November 2017

BMW CEO threatens to pull out of Southern Auto Corridor if trade restrictions are passed

BMW employs nearly 10,000 at its plant in Spartanburg County, S.C. That doesn't count tens of thousands more American workers that supply the German automaker's only U.S. plant. . .its second largest plant in the world. The facility is the only place where X models are made, and last year the company exported $10 billion X models through the Port of Charleston to over 140 countries. In the fall quarter, BMW CEO Harald Krueger said on BMWblog.com that he is optimistic that trade restrictions will not be implemented by the U.S. But if they are implemented, Krueger said, "If we would have trade barriers, maybe we would need to shift that production from here (South Carolina) to somewhere else because it can no longer be affordable." It should be noted that all of the 19 major automotive assembly plants in the Southern Auto Corridor export their vehicles. 

 

Fed President: Immigration, trade not to blame for job losses

Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert Kaplan, said in the fall quarter that if your job is being disrupted, don't blame it on trade with Mexico or immigrants. In a speech to the Texas Business Leadership Council in October, Kaplan said, "A lot of the job dislocations are being publicly blamed on trade and immigration." He said that could have been the case 15 years ago, but not today. "More than likely, if your job is being disrupted, it's because of technology," Kaplan said. 

 

Best cities for tech jobs

In the fall quarter, NerdWallet came out with its 10 best cities for tech jobs. Of course, San Jose came in first, but Huntsville, Ala., was a strong second. Making the top 10 from the South were Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.; Raleigh; Washington, D.C.-Northern Virginia; and Austin.  

 

Alabama's jobless rate in October was the lowest ever

Alabama's unemployment rate dropped from 3.8 percent in September to 3.6 percent in October. The 3.6 percent ties the lowest unemployment rate in the history of the state. 

 

Cities with the highest percent of college graduates

According to Bizjournals.com, Washington, D.C., has the highest percentage of residents with bachelor's degrees or higher with 50.2 percent. San Jose is second with 50.1 percent, followed by San Francisco; Raleigh; Durham; Boston; Madison, Wisc.; Stamford, Conn.; Austin and Denver. 

 

Betting site says Atlanta is it for Amazon HQ2

Betting website Paddy Power puts Atlanta's odds at capturing Amazon's second headquarters at 2-to-1, the best odds in North America. Following Atlanta are Austin (3-to-1), Boston (6-to-1), Toronto (7-to-1), Pittsburgh (14-to-1) and Dallas-Fort Worth at 16-to-1. 

 

South dominates Forbes' "10 Best Cities for Future Job Growth" 

In the fall quarter, Forbes came out with its 10 best cities for future job growth and Myrtle Beach, S.C., took the top spot. Following Myrtle Beach in the South were Orlando; North Port, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Ocala, Fla.; Raleigh and McAllen, Texas. Las Vegas; Reno and Provo, Utah made up the top 10. 

 

Dow Chemical dedicates $2 billion in Louisiana investments

Gov. John Bel Edwards highlighted the dedication of $2 billion in new chemical manufacturing investments by The Dow Chemical Company in Louisiana. Secretary Don Pierson of Louisiana Economic Development joined Dow officials for a ribbon-cutting event at Dow’s 3,300-acre Plaquemine site.

 

Could Port of Fort Pierce create 600 jobs in St. Lucie County, Fla.?

About 600 jobs could be created within five years by the county taking ownership of the King Maritime Terminal building at the Port of Fort Pierce and making it operational.  Those jobs combined would create $32 million in wages for the area, said Stan Payne, acting port director. The County Commission last month approved borrowing $25 million to buy the 12-acre King Maritime parcel. The county wants to develop the property for a mega-yacht refurbishing business.

 

Nissan to expand Smyrna, Tenn., battery plant

Crews will expand the battery plant at the Nissan automobile factory by 26,450 square feet after the Smyrna Planning Commission approved the plans in October.

 

Georgia Ports Authority announces two companies to bring 150 jobs

During his presentation, GPA executive director Griff Lynch announced that two major e-commerce players plan to move into the Savannah market, creating another 150 jobs and adding nearly 1 million square feet to the area’s industrial footprint. Noble House, a national furniture supplier, will build a 630,000 square-foot facility to serve the eastern half of the U.S., while home accessories company Best Choice will build 345,000 square feet.

 

Talladega, Ala., approves tax incentive for new Georgia Pacific facility

The Talladega City Council approved a $5.2 million tax abatement for Georgia Pacific to bring a lumber production facility to the city. The company said the mill will cost $100 million to build and employ more than 100 people.

 

Company to bring 300 jobs to Mississippi’s Americold site

A series of resolutions was approved in a joint city-county meeting that would open the door for a major economic development project to bring $50 million in capital investment and roughly 300 jobs to the West Point, Miss., area. The unnamed company would buy a vacant cold storage warehouse and renovate it. Golden Triangle Development Link CEO Joe Max Higgins says the company would use a lot of water.

 

Fritz Winter opens Kentucky foundry

Germany-based Fritz Winter North America opened the first phase of its iron casting foundry and manufacturing facility in Franklin, Ky. The large-scale project will produce brake rotors and bring roughly 200 new jobs to the Bluegrass State. The company invested $110 million in the initial phase, which could grow to about $194 million with a planned expansion, and total employment could surpass 300.

 

Compressor maker announces scaled-down Mississippi expansion

Tecumseh Products Company is expanding its manufacturing center in Verona, Miss. The company will invest $1.1 million and add 60 new jobs for a total of 327 employees. Tecumseh, a manufacturer of refrigeration and A/C products, is consolidating its Canada operations to Verona. 

 

Briggs & Stratton moving production from Japan to the South

The manufacturer of small engines, Briggs & Stratton, is moving production of its V-Twin Vanguard engines from Japan to existing facilities in Statesboro, Ga., and Auburn, Ala. The Statesboro facility will see $18 million invested, while the Auburn facility will get $12 million, and each plant will see the creation of 50 new jobs.

 

Ernst & Young to create 600 new jobs in San Antonio

Global accounting giant Ernst & Young plans to build a new client services center in San Antonio that will create 600 new jobs. The company’s $10 million investment is in exchange for incentives from the city, county and state worth up to $3.4 million.

 

Whole Foods plans to hire 6,000 people

Austin-based Whole Foods, Amazon’s newest subsidiary, is looking to fill 6,000 jobs across its network of U.S. stores.

 

Humm Kombucha brewing in Roanoke, Va.

Humm Kombucha, an Oregon-based producer of kombucha, a carbonated tea, will invest $10 million to establish a brewing operation in Roanoke. The project will create approximately 50 new jobs.

 

Intralox expands in Hammond, La.

Intralox, the company that invented modular plastic conveyor belting, has completed a 60,000-square-foot expansion that will bring 40 new jobs to its Hammond facility.

 

New Orleans’ Michoud Assembly Facility adding a tenant

A new tenant is moving in and another expanding its footprint at Michoud Assembly Facility, changes that will together add 45 new jobs at the New Orleans East manufacturing hub. Not so long ago, the fate of the facility hung in the balance as NASA ended the Space Shuttle program.

 

Tropic Ocean Airways to add 100 Florida jobs

Tropic Ocean Airways will create 100 new jobs in South Florida next year as it expands its fleet of seaplanes operating out of Fort Lauderdale. The new jobs will include pilots, administrative and salespeople.

 

Boat manufacturer expands Dorchester County operations

Sportsman Boats Manufacturing plans to invest $3.5 million and create 100 new jobs in Summerville, S.C. The 70,000-square-foot addition follows another recent investment —an 800-kilowatt solar power system mounted on the roof of its existing facility.

 

LG breaks ground on $250 million plant in Tennessee

LG Electronics recently broke ground at the site of the South Korean appliance manufacturer’s first washing machine plant in the United States. The 1 million-square-foot facility in Clarksville is projected to cost $250 million and create 600 new jobs. 

 

Coast Brewing creating new jobs for the Lowcountry

Family-owned craft brewery Coast Brewing will be expanding its North Charleston operations. The expansion is a $1.7 million investment that is expected to create 29 new jobs. 

 

Advanced Superabrasives plans $26 million expansion in North Carolina

Advanced Superabrasives, a manufacturer of high performance grinding wheels and equipment, will expand operations at its facility in Madison County, creating 47 full-time jobs and investing $26 million.

 

Amazon plans to create 5,000 JAX jobs

Amazon plans to create up to 5,000 jobs at its two fulfillment centers in Northwest and West Jacksonville, Fla.

 

Amazon adds fourth Georgia fulfillment center, 500 jobs

Amazon will create more than 500 full-time jobs at a new fulfillment center in Macon-Bibb County. This will be Amazon’s fourth fulfillment center in the state. Amazon will lease 1 million square feet of industrial space in Macon for the facility.

 

Toyota debuts new Kentucky center

Toyota has opened its $80 million, 235,000-square-foot Production Engineering and Manufacturing Center in Georgetown, Ky. The facility will employ approximately 800 people, including 600 production engineers. The Georgetown facility will also help innovate and develop new technology for Toyota’s manufacturing plants across North America.

 

Tape factory in Cabarrus County, N.C., expanding

Intertape Polymer Group has announced its plans to expand operations its manufacturing facility near Midland. The project will add approximately $13.5 million in investment and 10 jobs.

 

Tech firm plans 300 new jobs for Myrtle Beach 

Greenwood Hall plans to establish operations in Horry County. The California-based educational tech firm is planning to hire more than 300 employees in South Carolina and make a capital investment of $1.4 million over the next five years. 

 

Senture’s new call centers bring hundreds of jobs to Kentucky

Senture opened two plants in eastern Kentucky in October. The company expects to house 150 people at its Annville facility in Jackson County, and 700 people at its Williamsburg facility in Whitley County. 

 

AHT Cooling Systems expanding in Charleston County, S.C.

AHT Cooling Systems USA, a provider of refrigerated and frozen merchandising solutions, is expanding its existing Charleston County facility with a $5 million investment that will lead to the creation of more than 70 new jobs.

 

New jobs for Olive Branch toymaker thanks to Walmart

Walmart’s “Made in USA” program is driving growth at a toy factory in Olive Branch, Miss., that probably wouldn’t exist without the world’s largest retailer. Michigan-based American Plastic Toys has added 70 people to meet Walmart’s appetite for the affordable plastic toys.

 

New jobs and investment in Lubbock, Texas

The Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA) announced the creation of 66 new jobs and $66 million in capital investment as a result of the expansion of two local businesses: X-FAB Texas expanded its operations to include the production of silicon carbide power devices. The company made a capital investment of $15 million and will create 50 new jobs. New Country Organics is also expanding to include manufacturing of its organic feed. The Virginia-based company will create 16 new jobs and invest $1,182,000.

 

Stanley B&D opening its third plant in Texas

Stanley Black & Decker recently announced that it will open a new 300,000-square-foot factory in Mission, Texas to make Dewalt power tools. The facility will eventually support 450 new jobs in the region.

 

Oil and gas industry is hiring again

The oil and gas industry is hiring more than its letting go for the first time in three years, according to a new report from recruitment firm NES Global Talent and Oilandgasjobsearch.com. An impressive 60 percent of employers have plans to hire significantly more people over the next 12 months. 

 

Metlife reveals plans for continued expansion in North Carolina

At a recent groundbreaking for Metlife’s third building at its Cary campus, the company revealed the number of promised new jobs there -- 500. That’s in addition to the more than 1,000 employees the firm already houses at its Cary tech hub. Metlife also disclosed plans to invest $1 billion in technology. 

 

Royal Technologies expands Cullman, Ala., plant

Royal Technologies plans a $14 million expansion of its manufacturing operation in Cullman. The project is expected to create 25 jobs. The company produces polymer products, primarily plastic and foam, for the automotive, furniture and consumer goods industries. 

 

Battery maker invests $35 million in new KC facility

Georgia-based Exide Technologies, an automotive and industrial battery manufacturer, has invested $35 million to create a state-of-the-art facility in Kansas City that will create up to 50 jobs. 

 

Furnace Record Pressing plans vinyl record plant in Fairfax, Va.

Furnace Record Pressing will open a new 50,000-square-foot vinyl record pressing plant in Fairfax. According to company officials, the new plant will fill a desperate industry need for more vinyl record production capacity while creating 40-plus new jobs in Northern Virginia.

 

Trucast expands operations in Newberry, S.C.

Trucast, a manufacturer of components for automotive engines and power generation, will invest $3 million to expand its operations center in Newberry. Part of the United Kingdom-headquartered Doncasters Group, Trucast supplies automotive manufacturers such as Borg Warner, Cummins and Honeywell.

 

Arthrex announces new surgical device manufacturing facility in South Carolina

An orthopedic device manufacturer will create 1,000 jobs in Anderson County by 2025. Naples, Fla.-based Arthrex will invest $69 million to establish a new 200,000-square-foot production facility in Anderson County.

 

FedEx Ground Ocala hiring

FedEx Ground – which has a massive distribution center in Ocala, Fla. — is seeking to hire 150 to 200 new package handlers.

 

FedEx announces Conroe facility

FedEx is expanding its footprint and has announced plans to build a new freight facility in Conroe, Texas. FedEx will purchase 45.5 acres in the Conroe Park North Industrial Park to build its 78,000-square-foot distribution center, at a cost of $18 million. Once completed, the facility will create 96 jobs in the area.

 

Company moving into former Alcoa Building in Hancock County, Ky.

WhiteRock Pigments will locate a $179 million chemical manufacturing operation in Hancock County, a project expected to create 124 full-time jobs.

 

New jobs coming to Jackson County, Ark.

A major manufacturer in Jackson County is expanding, bringing more jobs to the area. Shearer’s Snacks is adding 85 jobs to its factory in Newport.

 

Delta to hire 300 IT staffers in Atlanta 

Delta Air Lines plans to hire 300 information technology employees over the next 12 months. . .most of which will be located at the airline’s headquarters near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The new hires will help the airline grow its expertise in cloud technology, apps and other areas.

 

Three-hundred tech jobs coming to rural Alabama community

Three-hundred new jobs are coming to Brewton, Ala., at the site of the old Dogwood Hills Golf Course. Provalus recently broke ground on a new 60,000-square-foot facility that is set to open in three to four years.

 

Southern Recycling adds second plant in Warren County, Ky.

Southern Recycling will add a second operation in Warren County, Ky. The company plans to invest $6 million and create four full-time jobs.

 

Automated Technology Company opens Missouri facility

Automated Technology Company, a startup that works in building automation, has opened its new location in Joplin. The company plans to create 130 new jobs as it runs its Boston and New York locations from Missouri. 

 

Marketing agency VML expands Kansas City operations

VML, a global marketing agency, will expand its operations and add a minimum of 120 new jobs to its current headcount of 600 in Kansas City, Mo.

 

Logan Aluminum expands in Logan County, Ky.

Logan Aluminum and its parent companies recently opened the aluminum plant’s Phase I expansion in Logan County, as well as breaking ground on Phase II of the project. The expansions represent $407 million in new investment, which is creating about 250 full-time jobs at the sprawling mill in southwest Kentucky.

 

SMW Manufacturing acquires Caterpillar operations in Lafayette County, Miss.

SMW Manufacturing is taking over operations at the former Caterpillar facility in Lafayette County. The company plans to invest in excess of $15 million and hire up to 50 employees, mostly former Caterpillar employees. SMW manufactures components for the heavy truck, automotive, mining, construction and industrial markets.

 

World’s largest airport to hire 1,000 

More than 1,000 new positions are available at the Atlanta airport -- from cashiers and cooks, administrators and accountants, project managers and engineers. A jobs fair was held on October 31 in hopes of attracting applicants.

 

Danonewave invests $60 million in Virginia beverage facility

Six months after Danone completed the acquisition of organic producer WhiteWave, the newly combined DanoneWave is expanding its plant-based beverage manufacturing operations with up to $60 million in investment in its Rockingham County facility. Forty-nine new hires will be added to the current staff of 500 to produce brands including Activia, Dannon, Horizon Organic and others.

 

Orbital ATK adding 50 jobs to Iuka, Miss., operation

Aerospace and defense company Orbital ATK is adding 50 jobs as part of its $10.5 million expansion in Iuka. The news comes two weeks after defense giant Northrop announced it was buying Orbital ATK for $9.2 billion. As part of the expansion, the 320,000-square-foot Iuka facility will begin production of large aerospace structures for its Antares, Pegasus and Minotaur launch vehicles, and a large national aerospace and defense program. 

 

New logistics center coming to Henry County, Ga.

Henry County is set for 300 new jobs as national wholesale clothing provider S&S Activewear announced it would put a new logistics center in Georgia. The wholesaler of imprintable apparel will create 300 jobs at the 505,000-square-foot warehouse.

 

Research company opens Kentucky HQ

Kentucky officials have welcomed a clinical research company that moved its headquarters to northern Kentucky in a $36.4 million project, creating up to 500 jobs. CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services relocated its headquarters from Blue Ash, Ohio, to Covington, Ky. CTI specializes in clinical research, working with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to plan, manage and analyze clinical trials. 

 

Nucor Steel announces $230 million expansion, 100 new jobs

Officials at Nucor Steel in Hickman, Ark., made a major announcement during their 25th anniversary celebration near Blytheville recently. A $230 million expansion means 100 more jobs. Company VP Mary Emily Slate said the new mill is the first of its kind. “This is the first mill in America that will take deeper reductions on higher strength steels so we can make stronger and lighter steels for many customers, including those in the automotive industry,” she said.

 

Blue Eye Soft Corporation bringing 120 new jobs to Greer, S.C., facility

Greer officials recently welcomed Blue Eye Soft to the area. The U.S.-based information technology and staffing company focuses on providing IT solutions for its clients. 

 

Tennessee glass manufacturer to expand

Techni-Glass, a custom glass manufacturer, will expand in Surgoinsville, Tenn., investing $1.5 million and creating 54 new jobs in Hawkins County, 

 

One-hundred new jobs for Dillon County, S.C.

KB Biotech Solutions is set to open manufacturing operations in Dillon County that will create 100 jobs. KB Biotech Solutions is the largest producer of natural steroidal raw materials and intermediates in China.

 

Twenty-million-dollar plant, 130 new jobs coming to Jonesboro, Ark.

China-based manufacturer Hefei Risever Machinery is building its first U.S. plant in Jonesboro, less than one hour from Memphis. Risever produces parts for heavy equipment manufacturers like Caterpillar, Volvo, and Komatsu. The new facility will cost $20 million and will employ 130 people when fully operational. 

 

Ajinomoto Windsor plans Joplin manufacturing center

Ajinomoto Windsor will support the expansion of its frozen foods business in North America by opening a new state-of-the-art coated appetizer manufacturing and R&D facility in Joplin, Mo. The project means 220 new jobs for the community.

 

Armacell expands West Virginia and Oklahoma plants

Armacell, the inventor of flexible foam for equipment insulation, will expand its capabilities in Spencer, W.Va. In addition, Armacell will expand production in its newly acquired plant in Yukon, Okla.

 

Missouri offers $20 million to lure company across state line

Missouri offered nearly $20 million in incentives to convince global reinsurance giant Swiss Re to move across the state line to Kansas City from Overland Park, Kan. Swiss Re, which is bringing 400 jobs to Missouri, will have access to $19.8 million in incentives through the Missouri Works program.

 

Hundreds of jobs coming to idle Texas plant

California-based Finisar Corporation is coming to Sherman, Texas. The optical communications firm, which has a manufacturing plant in nearby Allen, Texas, purchased the MEMC Manufacturing building (which has been idle for five years) for $20 million.

 

Shaw Industries creating 75 jobs in Decatur, Tenn.

The Georgia carpet maker plans to spend $42 million to upgrade its existing plant in Decatur, Tenn., creating 75 jobs. Shaw Industries Group, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary based in Dalton, Ga., makes synthetic yarn at the Decatur factory for use at its other carpet plants. 

 

LyondellBasell plans $2 billion project along Gulf Coast

LyondellBasell said it’s planning to build a multibillion-dollar chemicals and plastics plant along the Gulf Coast, and very possibly in the Houston area, although a final decision may still be a year away. LyondellBasell CEO Bob Patel said the project would cost more than $2 billion and use propane to make chemicals and the plastic polypropylene to serve American markets.

 

Candor Healthcare to create 675 jobs in Floyd County, Ga.

Candor, a health-care coverage marketplace based in Rome, Ga., which specializes in pairing consumers with health plans, will create 675 jobs in Floyd County. The company plans to invest $39 million as it hires, builds out and trains its technical, sales and customer management teams. 

 

Dish Network to expand in Tulsa, bring in 250 new jobs

The satellite TV provider, which employs around 600 people in Tulsa, plans to expand its customer care center there. Governor Mary Fallin said the company is working with the Cherokee Nation and the Tulsa Regional Chamber to educate the community about the 250 jobs the expansion will bring.

 

Altec Industries investing $30.2 million in Botetourt County, Va. 

Altec Industries will invest $30.2 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Botetourt County, which will create 180 new jobs. Altec is a provider of products and services to the electric utility, telecommunications, tree care, lights and signs and contractor markets.

 

Bessemer, Ala., loves sweet tea

Milo’s Tea is expanding on its 15.5-acre Bessemer campus. The new addition comes at the facility where Milo’s brews and bottles more than 250 gallons of all-natural beverages per minute.

 

The Blythe Company expanding at Indian Land facility

The Blythe Company is expanding its headquarters and other operations into Lancaster County, S.C., bringing $4 million of capital investment and 21 new jobs. The Blythe Company is a distributor and servicer of parts to a variety of industries, including the natural gas, oil and chemical markets.

 

Instacart delivers 100 jobs to Columbus, Ga.

An online shopping service called “Instacart” will provide same-day delivery service to 77,000 Columbus households, and will also be providing 100 new jobs. Instacart delivers orders from stores such as Publix, CVS and Petco.

 

South Korean manufacturer to invest $100 million in DFW expansion, add 1,600 jobs

A South Korean company is making a $100 million investment to expand its operations in Garland, Texas. Nutribiotech USA, a nutritional supplement manufacturer, will renovate part of the old Raytheon campus to expand its research and development and production facilities. The deal will create 1,600 jobs. 

 

West Virginia Great Barrel Company starts up in Greenbrier County

A new company will harvest white oak and turn it into whiskey barrels at its barrel manufacturing plant (known as a cooperage) on a 23-acre site in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The company will employ 113 workers at its cooperage, and 25 more at its stave mill and log yard in Monroe County.

 

Aerojet Rocketdyne breaks ground on Huntsville plant

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was on hand to break ground on a new $16 million aerospace manufacturing plant for Aerojet Rocketdyne. The plant is expected to employ a minimum of 750 people with an average salary of $79,560. The 136,000-square-foot plant will produce rocket engines using composites and additive manufacturing. Construction will begin in December. Aerojet Rocketdyne is also building a separate $11 million headquarters in Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park. Construction on that will begin in January. City officials say total employment at both facilities could reach 1,200.

 

Steelmaker moving HQ from Chicago to Alabama

Swedish steelmaker SSAB Americas announced plans to relocate the division’s head office from suburban Chicago to Mobile, Ala. -- a move that will bring 60 new jobs with it. The company has operated a mill north of Mobile since 2001. SSAB develops high-strength steels.

 

Thousands of jobs could be coming to Tallulah, La.

It looks like Madison Parish may be able to shake its status as the poorest parish in Louisiana. The city of Tallulah there is making headway on a Multipurpose Industrial Plant that’s expected to employ 1,800 people. When completed, it will be equipped with distribution centers, retail shops, a car dealership, a new water plant, a new housing subdivision and a technical workforce development center. In another announcement, the city of Tallulah was selected by the Delta Regional Authority to receive $200,000 to build a new rail spur which will extend the Madison Parish Port Railroad, creating new jobs and retaining over 100.

 

Louis Vuitton bringing 500 jobs to Keene, Texas

The multi-billion dollar French company, part of the Paris-based LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE conglomerate, is on its way to Texas. They’ve gotten the green light for a $20 million project with a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Keene. Referred to as "Project Mustang" in early proposals, the project promises 100 to 500 jobs.

 

Sixt Car Rental to create 300 jobs in new Fort Lauderdale HQ

Sixt, a car rental company that made its name in Europe, will establish its North American headquarters in Fort Lauderdale and create 300 jobs. The project means $10.4 million in capital investment.

 

Military-focused tech firm chooses N.C. over D.C. for expansion

Advanced Computer Learning Company has chosen its Fayetteville, N.C., headquarters for an expansion expected to bring 75 jobs and nearly $613,000 in local investment.

 

One-hundred new jobs for Greenville County, S.C.

Metromont Corporation, a manufacturer of precast concrete materials, is expanding its existing Greenville County operations.This latest $8.8 million investment is projected to create an additional 100 jobs over the next five years.

 

Hankook opens $800 million plant in Tennessee

The South Korean-based company unveiled its first U.S. manufacturing site in October at the grand opening event at Hankook’s new $800 million tire plant in Clarksville. Officials estimate 1,600 employees could be hired there.

 

Toyota and Mazda partner on EVs

Toyota, Mazda and Denso have signed a new partnership through which they will jointly establish a new company for the development of electric cars. Neither Toyota nor Mazda offer fully electric vehicles in their lineup yet, so the new partnership will give both automakers the basic structural components for EVs.

 

Lockheed Martin contracts mean 900 new Central Florida jobs

Lockheed Martin Corp.’s three-month contract streak — with much of the work happening in Orlando — is leading the defense and tech firm to add more than 900 local jobs. From July to October, Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin won nearly 30 military contracts with work tied to Central Florida totaling $12.3 billion.

 

Canfor’s sawmill in Urbana, Ark., will add second shift

Canfor Southern Pine has made an investment of $8.8 million for upgrades at its sawmill in Union County, Ark. Installing a third continuous dry kiln will potentially lead to 36 new jobs at the mill.

 

Auto parts company selects Memphis for new home

An auto parts supplier created in the merger of Memphis-area companies, has put its head office in Memphis. Highline Aftermarket will invest $500,000, add  91 jobs and expand its primary distribution center in Shelby County.

 

Polyquest retains North Carolina jobs through joint venture

Wilmington-based PolyQuest has announced a new joint venture and acquisition of the former DuraFiber Technologies facility in Grover, N.C., stopping the impending closure of the plant and retaining 90 jobs. PolyQuest and Straterra Holdings announced the formation of Fiber Innovators International – a joint venture between the respective companies – which acquired the Grover facility.

 

Belk to hire warehouse workers in South Carolina

Belk’s Jonesville Fulfillment Center is looking to fill up to 1,000 seasonal and full-time jobs. Tyler Hampton, Belk public relations manager, said the company is hiring additional employees ahead of upcoming busy months.

 

Five-hundred jobs for road projects in West Virginia

The road bond has passed, and jobs are ready to be filled in the Division of Highways before those projects get started. The road projects under the amendment are expected to create thousands of jobs over the next several years, but there are about 500 that will be filled immediately.

 

Vital Farms brings jobs and eggs to the Ozarks

Adding to their list of locations, Vital Farms has found a new home in the heart of the Ozarks after opening their Egg Central Station in Springfield, Mo. The new factory, which will receive eggs from all over southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas, is now up and running. “On day one, we started by creating 50 jobs here in Springfield, we’re now up over 60, and a year from now, we’ll be up over 100,” said Russell Diez-Canseco, President and COO of Vital Farms.

 

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos opens a massive wind farm in Texas

Amazon has announced that its biggest wind farm to date is operational. Amazon Wind Farm Texas will add over 1 million megawatt hours of clean energy to the grid annually. The facility, which is located in Scurry County, has over 100 turbines, each standing more than 300 feet tall with a rotor diameter over double the wingspan of a Boeing 787.

 

Haynesville Shale bringing jobs back to Northwest Louisiana

Natural Gas production in Northwest Louisiana can see an uptick in jobs due to a familiar source — the Haynesville Shale. An economic and policy research group with LSU predicts over 2,800 jobs will be created in the Shreveport region over the next two years.

 

Smart Wood cuts ribbon on $15 million facility

Smart Wood, a French family-owned manufacturer of ice-cream and coffee-stir sticks, opened the company’s facility in Corbin, Ky. — a 90-job, $15 million operation.

 

Huge aerospace deal for Alabama

Airbus and Canadian jet-maker Bombardier announced they will bring 50.1 percent of the manufacturing of Bombardier’s C Series passenger jets to the Mobile Aeroplex facility in South Alabama. Bombardier announced in October that it is selling a controlling stake in its 100- to 150-seat C-series jetliner to European manufacturer Airbus, just weeks after the U.S. Commerce Department moved to impose 300 percent tariffs on the plane that is currently being built in Canada. 

 

Employment at Sasol’s Louisiana complex reaches 500; more hiring expected

Employment at Sasol’s petrochemical complex under construction in Westlake, La., reached 500 in October, and the company plans to hire at least 200 more over the next few years for a total of 700 full-time jobs. Combined with the 450-plus jobs at Sasol’s existing facility, the new complex will bring Sasol’s employment in Southwest Louisiana to over 1,150 by 2019.

 

Plant expansion to bring 145 jobs to Burke County, N.C.

Governor Roy Cooper came to Burke County in October to tout the expansion and creation of 145 jobs at Continental’s Morganton plant. The investment coincided with the German auto parts plant’s 25th anniversary.

 

Solamerica Energy Launching operation in Edgefield County, S.C.

Based in Atlanta, Ga., SolAmerica Energy, a provider of solar energy, is launching a new operation in Edgefield County. The project is expected to bring approximately $13 million of new capital investment.

 

Stihl to invest $20 million in Virginia Beach

Power tool manufacturer Stihl will invest over $20 million to expand its headquarters operation in the City of Virginia Beach. The company will construct an 80,000-square-foot administration facility, as well as a new museum and brand experience center.

 

Facebook will invest $1 billion in Virginia 

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced that Facebook is set to invest over $1 billion in the state. The tech giant will invest $750 million to construct a 970,000-square-foot data center in Henrico County. In addition, it will spend hundreds of millions building “multiple solar facilities” to power the data center with renewable energy. The project will bring thousands of construction jobs to the region and more than 100 full-time operational jobs

 

Manufacturer to invest $15 million in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Swedish manufacturing firm Alfa Laval broke ground on an expansion of its Broken Arrow plant. The company’s focus there is advanced welding technology for the oil and gas industry. Alfa Laval is expected to invest $15 million dollars for the first phase of the expansion. One-hundred jobs are expected to be created.

 

Alabama lands $40 million mill

Koch Foods, one of the nation’s largest poultry producers, plans to invest nearly $40.5 million to build a feed mill in Randolph County, Ala. The new mill in Roanoke will produce feed to support a processing plant in Pine Mountain, Ga. Koch Foods will hire 27 full-time employees, plus an additional 19 truck drivers

 

Anthem doubles down in Atlanta

The parent company of Blue Cross/Blue Shield has inked a deal to develop a 352,000-square-foot technology hub in midtown Atlanta. The 21-story building will house some 3,000 IT professionals. In announcing its initial investment last year, Anthem said it would bring about 1,800 IT-related jobs over the next six years to the Atlanta area. This new investment nearly doubles that commitment.

 

Loudoun County, Va., lands $1 billion data center campus

California-based Vantage Data Centers has acquired 42 acres in Ashburn, Va., known as “Data Center Alley,” and plans to invest $1 billion in a data center campus.

 

Cleaning products company pledges 400 jobs at new Fort Mill HQ

Diversey, the cleaning products company that was spun off from Sealed Air, is moving its corporate headquarters from Charlotte, N.C., to York County, S.C. The relocation promises about 400 jobs and $6.1 million in investment in Fort Mill.

 

Shipbuilder in Mobile, Ala., lands $584 million contract

Austal USA has contracted with the U.S. Navy to manufacture its Littoral Combat Ship 30 in Mobile — a contract worth up to $584 million.

 

Port St. Lucie, Fla., lures $38 million facility, 50 new jobs

Dallas-based City Electric Supply plans to build a $38 million manufacturing and distribution facility in Port St. Lucie that will create 50 jobs as part of an economic-development deal worth several million dollars.

 

Harkness Screens expands with move to Botetourt County, Va.

Harkness Screens will begin manufacturing large cinema screens in Botetourt County. The company, which is relocating manufacturing from Fredericksburg, Va., as part of a multi-million dollar investment, will employ up to 50 people in the first phase with significant expansion potential.

 

El Paso uniform company to hire 500

ReadyOne Industries of El Paso, Texas is set to fill 500 positions after it was awarded more than $1 million in new contracts for the production of sophisticated military uniforms for the U.S. government. 

 

Hundreds of new jobs coming to Joplin, Mo.

A Joplin company announces the addition of 400 new jobs. Alorica will nearly double the number of jobs at its call center operation there, bringing the total to 820. The company is the largest provider of call center services in the country.

 

Ariake U.S.A. expands facility in Harrisonburg, Va.

Ariake U.S.A., a manufacturer of stocks and seasonings for the food industry, will invest $17 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Harrisonburg, where it is headquartered. The project will create an additional 22 jobs.

 

FedEx plans $10 million expansion in Sherman, Texas

Economic growth and more jobs are coming to Sherman as FedEx grows in Grayson County. FedEx Freight plans a $10 million expansion that will create 45 new jobs.

 

Call center to bring 200 jobs to Carthage, Mo.

A telemarketing company, iPacesetters, plans to open a new call center in Carthage. The new center could bring 150 to 200 full-time jobs to the southwest Missouri city. 

 

American Scrappers locates campus in Lake View, S.C.

American Scrappers will invest $15.5 million to establish a distribution and logistics center in Dillon County, creating 200 jobs.

 

Danish company names Roswell, Ga., as North American HQ

The Georgia Department of Economic Development recently announced that Danish meter manufacturer Kamstrup has selected Roswell as its new regional headquarters, bringing 52 jobs to the area.

 

Toyota investing in Southern plants 

Toyota just upped the stakes to remain the top manufacturer of hybrid vehicles worldwide with a $373.8 million investment in five U.S. manufacturing plants to support production of its first American-made hybrid powertrain. Of the total investment, Bodine Aluminum in Troy, Mo., receives $17 million, and $14.56 million will go to the Bodine plant in Jackson, Tenn. The automaker’s plant in Georgetown, Ky., will get $120 million to expand production of the 2.5-liter engine. Other plants in line for additional investment are located in West Virginia and Alabama.

 

Perrone Robotics expands in Albemarle County, Va.

Perrone Robotics, a developer of autonomous car software, will invest $3.8 million to expand its research and development operation in Albemarle County, Va. The company expects to create 127 new jobs.

 

Manufactured homebuilder creating 200 jobs in Leesville, La.

Champion Home Builders will open a facility in Leesville to build manufactured homes, a move that will create 200 new direct jobs in central Louisiana. Champion said it will spend $1.3 million renovating two buildings in a Leesville industrial park to build the housing.

 

Oilfield company bringing 160 jobs to West Virginia

Fountain Quail Energy Services is bringing more than 160 jobs to Lewis County as part of a new field office the oilfield services company is opening in the Jane Lew Industrial Park.

 

Tech firm hires in Alpharetta, Ga.

The American arm of a large, global Indian tech firm is adding more than 100 positions in Alpharetta. Tech Mahindra has 115,850 employees and a $4.5 billion-a-year business in the United States. This hiring initiative is in response to a new contract for a major U.S. company.

 

UPS plans new distribution center in Houston

UPS plans to build a 260,000-square-foot distribution center in northwest Houston in an effort to meet growing demand for package deliveries. The price tag on the project is $17 million.

 

Software company expands in Guilford County, N.C.

Lake Mary, Fla.-based software firm Superion will expand with 80 new jobs in High Point and an investment of $3.46 million in its Triad operations.

 

Headquarters captured by Hillsborough County, Fla.

Siemens and Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation have chosen the Tampa Regional Industrial Park in Hillsborough County, Fla., as the headquarters location for their new joint venture, Advanced Airfoil Components. The manufacturing facility expects to create 350 new jobs with a capital investment of $139 million.

 

Denso investing $1 billion in Tennessee plant, creating 1,000 jobs

Japan-based global automotive supplier Denso announced that the company will expand its operations in Maryville, Tenn. Denso will create approximately 1,000 jobs and invest $1 billion to make its Blount County facility a primary manufacturing center in North America for electrification and safety systems.

 

Z Modular to create 100 jobs with new Birmingham facility

Z Modular, a division of Chicago-based Zekelman Industries, plans to open a 106,000-square-foot advanced production facility in Birmingham that will eventually have 100 employees. At the Alabama facility, Z Modular will produce modular units that will be shipped across the U.S. to modular construction projects.

 

Satellite firm’s plant rises on Space Coast

OneWeb, whose new $85 million, 100,000-square-foot manufacturing plant is under construction in Merritt Island’s Exploration Park, has begun hiring engineers and associates. The plant will ultimately create 250 jobs.

 

Prysmian Group expanding South Carolina operations

Prysmian Group, a world leader in the telecom cables and systems industry, announced an expansion of the company’s North American headquarters in Lexington County, S.C. The expansion will exceed $15 million of capital investment and is projected to create 30 jobs over the next five years.

 

Indian manufacturer to expand San Antonio operations

Bangalore, India-based manufacturer Indo-MIM has opened its first U.S. plant at Port San Antonio with 52 workers and plans to expand to 330 employees. First announced in 2015, the metal-injection-molding plant held formal opening ceremonies in September. Indo-MIM has invested $22 million at the 100,000-square-foot factory.

 

Seven-hundred new jobs coming to Huntsville, Ala.

The Huntsville City Council has approved the Aerojet Rocketdyne expansion project worth an estimated $27 million that will employ over 700 people. Part of the project will involve the creation of an advanced manufacturing plant to build propulsion engines for the SLS deep space rocket. The new development will also feature defense business headquarters and a rocket shop.

 

German company investing $64 million in White County, Tenn.

A fourth-generation German company is establishing its fourth U.S. manufacturing facility in White County. Hormann (pronounced “Herman”) will invest nearly $64 million to establish a garage-door manufacturing facility in Sparta, and plans to create approximately 200 new jobs there.

 

Swedish Höganäs opens headquarters in Cary, N.C, plans to hire 100

Swedish research and manufacturing company Höganäs — the world’s largest producer of powdered metals — opened a new office in Cary in an expansion of its environmental sector. Cary will serve as the global headquarters for a division of Höganäs that aims to improve water purification and soil remediation techniques.

 

Select Comfort dedicates Jefferson Parish center

Select Comfort dedicated the company’s new technical support contact center in Jefferson Parish, La. in the fall quarter. The mattress maker’s support center near New Orleans will create 225 new jobs.

 

Ericsson launches design center in Texas

Networking giant Ericsson has opened a new design site in the United States, which will be used to develop and test microelectronics for 5G radio base stations. The Ericsson Austin Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) Design Center in Texas will provide jobs for around 80 designers.

 

New company means new jobs for Joplin, Mo.

Zaf Energy Systems has opened a new plant that will hire 20 workers by the end of this year, and will expand to more than 100 next year. The company manufactures nickel zinc batteries.

 

Two-hundred new jobs for Dillon County, S.C.

American Scrappers is bringing 200 new jobs to Dillon County in a $15.5 million investment. The company is establishing a distribution and logistics center, container storage and a hydroponic facility.

 

Universal Studios is hiring 3,000 jobs in Orlando, Fla.

Universal Orlando is hiring for 3,000 full- and-part-time and seasonal positions across several theme parks including Volcano Bay, CityWalk, and Universal Studios Florida.

 

New business to create 200 Spring Hill, Tenn., jobs

A Florida medical call center is going to hire 200 people in Spring Hill, employing agents and triage nurses. Call 4 Health will occupy a 15,000-square-foot space. “The demand for call center services in the medical industry has exploded in recent years,” Joseph Pores, Call 4 Health CEO, said in a news release.

 

New Pfizer lab will invest $100 million in Sanford, N.C.

The pharmaceutical company recently announced plans for a gene therapy research lab in Sanford. The lab will bring 40 jobs to the location and the company plans to invest $100 million. 

 

Giti opens in South Carolina

Giti Tires, headquartered in Singapore, has opened its first U.S. plant, set to bring 1,700 jobs to Chester County. The global company partnered with Wal-Mart as part of the retailer’s commitment to purchase $250 billion in products, supporting American jobs.

 

Purina to invest $320 million in Georgia plant

Pet food manufacturer Purina, owned by Swiss food giant Nestlé, will spend $320 million on a factory and distribution center in northeast Georgia. The plant will be located in Hartwell, and will employ 240 people at full strength. 

 

New York manufacturer will open new plant, add jobs in Pasco County, Fla.

A New York-based company that manufactures and distributes precision optics will open a new plant in Pasco County. Meopta U.S.A. plans on using the Pasco County Job Creation Incentive program to fill 47 new positions in advanced manufacturing.

 

DP Facilities South invests $65 million in Wise County, Va.

DP Facilities South will invest $65 million to construct a Mission Critical Tier III Data Center operation in Wise County that will create 40 new jobs.

 

St. Johns County, Fla., approves incentives for PGA Tour HQ

The St. Johns County commission voted unanimously to approve a $2.8 million incentive package for the Tour to build a headquarters building on property it owns. The Tour told the commission in its proposal that the larger headquarters building and continued growth of the Tour will result in more than 300 additional jobs created by 2030.

 

Facebook to expand in Austin

Facebook is poised to massively expand its presence in downtown Austin. About 700 employees already work in the city, and the social media behemoth’s plans to lease additional space that could handle more than 1,000 additional employees.

 

Simmons Foods to build $300 million chicken plant in Benton County, Ark.

Simmons Prepared Foods will spend $300 million on a new chicken facility that will create about 1,500 jobs in Benton County, bringing total employment at the operation to more than 2,300 people by 2022. 

 

Spectrum hiring 100 positions in Greensboro, N.C.

Cable provider Spectrum is looking to fill 100 Customer Service Specialist and Tier 3 Tech Support positions in Greensboro.

 

Dominion predicts 2,000 jobs for Virginia coalfields project

A proposed hydroelectric storage power station in Southwest Virginia would bring approximately $576 million in economic benefits to the state — half of it to the coalfields region, according to Dominion Energy. The report also found that the project would support nearly 3,000 Virginia jobs during development and construction, including more than 2,000 in the coalfield region. 

 

Amazon pursues another Nashville facility

The online retail giant is planning what would be its fifth facility in the region. The existing operations employ about 2,700 full-time workers.

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