April 2026

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL

 

The “Big Buffalo” are back and roaming!

Q1 of 2026 shows that deals are back in the American South, at least for now

By Michael Randle

 

The first two quarters of 2025 were the biggest six-month bust in SB&D 100 deals in the 33-year history of our annual ranking of new and expanded projects announced publicly meeting or exceeding $30 million in investment and/or 200 jobs. We count publicly announced deals by selected service firms such as financials, data centers and distribution to name a few. We also count manufacturers, such as those in aerospace, automotive, food and beverage and metals. 

 

SB&D does not count retail, even though airport expansions are eligible. And every Buc-ee’s I have seen looks like a small airport. Buc-ee’s also pays well, with starting jobs at $20 an hour. Regardless, we do not count retail simply because the pay is relatively low compared to real economic development projects like those in financial services, pharmaceuticals, automotive and data centers. In other words, retail jobs are important for a community’s economy and quality of life, but they simply are not enough for SB&D to include as game changers in the overall economic development scene. A Walmart may be important in your life, but the pay to their workers does not move the needle enough. Not reporting or counting retail deals has been the standard by states since the practice of economic development was invented in the American South in the 1940s. 

 

A disaster: The first two quarters of 2025

After the first six months of 2025 — bisected by President Trump’s “Liberation Day” (tariffs) on April 2, 2025 — there were only 119 deals announced by the end of June. That was the worst six-month total (by over 100 projects) during the last 33 years of SB&D counting up these game-changing economic job projects. The first six months of last year were a total disaster regarding job generation after the first half of calendar year 2025. That improved in Q3 and Q4 of 2025 somewhat dramatically, but we are still digging ourselves out. 

 

The links between economic development and the economy

Obviously, economic development project counts and a good or bad economy are directly related. However, unlike real-time data, economic development projects are usually “projections” of what the economy may look like two years from now. In many cases, that is how long a project takes to become operational, especially on the manufacturing side represented by say, a $300 million automotive project or a $5 billion one. 

 

The $300 million deal may be operational in a year. The $5 billion deal will take longer, sometimes up to five years to be fully operational. It is a risk versus reward gamble for these companies, plain and simple. For example, if the demand for cars two years from now looks promising, the automotive industry will invest in that project demand today by making additions to existing plants or building new ones. 

 

If the economy is projected to be positive two or three years from now, projects increase. If the outlook two years out or even today is dismal, project activity slows, so economic development project activity is a huge indicator of the current and future economy of any state, region or nation, even the world as a whole. 

 

The end of the 2025, however, gained some momentum and 2025’s overall performance (with a total of 496 projects meeting or exceeding our thresholds) was merely low to middling compared to the last 33 SB&D 100s.So, 2025 wasn’t a total wash like 2009 with the the Great Recession or the 2021 year after COVID when deal counts were in the 300s. The yearly average of the SB&D 100 is 541 “big buffalo” deals announced. 

 

Enter the year 2026

The first quarter of 2026 saw 169 projects announced meeting or exceeding our SB&D 100 thresholds. That is an outstanding single quarter total. That is a pace, if continued for the next three quarters, for a 676-deal year, which has only been surpassed three times since 1993 — 2015 (730 deals), 2016 (695 deals) and 2017 (680 deals). Of course, predicting project activity over the last year is about as accurate as predicting when the wind will blow in this conflicted economy where the rich are getting richer, the middle class barely hanging on, and the poor are getting poorer. That’s when pay versus inflation becomes supremely important. 

 

This is also an economy where certainty is as elusive as trade policy. Today, trade policy seems to change every time the wind blows. So, in that environment, the Q1 of 2026 with 169 total announced deals is an outstanding achievement. 

 

Finally, the real, traditional Southern industry leaders in deals show up in Q1 2026

Not only did the first quarter of 2026 show big-time signs of life, the standard flag bearers of economic development in the American South showed up for the first time in a year. After shaking off a terrible year for automotive in the Southern Automotive Corridor with only 28 announced projects in 2025 (there were 111 deals in 2015, the best year ever), automotive racked up 26 deals in the first quarter of this year. 

 

It should be noted that for the South’s economy, automotive and financial services have, for at least 33 years, been the leading industries in investment and job generation in the American South, Texas to Virginia and every Southern state in between with the northern boundary being Kentucky and Virginia/D.C.

 

Automotive is still licking its wounds from the hundreds of billions in investments in electric vehicles, including batteries, R&D and new vehicle assembly lines. Of the roughly $250 billion in EV-related deals between 2021 and 2024 announced in the Southern Automotive Corridor, only about half of the projects are operating. However, most of them are built, and some have been repurposed for energy or battery storage. Some EV projects announced haven’t even broken ground yet and may never. Let’s face it, without the federal EV incentives of as much as $7,000 a vehicle when purchased (which were cut by this administration), that industry is a little on the too fast, too quick track. But EV will ultimately be the end game. It is just going to take a while longer than the experts thought. 

 

Our concerns

Our concern right now is the proliferation of data centers, an industry sector that is seeing more investment dollars in the last year in the South than the EV industry announced in total between 2021 and 2024. The EV industry is a bubble, at least for now. So, with some shady financing for data centers, some of which cost $25 billion for a single complex, and a strain on resources such as water and power, data center success is not a given. 

 

Small towns in the South are either selling their future (and soul) with these giant suckers of resources in exchange for enormous local tax generation. They will get nothing in return if data centers are a bubble, like the dot-com era of the late 1990s. While the dot-com bust was a bubble, look at what came out of it. That would be YouTube, Facebook, and even email for heaven’s sake. So, even in a bubble or bust, there are winners. We view data centers in a similar light; there will be winners and losers. 

 

Is A.I. for real? Does it increase worker productivity? Of course, that is proven. For example, my research time for an article like this through A.I. has been cut by 65 percent. I can access through A.I. hundreds of billions of sources in minutes, when the old Google search may have come from dozens of sources. So, A.I. is a huge resource for this economy. However, if it goes the way of the EV industry – too much, too fast – then we will have a double bubble economy (we passed out Dubble Bubble Gum at SEDR@RosemaryBeach in December). 

 

A double bubble, one bust after another, will be a tough one to swallow when the economy is what it is today — on the precipice of being great or collapsing. It could go either way this year or next. Clues? Implications? Note the debt this nation is currently producing. Note the debt those financing A.I. are taking on. It is growing by leaps and bounds. So, at some point, who is going to pay the piper? If and when investors are not paid, they will simply settle for whatever is left and that deal will simply be dust in the wind. 

 

Industry performance Q1 2026

Some other industries that performed well in the first quarter included aerospace (continuing its strong pace in 2025), energy, data centers/A.I., and metals. Here is the industry breakdown for Q1 big buffalo deals in the American South. 

 

2026 First Quarter Total SB&D 100 Deals 

 

Top Industries

Auto / 26

Aerospace / 22

Energy / 21

Data Center/A.I. / 20

Metals / 12

Food & Beverage / 10

Defense / 10

Financials / 9

Distribution / 8

Semiconductors/Electronics / 6

Ships / 5

Headquarters / 5

Bio/Pharma / 4

Building Materials / 2

Health Care / 2

Misc. / 7

 

Southern States Top Industry Deals Q1 2026

STATE	TOP INDUSTRY	DEALS	ALL DEALS Q1
Alabama	Automotive	5	11
Arkanasa	Food/Bev	3	9
Florida	HQ	2	13
Georgia	Aerospace	3	13
Kentucky	Automotive	3	13
Louisiana	Data Center	4	13
Mississippi	Metals	2	10
North Carolina	Financials	3	13
Oklahoma	Aerospace	3	5
South Carolina	Plastics	4	15
Tennessee	Automotive	4	13
Texas	Aerospace	9	36
Virginia	Aerospace	4	15
Q1 Total			169

Source: SB&D

 

 

ALABAMA

Big automotive deal in Gadsden, Ala. 

Global automotive supplier Minth Group Limited plans to turn a former steel-making site in Gadsden into its largest-ever campus with a $430 million investment that will create more than 1,300 jobs. 

 

Auto components maker to bring new facility to Opelika, Ala. 

GMB USA Alabama Inc. will produce precision automotive components for hybrid electric vehicles at its new operation in the Orr Industrial Park in Opelika, further positioning the region as a hub for next-generation automotive technology. The project will create 75 jobs with an investment of $9 million. The company will build hybrid electric vehicle performance parts. The project is slated for the 400-acre brownfield site that was the previous location of Republic Steel and Gulf States Steel. The new facility will produce high-quality plastic and aluminum components for automakers’ U.S. plants including Hyundai in Montgomery and Kia in West Point, Ga.

 

Auto parts supplier invests in Auburn

Shinhwa Auto USA Corporation is strengthening its manufacturing footprint in Auburn with a $37 million expansion that will bring advanced tooling capabilities and vertical integration to its Alabama operations. The strategic investment incorporates Italian toolmaker SAPP S.p.A. into Shinhwa’s Auburn operations, creating approximately 20 highly skilled engineering and technical positions while positioning the company to deliver complete aluminum die casting solutions from a single U.S. manufacturing base.

 

German firm to invest and hire in Auburn

Germany’s KettenWulf plans to invest $34 million in an advanced manufacturing operation in Auburn that will create 70 jobs and serve as the foundation for the company’s future growth in the U.S. The company specializes in high-performance engineered conveyor chains, drive chains and sprockets for a wide range of industrial applications and customers around the world.

 

ARKANSAS

Conagra Brands expanding in Northwest Arkansas

Conagra Brands, one of North America’s leading branded food companies, will expand its existing manufacturing facility in Fayetteville, Ark., through a multi-year investment of approximately $220 million. The project is expected to create more than 100 new jobs over the next five years, strengthening the region’s manufacturing workforce and economy.

 

Faymonville Group tops out new facility in Little Rock

 

FLORIDA

 

Siemens Energy opens Orlando power grid lab

Siemens Energy’s new Innovation Center in Orlando has opened. The lab is designed to make the power grid smarter, more reliable and faster through A.I.-powered implementations. Known as Grid AI Lab, the mini data center focuses on turning real-time data into immediate decision making for power companies. 

 

Blue Origin to build a second launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Space launch company Blue Origin has filed plans to build a 500-foot Launch Umbilical Tower at Space Launch Complex 36B/11. Also included is a 600-foot Lightening Protection System tower to protect both the launch tower and New Glenn rockets on the pad. The towers will be among the tallest structure scattered along the Cape. The new site sits just north of Blue Origin’s existing facilities at SLC-36, which is where New Glenn currently operates. The expansion increases Blue Origin’s footprint to nearly 1 million square feet of manufacturing space under one roof. 

 

Data center approved for Polk County, Fla. 

Commissioners in Fort Meade, Fla., approved a developer agreement for a $2.6 billion data center spanning 4.4 million square feet on a former phosphate mine. The project is expected to create nearly 500 jobs. 

 

Palm Beach County is one of the nation’s hottest office development markets

The West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area ranks fifth nationally for office space construction in CommercialCafe’s annual Office Pipeline report. As of March, the market had about 1.5 million square feet of office space in development. That figure trailed only Boston, New York City (Manhattan), Dallas and Los Angeles. 

 

EU Motors opens drone motor plant in Hallandale Beach, Fla. 

EU Motors, a drone motor manufacturer, has opened its plant in South Florida. It manufactures critical drone components for use in national security. The company flew production machinery directly from its plant in Poland to start up the new facility. The new plant is using robots to produce 5,000 motors used in drones per month. 

 

GEORGIA

UCB to invest $2 billion in Georgia, establish first U.S. manufacturing facility

Global biopharmaceutical giant UCB, Inc. is planning a significant investment of $2 billion in Georgia to establish its first U.S. pharmaceutical biologics manufacturing facility. The investment will generate 330 new jobs over the next several years at the Rowen Foundation's state-of-the-art, 2,000-acre science and learning campus in Gwinnett County. A global biopharmaceutical company based in Belgium, UCB’s North American headquarters are located in Smyrna and currently support more than 400 jobs. UCB’s expertise spans neurology and immunology.

 

 

Grady Heath System invests $1 billion in South Fulton County medical campus

The massive investment will include a new medical center campus in the Atlanta metro including medical offices and a 200-bed acute care hospital and freestanding emergency department. 

 

Healthcare technology company scales up in metro Atlanta

Glytec, a major health tech company, will relocate its headquarters to Cobb County, adding 500 new jobs over the next several years. Founded in Georgia by a licensed endocrinologist, the rapidly growing healthcare information technology company is a global leader in software and related services that manage insulin levels for diabetic patients in hospitals. 

 

Prime Inc. to invest in Georgia

Prime Inc., a leading North American transportation company, will invest more than $160 million to establish a new Southeastern regional hub in Spalding County. The new facility will create more than 120 full-time jobs in addition to hiring over 50 professional drivers.

 

Yamaha to move HQ to the Peach State

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has officially decided to move its U.S. headquarters to Kennesaw, Ga., opting to relocate out of California following roughly 50 years of operation there. This decision follows a meeting between the governor and Yamaha executives in October of last year at the Southeast U.S./Japan (SEUS-Japan) annual gathering in Tokyo. 

 

Energy tech company building new in rural Georgia

PFIFFNER Group, an international leader in technology solutions for energy, is investing an estimated $18.5 million in a new manufacturing facility in Franklin, Ga., creating up to 60 full-time jobs in Heard County. 

 

KENTUCKY

Gov. Beshear: Global Laser Enrichment announces single largest investment in Western Kentucky history

Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) announced plans to develop the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF), a $1.76 billion project that will create 240 new high-wage positions in McCracken County. “This is a game-changing investment for Western Kentucky and our entire commonwealth, and I am excited to see this project and the 240 great jobs come to life for families in Paducah and the surrounding region,” said Gov. Beshear. “This project solidifies our role as a leader in the country’s nuclear power sector and will transform our economy, creating opportunities for Kentucky families for generations.”

 

GLE’s 665-acre Paducah site is strategically located adjacent to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. PLEF is currently under license application review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Once licensed, the facility is expected to re-enrich over 200,000 metric tons of high-assay depleted uranium under a 2016 contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, accelerating DOE’s site cleanup mission, reducing long-term federal costs, and providing a new fuel source for nuclear power generation.

 

Gov. Beshear: Toyota celebrates 40th anniversary of operations in Georgetown with announcement of $800 million investment in Kentucky

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) is celebrating 40 years of manufacturing in the commonwealth by announcing an $800 million investment to prepare the plant for its second battery electric vehicle. In addition to the investment, Toyota will donate a combined total of $4.4 million to Fayette and Scott County Schools and Eastern Kentucky University to help advance the next generation workforce and U.S. manufacturing.

 

“Kentucky changed for the better 40 years ago when Toyota chose to make Georgetown its new Kentucky home, and I am proud to say that partnership remains strong with the company’s investment of $800 million at this site and the additional $4.4 million going toward our future workforce,” said Gov. Beshear. “Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky is Toyota’s largest vehicle manufacturing plant in the world, producing over 15 million vehicles since its doors opened and benefiting Kentuckians through good jobs and a strong economy. Today, we’re building on that success to ensure the future remains bright for this company and our commonwealth.”

 

AXN Automotive Systems celebrates grand opening in Louisville facility

The automotive parts supplier has opened a larger facility in Louisville. The $15 million investment will create 10 new full-time positions. 

 

Northern Kentucky snags deal

Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted growth in Kentucky’s food and beverage industry as MarfoFMA Corp. announced plans to open its first production facility in the United States in Covington – a project secured during the October 2025 economic trade mission to Europe. The over $37 million investment will create 78 highly skilled positions.

 

Steuart Nutrition to establish new headquarters in Erlanger with $11.4 million investment

Steuart Nutrition — a producer of flexible, innovative manufacturing and packaging solutions for medium- to large-size supplement and wellness brands – announced plans in the spring quarter to locate its company headquarters and establish a new manufacturing operation in Erlanger with an $11.4 million investment that will create 93 full-time jobs. The project will be the company’s first facility in the commonwealth.

 

LOUISIANA

Shintech announces $3.4 billion expansion in Louisiana

Shintech Louisiana announced a $3.4 billion investment to bolster its manufacturing capabilities in the state. The project includes construction of a second ethylene unit and a fourth chlor-alkali and vinyl chloride monomer unit at the company’s existing Iberville Parish facility, marking the next phase of the company’s long-term growth in Louisiana. The company is expected to create 163 direct new jobs with an average annual salary of $117,329, which is 42 percent above the average Iberville Parish wage, while retaining 725 current positions. 

 

Amazon selects Louisiana for $12 billion data center campuses in major U.S. expansion

Amazon announced plans to invest $12 billion to construct a new, state-of-the-art data center campus that will support cloud computing technologies. The development represents a coordinated, multi-site investment across Caddo and Bossier Parishes, designed to support regional economic activity and serve customers. As demand for A.I. and digital infrastructure accelerates nationwide, Louisiana continues to stand out as a place that delivers. . .combining reliable power, a world-class workforce and a strong record of executing complex projects at scale. The project is expected to create 540 direct new jobs.

 

Associated Wholesale Grocers announces $110 million investment in Louisiana

Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) will invest $110 million to upgrade its distribution in St. Tammany Parish across the lake from New Orleans. The company will retain 334 current positions at its facility. 

 

Textron Systems expands Louisiana operations with multi-site investment

Textron Systems Corporation announced a $5.8 million, multi-site investment across Southeast Louisiana to expand manufacturing and engineering operations of advanced military vehicles and naval systems for the United States and allied customers. The projects span three of the company’s existing facilities in St. Tammany and Orleans parishes. Cumulatively across all three projects, the company is expected to create 133 direct new jobs while retaining 761 current positions. 

 

Southern Energy Renewables announce $1.4 billion methanol and sustainable aviation fuel facility in St. Charles Parish

Southern Energy Renewables announced it will invest $1.4 billion to develop a green methanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility that will convert the region’s abundant wood-waste biomass into some of the lowest lifecycle carbon fuels on the market, leveraging Louisiana’s established energy infrastructure, innovation ecosystem and skilled workforce. The company is expected to create 120 direct new jobs. 

 

Akston chooses Louisiana for life sciences manufacturing expansion

Akston, a biotechnology company focused on animal health, has opened a new manufacturing facility as part of a $7 million investment in Caddo Parish to expand its U.S. manufacturing capabilities and strengthen Louisiana’s life sciences sector. The company is expected to create 69 direct new jobs over five years. 

 

MISSISSIPPI

 

SMBC Group announces 2,000 new jobs in Charlotte

SMBC Group, one of Japan’s largest financial institutions, is creating 2,000 jobs over the course of six years and investing $50.5 million to establish a new office and second U.S. headquarters in Charlotte. “Japan is one of North Carolina’s top economic partners, and I’m honored to welcome another, leading Japanese company to our state,” said Gov. Josh Stein. “Charlotte, the second biggest banking center in the United States, will be an ideal home for SMBC’s second North American headquarters as the bank continues to grow.” The project is one of the largest economic development deals in Charlotte history and the pay will be good as well — the average salary will be over $165,000. 

 

U.S. Navy bringing 444 jobs to North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston

The Navy is moving into a new $350 million hanger complex at the North Carolina Global TransPark that will house 444 workers. The operations will support MRO on C/KC-130 transport aircraft and HH-60W rescue helicopters. The complex, when completed, will be 700,000 square feet. The first aircraft are expected to arrive in fall of this year. 

 

Johnston County, N.C., picked for large magnet facility

Vulcan Elements, a manufacturer of rare earth magnets, will invest over $900 million in Benson, N.C., to establish the largest magnet production facility outside of China. The company will hire 1,000 in the deal. 

 

Capital Group picks Charlotte for major operation

Asset manager Capital Group has chosen Charlotte for its East Coast operation hub. The capture will include a $60 million investment and 600 new jobs. 

 

Hitachi Energy expands in Cary, N.C.

In April, Hitachi Energy announced plans for a $10 million USD Power Electronics Center of Competence in Cary, located in the Raleigh metro. The deal that will help strengthen the power grid will create 150 new jobs. 

OKLAHOMA

Sofidel continues its expansion in the U.S. with $775 million investment in Inola

Sofidel, one of the world’s leading paper manufacturers producing tissue for hygienic and household use, is expanding its facility in Inola, Okla. The total investment amounts to $775 million, and the machine startup is scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.

 

Aerospace and defense in Oklahoma continues to soar with almost half a billion in new capital investment

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce and ACES (Aerospace Commerce Economic Services) announced in the 2025 ACES Annual Report that Oklahoma’s second largest and fastest growing industry, aerospace and defense, experienced another year of massive growth in 2025 after securing $450 million in new capital investment, a 300 percent increase from the previous year. That investment comes from 37 new or expanding businesses in Oklahoma, creating 1,325 new jobs.

 

“In a year when Oklahoma saw a record $14.7 billion in capital investment, we also saw unprecedented growth in aerospace and defense,” said Barbra Coffee, Executive Director of Office of Economic Development, Growth, and Expansion (EDGE). “Our pro-business environment and focus on economic diversification are attracting companies from around the country and world, helping Oklahoma quickly emerge as a national leader in defense manufacturing and aerospace innovation.”

 

Major aerospace and defense announcements in Oklahoma include:

• CBC Global Ammunition
  Building a $300 million manufacturing facility at MidAmerica Industrial Park, creating 350 jobs.

• Long Wave Inc.
  Won a multi-million subcontract to help develop a new aircraft for the U.S. Navy, creating 100 new jobs.

• Firehawk Aerospace Inc.
  Building a $22 million additive rocket fuel manufacturing facility in Lawton, creating 100 new jobs.

• Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, Inc.
  Reinvesting in Oklahoma by building a 50,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in Bristow, creating 60 new jobs.

• Dawn Aerospace USA, LLC
  Chose the Oklahoma Air and Space Port for its U.S. operation for the Mk-II Aurora spaceplane.

 

Global Machine Company expands Muskogee operations

Global Machine Company, a precision metal fabrication and machine shop, has announced the expansion of its Muskogee operations to increase production capacity and create skilled jobs. The company, which has operated in Muskogee since 2004, provides metal fabrication, CNC machining and custom manufacturing services to industrial customers across the United States and international markets.

 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Carbon composite manufacturer investing in South Carolina

United Composite Materials, an advanced carbon composite materials manufacturer, announced in the spring quarter that it has selected Greenville County for its first South Carolina operation. The company’s $17.5 million investment will create 50 new jobs. 

 

South Carolina keeps surging with “middle class” deals with incredible consistency

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Palmetto State over the decades is known for “big buffalo.” BMW, Volvo, Daimler, Fuji Film (back in the day), Boeing. . .so many. But if you look at S.C.’s real success since the 1980s, it is the 50-to-200-job projects that are in its swing plane. South Carolina turns as many as any state in that slot. Here is another one:

 

NSP Panels, an acoustic panel manufacturer, announced it is establishing operations in Marion County. The company’s $4.75 million investment will create 63 new jobs. Offering both commercial and residential solutions, NSP Panels markets and produces acoustic absorptive and decorative wall panels and accessories for floors, walls and ceilings. 

 

Solar cell manufacturer to create over 564 jobs in the Palmetto State

Suniva, a U.S. owned and operated solar cell manufacturer, announced it selects Laurens County for its first South Carolina manufacturing facility. The company’s $350 million investment will create 564 new jobs. Suniva is one of the largest and oldest merchant solar cell manufacturers in the country. Founded in 2007 out of U.S. Department of Energy-funded research at the University Center for Excellence in Photovoltaics at Georgia Tech, the company became well known for leading the push for solar cell manufacturing in the United States as a pillar of the nation’s energy independence and domestic energy security. 

 

Food maker creating over 200 jobs in South Carolina

Signature Foods USA, a specialty food products manufacturer, announced it selects Anderson County for its first South Carolina operation. The company’s $11.5 million investment will create 202 new jobs. A division of the Netherlands-based company Signature Foods, Signature Foods USA produces premium refrigerated prepared foods for the American market including prepared meats and cheeses, dips, spreads, wraps and rolls. Signature Foods USA is headquartered in New York City, and the Anderson County plant is the company’s first manufacturing operation in the U.S.

 

Cheny Brothers plant its flag in South Carolina

Cheney Brothers, a food distributor, announced it is expanding its Florence County operations with an additional $42.5 million investment that will create 85 new jobs. Headquartered in Florida, Cheney Brothers processes and distributes a variety of food products across the United States. 

 

Manufacturer invests in Palmetto

Shamrock announced it is relocating its corporate headquarters as part of the company’s expansion in Laurens County. The company’s $39.6 million investment will create 57 new jobs. 

 

TENNESSEE

“It’s too big to fail:” Ford is going nowhere in West Tennessee

Sazerac names new Tennessee whiskey operation for 2026 debut

Buffalo Trace owner and distiller Sazerac is naming its new Tennessee operation the AJ Bond Distillery as it prepares to debut its first Tennessee Whiskey this year. The company purchased the former Popcorn Sutton distillery facility in 2016 and relocated the operation to La Vergne, Tenn., where it continues ongoing production and aging. With over 400 years of history, Sazerac is one of the largest distilled spirits companies in the world including brands such as Meyers Rum, Fireball, Southern Comfort, Paddy’s and many more. 

 

Weyerhaeuser has picked Gallatin for its 22^nd distribution center

The greenfield deal for the giant building products manufacturer will be its first Tennessee distribution center. The Seattle-based company is one of the world’s largest owners of timberlands with more than 10 million acres in the U.S. 

 

Starbucks to locate operations office in Nashville

Rural Lawrenceburg lands a nice one

EDITOR’S NOTE: SB&D’s Michael Randle first met Randy Brewer in Lawrenceburg four decades ago. He was the economic developer there. He is still working for Lawrence County, Tenn., and was named to the Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame last fall. 

 

Lumber Liquidators officials announced the company will relocate its corporate headquarters and warehousing operations to Lawrenceburg, Tenn., from Richmond, Va. The company will create 76 jobs and invest $32.4 million in Lawrence County. 

 

Big deal in two different Tennessee counties

Create Energy officials announced the company is launching a major expansion, creating a total of 1,003 new jobs and investing more than $78 million across Sumner and Robertson Counties. Founded in 2023 in Portland, Tenn., Create Energy has quickly emerged as a U.S.-based powerhouse in renewable energy infrastructure. 

 

Morgan Steel expanding in Memphis

Morgan Steel will create 119 jobs and invest over $11 million in Memphis to increase capacity at its plant and headquarters. Founded in 2014, Morgan Steel started with 18 employees and now has more than 400 at two operations in Memphis and Greenville, Texas. 

 

TEXAS

Buda, Texas lands HQ

TerraFirma is relocating its headquarters from Austin to Buda. The company was founded by former SpaceX engineers and is pioneering the future of construction and infrastructure development by combining software, robotics and advanced operational processes to make earthmoving and site work faster, safer and more cost effective. The company will also bid for work on other planets such as Mars, and is expected to create hundreds of jobs. 

 

Swiss aerospace manufacturer to build new jet engine factory in Bastrop, Texas

Acutronic has announced it is building Texas’ first dedicated jet engine facility in Bastrop, located east of Austin. The $4 million project will create 50 full-time jobs. 

 

Space testing center coming to Taylor, Texas

In April, Melagan Labs announced it is bringing a space testing and radiation testing center to Taylor, located in the Austin region. The facility will be among the first privately operated, commercial-grade gamma irradiation facilities in Texas. The radiation shielding platform that Melagen will make will serve the aerospace, defense and electronics industries. 

 

 

French auto components manufacturer to build in McAllen, Texas

Valeo is investing $225 million in the border city of McAllen to build an auto parts plant. The company makes parts for GM and other automakers. The project is expected to create 500 jobs. 

 

VIRGINIA

Nice defense project announced in Fairfax

Blue Sky Innovators LLC, a defense technology company focused on technological and operational insights, plans to invest $7 million to expand its Northern Virginia operations, creating 175 new jobs. 

 

Martinsville and Henry County, Va. keep racking up the deals

EDITOR’S NOTE: Hall of Famer Mark Heath and his amazing team is at it again! 

 

Fukoku Korea announced plans to invest $18.9 million to establish a new manufacturing plant in Henry County, which will create 60 new jobs in Virginia. Operating out of the Patriot Centre Industrial Park, the South Korea-based company will use the facility to manufacture rubber damper pulleys for automotive engines and thermal gap fillers for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Founded in 1987, Fukoku Korea is a global manufacturer of specialized automotive components, focusing on rubber-based products and engine parts designed to reduce noise and vibration. Fukoku supplies products for major automakers including Hyundai, GM and Ford. 

 

Huge rocket project in Virginia

L3Harris Technologies — a global leader in defense tech and solid rocket motor manufacturing — will invest $1.27 billion to increase manufacturing capacity at the company’s production facilities in Orange County, Va. The expansion is expected to create more than 350 highly skilled jobs in the Commonwealth and builds on the company’s previously announced investment to expand tactical solid rocket motor production in Virginia.

 

“I congratulate L3Harris on its historic expansion in Central Virginia,” said Gov. Abigail Spanberger. “With a deep talent pipeline and strong track record in the defense and advanced manufacturing sectors, the Commonwealth is ready to fill the hundreds of new positions coming to Orange County. L3Harris exemplifies the kind of partnership that is critical to Virginia’s future success, and I look forward to continuing to create a thriving business climate that brings further investment to our Commonwealth.”

 

Poultry expanding operations in Virginia

Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced that the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative will invest $113.9 million to expand operations in Rockingham County. At an announcement ceremony in Harrisonburg, the Governor celebrated the investment that will create 146 new jobs in the Commonwealth. 

 

Financial services firm expands in Richmond

Richmond National Group plans to invest $1.75 million to expand operations and create 75 new jobs at the firm’s Glen Allen office. Established in 2020, Richmond National specializes in property and casualty insurance for small and mid-sized businesses struggling to obtain coverage in the standard insurance market.

 

Manufacturer expands in rural Virginia

Interstate Group LLC announced plans to invest $8.9 million to expand operations at the company’s manufacturing facility in Giles County. The investment is expected to create 46 new jobs in the Commonwealth. 

 

Electrical contractor expands in Richmond

Rosendin, the largest employee-owned electrical contractor in the U.S., is expanding in Hanover County, Va. The deal will include a $14 million investment and the creation of 250 jobs.