center and other energy-related markets.

 

Data center-based deal done at former GM plant in Shreveport

SLB announced it will invest $30 million to expand its operations in Caddo Parish, building on its transformation of the former GM assembly plant into a modern, climate-controlled advanced manufacturing hub. 

 

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 Co-Founder and CEO of Saronic Dino Mavrookas.

 

Mississippi

 

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.” 

 

Joe Gibbs Racing sells manufacturing division; new owner to expand

Joe Gibbs Racing has sold its manufacturing business to a private equity firm that plans to pump more than $25 million into expanding the operation and creating dozens of new jobs in the Charlotte area.

 

Reynolds American is adding 200 new manufacturing jobs in Tobaccoville, N.C.

The facility will boost production of Velo Plus nicotine pouches and support its growing smokeless portfolio, following a $200 million investment and adding to the 800 jobs created in 2024-2025, as part of its major shift towards smokeless products. 

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

Sodecia Aapico Joint Venture announced in the winter it has chosen Orangeburg County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation to support Scout Motors. The company’s $120 million investment will create up to 392 new jobs. Sodecia and Aapico – both family-owned, global automotive manufacturers – are combining the companies’ core strengths to manufacture advanced ladder frames for Scout Motors. Scout is building its new assembly plant near Columbia and picked Charlotte, N.C., for its new headquarters and 1,200 jobs recently as well. 

 

 

Tennessee

 

South Korean aluminum giant ALUKO Group creating jobs in Lauderdale County, Tenn. 

The $107 million project is the second for ALUKO in the U.S. and focuses on aluminum production for electric vehicles and solar products. The first deal was announced for nearby Jackson, Tenn. This project will create 285 new jobs in the West Tennessee county. 

 

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 represents 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.

 

Another big deal captured by Clarksville, Tenn. 

T.RAD will create 928 new jobs and invest $90.2 million in Montgomery County as the company constructs a new facility at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Corporate Business Park South. The company was founded in 1936 as a radiator manufacturer in Kawasaki, Japan, and today has grown into a global corporation, operating across four continents.

 

Auto parts maker to hire 900 in Nashville

Japanese auto parts maker, Aisin AW, is investing over $90 million in a Nashville facility. The project will create 900 new jobs.

 

Texas

 

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.

 

Drone maker picks Buda, Texas
Defense tech startup Perseus Defense has chosen Buda, Texas for its new headquarters and manufacturing hub, aiming to build low-cost micro-missiles for drone defense (the initiative dubbed "America's Golden Dome for Drones"), 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 guided missiles, with significant growth expected, including 400 jobs within five years. 

 

 

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 W and County Road 381, with construction underway or planned through 2027-2028, adding to Microsoft's already large land holdings and operations in the area. 

 

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. 

 

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

 

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, which makes nearly 80 data centers announced in the South in calendar year 2025. The average has been 1.8 data center announcements a year since 1993 when SB&D was founded. 

 

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.

 

Italian aerospace firm investing $500 million in Virginia

Avio is building a new solid rocket (SRM) plant in Virginia, with a site not expected to be chosen until early 2026. The facility, run by its U.S. subsidiary Avio USA (which partners with Raytheon/RTX), will serve critical national security needs and expand the domestic supply chain for SRMs. No jobs were reported during the release in December. Virginia has an active NASA launch site at Wallops Island.

 

Cable maker investing big in Virginia

LS Cable & System, a global leader in power and communication cable and system solutions, announced plans in the winter for a significant additional investment in Chesapeake, Va. Undertaken through three LS Cable & System 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., strengthening the production of critical power solutions. Upon completion, the project is expected to create 200 new jobs in the Commonwealth.

 

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® brand Windows & Doors.