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FDI in the U.S. fell 32 percent last year
Foreign investment in the U.S. in calendar year 2017 dropped to $259.6 billion according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The total was a 32 percent drop from 2016 and a 41 percent drop from the historic high of $439.5 billion in 2015. Canada, with $66.2 billion in FDI, led all countries investing in the U.S. to acquire, expand and start businesses, followed by the United Kingdom and Japan. Chinese investment in the U.S. fell to $29 billion from a high of $46 billion in 2016.
Out of labor; companies try to figure it out in Austin, Texas
Large projects in one of the South's most prolific markets in terms of job generation and in-migration have slowed to a trickle as a result of a sapped labor market. Austin scored a mere 30 points in this year's SB&D 100 (Southern Business & Development's ranking of state and MSAs in the South based on projects captured of 200 jobs or more). Austin's yearly point average is 95 points over the last 24 years of the SB&D 100. It's rare to see Austin second-best to Columbia, S.C., the North Carolina Triad and Knoxville in the major market division in the South any given year in new and expanded projects, much less Louisville, Baton Rouge, Jacksonville or Greenville, S.C. As of August, Austin has just 42,000 job openings (very low by Austin standards) and there are only 36,000 people who are unemployed in the Texas capital.
Google to build data center in North Texas
Google announced in the summer it will build a new $500 million data center in Midlothian, Texas, near Dallas. The project will create 40 jobs.
Virginia Beach named safest U.S. city
The coastal city of Virginia Beach was named the safest city in the U.S. according to Safewise.com. Lexington, Ky., and Austin and El Paso in Texas made the top 10 from the South. Outside the South, Honolulu, Anaheim, San Jose, San Diego, Mesa and Santa Ana also made the top 10.
Honda opens $85 million logistics expansion in Alabama
Honda opened its latest expansion, a logistics operation that has added 400,000 square feet to its assembly plant in Lincoln, Ala. The new logistics facility will handle more than 4 million parts that arrive at the plant every day.
Wood plant in Louisiana expands
RoyOMartin's Martco LLC will invest $8 million in its plywood plant in Chopin, La. The company will install a new dry kiln designed to increase capacity. The Chopin plant houses about 700 workers.
Georgia-Pacific to open $150 million lumber plant in Albany, Ga.
Georgia-Pacific announced in the summer it will invest $150 million in a new lumber plant in Albany that will house 130 workers. Once in production, the 320,000-square-foot facility will produce 300 million board-feet of lumber per year.
Poland-based Press Glass to located $43 million plant in Henry County, Va.
The largest independent flat glass processor in Europe will locate a $43 million, 280,000-square-foot facility at the Commonwealth Crossing Industrial Park. It's the first project at the new industrial park near Martinsville, Va., in Henry County. The project will create 212 jobs.
Airline boosts jobs in South Carolina
United Express will add a new crew base at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. More than 150 pilots and flight attendants will be based in Columbia.
Japanese manufacturer investing $120 million in Middle Georgia
Nichiha, a manufacturer of fiber cement products used in commercial and residential buildings, is investing $120 million at its Macon-Bibb County plant. The plant, which has been operating since 2008, will house 74 more workers.
New megasite being rolled out in Crittenden County, Ark.
The city of Marion, in Crittenden County, Ark., was a bridesmaid to two Toyota assembly plants over the last 15 years. In 2003, Marion lost the Toyota plant that went to San Antonio and then again in 2007 it lost out to Mississippi for another Toyota plant. Now, Crittenden County and the cities of West Memphis and Marion are rolling out a new 1,830-acre megasite on Interstate 40 near Lehi, Ark. Crittenden County and Entergy Arkansas are working on certifying the site through the Select Site program.
Texas accounted for almost 10 percent of U.S. economy
In the first quarter of this year, Texas' real GDP grew by 2.9 percent to $1.8 trillion according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The total accounted for 9 percent of the nation's economy in the first three months of the year.
Paperclip manufacturer shifting production to Mississippi
Acco is relocating its paperclip manufacturing from Wisconsin to Booneville, Miss. The $1 million project will create 29 jobs.
Thyssenkrupp Elevator to establish HQ in Cobb County, Ga.
Thyssenkrupp Elevator, one of the world's largest elevator companies, will build a new $200 million highrise headquarters at The Battery near the new Atlanta Braves stadium in Cobb County, Ga. The building will house 900 employees.
Austrian manufacturing expanding in Kentucky
Austria-based Alpla, a plastic bottle and packaging manufacturer, is investing $6.9 million to expand its plant in Bowling Green, Ky. The deal will create 24 full-time jobs.
Company expanding in Mississippi
SMW, a company that makes components for the heavy truck, construction and automotive markets, is expanding its plant in Lafayette County, Miss. The $4 million deal will create 25 jobs.
Nestle opens new HQ in Northern Virginia
Nestle USA, the maker of Haagen-Dazs, Lean Cuisine and many other brands, opened its new national headquarters in Arlington, Va.'s Rosslyn neighborhood. The company, which relocated its headquarters from California to Virginia, is spending $40 million in the move. The deal will create 750 jobs.
Financial services firm to create 365 jobs in Raleigh
Arch Capital Group, a financial services firm providing various insurance products, will open an operational hub in Raleigh, N.C. The $12.9 million project will create 365 jobs and will consolidate its offices in New York and New Jersey to Raleigh.
Meat processor opens facility in Alabama
Golden State Foods, a meat supplier to McDonald's, has opened its new 165,000-square-foot facility in Opelika, Ala. The project will create more than 200 jobs.
Denim manufacturer to open plant in Louisiana
Vidalia Denim has purchased the former Fruit of the Loom facility in Vidalia, La., and will take raw cotton and turn it in to denim fabric. The company will purchase Louisiana-grown cotton and will operate 24/7 spinning, dying and weaving processes at the 900,000-square-foot plant. Over $8 million will be invested in the textile project that will create 300 jobs in the Natchez, Miss., and Vidalia, La., area.
Company launching $340 million solar projects in South Carolina
Southern Current, a developer of residential, commercial and utility-scale solar farms, will develop 17 different projects in Darlington County, S.C. The total investment of the clean energy projects is $340 million.
Philadelphia manufacturer expanding in Alabama
A Philadelphia steel industry company is investing $52 million in its facilities in Limestone County, Ala. The investment is being made to build a new Emerging Technology Center at its 500,000-square-foot campus in Athens. The project will create 60 jobs.
Defense contractor growing in Alabama
BAE Systems is investing over $45 million in two facilities it has in Huntsville. The company is adding space to house the design, development and manufacturing of precision munitions and aircraft survivability technology.
New lumber mill set for Alabama
Rex Lumber is investing $110 million in a new yellow pine sawmill near Troy, Ala. The deal will create 110 jobs.
Close to 100 jobs are coming to Chattanooga
Mueller Water Products will expand its facilities in Chattanooga. The company, which is adding 96 jobs, will introduce additive manufacturing technologies to its foundries.
Auto parts supplier expands in Tennessee
U.S. Tsubaki, an auto parts manufacturer, is investing over $35 million to expand its facilities in Portland, Tenn. The company, which will create 70 new jobs, is a supplier of parts to Nissan, Ford, GM and Toyota.
Express Scripts adding jobs in St. Louis
Express Scripts Holding unit eviCore is adding 100 jobs in St. Louis. The unit specializes in evidence-based medical benefit management services.
Port of South Louisiana named No. 1 power port in the nation
In the summer quarter, the Port of South Louisiana, which stretches 54 miles along the Mississippi River, was named the No. 1 power port in the U.S. by Global Trade Magazine. The Port of South Louisiana is the largest tonnage port in the western hemisphere.
Triumph Gulf Coast approves $64 million to be invested in Northwest Florida aerospace projects
Triumph Gulf Coast, a nonprofit corporation organized to oversee the dispersal of funds recovered by the Florida attorney general for economic damages to the state from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, has approved $64 million in grants to expand aerospace infrastructure in Northwest Florida. Most of the money ($56 million) will be spent on major expansions at Pensacola International Airport to improve MRO facilities.
Sitel hiring 500 in Augusta, Ga.
Call center operator Sitel is hiring 500 at its call center in Augusta. The company recently captured a new wholesaler client, and the new hires will assist customers in the online ordering process.
Blue Cross hiring in Wichita Falls, Texas
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is expanding in Wichita Falls. The insurer will add 100 jobs to its phone unit in North Texas.
Large employer in rural Tennessee expanding
MTD, a manufacturer of outdoor power equipment under brands such as Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt, is investing $10 million in its plant in Martin, Tenn. The company, which has operated the plant since 1985, will hire 200.
Chemical manufacturer setting up HQ in North Charleston, S.C.
Ingevity, a chemical manufacturer, will build a new $20 million,110,000-square-foot global headquarters in North Charleston. The company is also investing $5 million to hire 100 workers.
Lockheed Martin keeps hiring for F-35 program in Fort Worth
After hiring 1,800 workers for its F-35 assembly plant in Fort Worth, Lockheed Martin announced in the summer quarter it will add 400 more workers at the facility.
Auto industry would need $7.6 billion bailout to offset tariffs
A study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that came out this summer showed that the Trump administration would need to offer the auto industry $7.6 billion in taxpayer-funded aid to counter tariffs in the escalating trade conflict with China and the European Union. The bailout would be similar to the $12 billion in aid President Trump gave U.S. farmers as China, the EU, Mexico and Canada enacted retaliatory tariffs on farm products.
Flooring company sets up shop in rural Georgia
Complete Flooring Supply, a flooring supplier to retailers, is investing $30 million in a facility in Gordon County, Ga. The deal will create 100 jobs.
Retailer building large distribution center in Georgia
Retailer Five Below has chosen a site in Monroe County, Ga., for a 770,000-square-foot distribution center that will house 130 workers.
Florida moves from worst to first in job creation
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in the summer that Florida had a net gain of 214,372 private-sector jobs in the last three months of 2017. That was the largest net gain of jobs in the country in that quarter. As a result of Hurricane Irma, Florida led the nation in net job losses in the third quarter of 2017 with a decline of 134,000 jobs.
Unmanned aircraft pioneer expanding in Virginia
Aurora Flight Sciences, a developer and manufacturer of unmanned aircraft and autonomous flight, is investing nearly $14 million to expand its facilities in Manassas, Va. The company runs its headquarters out of Manassas, and the expansion will include increased manufacturing capacity and a new R&D lab.
Churchill Downs hiring 200 in Louisville
Churchill Downs is opening its new $65 million betting facility this fall. The new facility will feature electronic racing machines that are like slot machines. The machines let customers bet on races that have already taken place. The project will create 200 jobs.
Canadian company to invest $275 million in Virginia
Cascades Inc., a manufacturer of packaging and tissue, plans to invest $275 million to locate a recycled containerboard plant in the former Bear Island Paper Mill in Hanover County, Va. The company will hire 140 workers in the deal.
Bourbon barrel company announced two Virginia deals
Speyside Bourbon Cooperage is investing $35 million to locate two new plants in Virginia. The company will locate a bourbon barrel cooperage in Smyth County and a new stave mill in Washington County, Va. The two deals will create 125 jobs.
Honda announces another expansion of its Alabama plant
Honda is once again investing in its large assembly plant in Lincoln, Ala. The latest expansion by the automaker is a $54 million investment that will add 50,000 square feet of space at its second line operations. Honda employs more than 4,500 workers at its Alabama plant.
Manufacturer expands in rural Kentucky
Mayfield Consumer Products, which makes candles and fragrance products, is adding a facility and expanding another in Mayfield, Ky. The company is investing more than $8 million and adding 52 jobs in the deal.
Call center sets up shop in Bay County, Fla.
Pennsylvania-based Revint Solutions is opening a new call center in Lynn Haven, Fla. The project will create 150 jobs.
Fabricator to start operations in South Carolina
Schuff Steel Company is investing $9 million in a new steel fabrication plant in Rock Hill, S.C. The deal will create 180 jobs.
Chinese manufacturer investing in South Alabama HQ
Kaishan Group, a manufacturer of industrial air compressors, announced in the summer it will locate its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Loxley, Ala. The company is investing $11 million and hiring 62 workers.
Atlanta company to build $785 million data center in Birmingham
Atlanta-based DC BLOX will transform a former steel plant in Birmingham, Ala., into a technology and innovation campus that will include a data center. The project calls for an investment of $785 million.
North Carolina company to open facility in Kansas City
North Carolina-based TrialCard will open a Kansas City contact center and hire 225. The company assists patients with medication and works on behalf of the pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Twenty-million-dollar sawmill going up in rural Alabama
Sunbelt Forest Ventures is locating a sawmill in Dallas County, Ala. The mill will produce pallets from suitable logs in the area. The $20 million project will generate 52 jobs working two shifts.
Dollar Tree to build distribution center in Missouri
Virginia-based Dollar Tree announced in the summer it will build a new $110 million distribution center in Warrensburg, Mo. The center, which will house 375 workers, will serve 11 states.
Truck maker Oshkosh plans new East Tennessee facility
Wisconsin-based Oshkosh, a manufacturer of firetrucks, concrete mixers and defense vehicles, announced plans to renovate the 500,000-square-foot former John Deere facility in Jefferson City, Tenn. The project will create 300 jobs. .
Poultry processor adding hundreds of jobs in Mississippi
Poultry processor Pearl River Foods is expanding its plant in Carthage, Miss. The company is adding 450 jobs to increase capacity at the facility.
Logistics company planning new facility in South Carolina
Kuehne + Nagel, a transport and logistics company, will locate a new facility in Charleston County, S.C. The deal will create 180 jobs.
Sensus expanding in North Carolina
Sensus, a provider of metering technologies for utilities and governments, will expand it operations in Durham County, N.C. The $4 million investment will create 301 jobs.
Aluminum manufacturer adding jobs in South Carolina
JW Aluminum is expanding its plant in Goose Creek, S.C. The project will add 220,000 square feet of space and 50 jobs.
Birmingham tech firm adding over 800 jobs
Shipt, an online order-based grocery delivery service that is in 160 U.S. markets, announced plans in the summer to add 881 jobs to its headquarters in Birmingham. The company was purchased by Target last year for $550 million.
Samsung to open call center in South Carolina
Samsung will open a new call center in a vacated grocery store in Mauldin, S.C. The deal will create 400 jobs.
North Carolina cruising with 200 new jobs
Norwegian Cruise Lines is creating a work-from-home agent cluster in the Triad area of North Carolina that could create as many as 200 full-time jobs. Agents will be the first point of contact for guests and travel agents wanting to arrange vacations on the cruise line. It is the first time Norwegian Cruise Line has expanded its at-home agent program outside of Arizona and Florida.
Another Amazon facility on its way to Memphis
In July, a $10 million building permit was filed for the improvement of a former AT&T building for occupation by the e-commerce behemoth Amazon. A project coordinator for Catamount Constructors, which built the Amazon fulfillment center in Lebanon, Tenn., confirmed the project.
UPS hiring thousands for new Atlanta hub
Georgia-based UPS has started hiring thousands of workers for a massive Southeast ground hub to open on the westside of Atlanta, one of the largest developments in the area in years. The shipping giant plans to hire 2,500 to 3,000 people to work at its Southeast Metro Automated Routing Terminal hub in Atlanta by the time the project is up and running in November. This will be UPS’s second-largest ground facility in the country behind a facility in Chicago.
Georgia Cyber Center celebrates opening
The collaborative cyber security center located in Augusta, Ga., recently opened its doors. The $100 million Cyber Center is the single largest investment in a cyber security facility by a state government to date.
Firestone Fibers & Textiles investing In North Carolina
Firestone Fibers & Textiles Company is expanding its 483,916-square-foot North American headquarters and advanced manufacturing plant in Kings Mountain, N.C. The manufacturer of technical textile fibers plans to invest approximately $19.8 million in the expansion, and create at least 25 new jobs in Gaston County.
Permico Midstream gets tax incentives for $550 million project in Texas
Nueces County, Texas commissioners agreed unanimously to curtail property taxes for an energy company that will transport natural gas liquids from the Permian Basin across Texas. The agreement grants Permico Midstream Partners 100 percent in property tax abatements for a construction period of up to three years, with 70 percent abatements following over the next five years. The $550 million project would involve construction of a NGL fractionator on 160 acres near Robstown.
Pearl River Foods adding hundreds of jobs
Poultry processor Pearl River Foods is growing its workforce in Carthage, Miss., adding 450 jobs, which brings the company’s roster to 600 workers.
New jobs for Greenville County, S.C.
Samsung Electronics America plans to open a customer care center in Greenville County, hiring 400 by 2020.
More Amazon distribution centers headed South
There are reports that Amazon, which has become synonymous with massive hiring, is seeking permits in Baton Rouge, Memphis, and Garner, N.C., according to various sources.
Printing plant expands in Bedford, Va.
Smyth Companies, a leader in the printing and packaging industry, has invested $6.5 million in new equipment at its printing operation in Bedford.
The company will receive funding from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP) to retrain its 28 employees on the new machinery.
Dollar Tree opens Missouri distribution center
Dollar Tree has celebrated the grand opening of its new $110 million distribution center in Warrensburg, Mo., which will service Dollar Tree’s Midwestern U.S. stores across 11 states.
New plant coming to Unicoi County, Tenn.
Old Hickory Buildings and Statesville Barn Company, a manufacturer of residential outbuildings, will be locating its new plant in Erwin. The manufacturer expects to invest up to $3 million in property, plant and equipment at the site, while offering 20 jobs in the first year.
Kroger Investing $17 million to expand Kentucky distribution center
Kroger is expanding its distribution center in Boone County with a $17 million expansion. Located in Florence, Ky., the 674,000-square-foot facility currently employs 80 associates, but is anticipated to employ another 250 through the investment.
Seventy-five new IT jobs coming to Richmond, Va.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that approximately 75 new jobs will be created through the Virginia Information Technologies Agency’s contract with Science Applications International Corporation.The contract with SAIC will add 75 new information technology jobs and also retain 400 jobs already established across the state.
Nutritional powder firm adds 75 jobs at Tennessee factory
Health and nutrition powder contract manufacturer Armada Nutrition plans to expand the headcount of its Spring Hill production plant by 75 workers.
Senior living facility bringing 100 jobs to Pensacola
The Blake at Pensacola, a hotel-style complex for seniors and their families, should be completed this fall. The facility will employ 100.
Bourbon brings more jobs to Kentucky
Gov. Matt Bevin announced that RH Resolute Distillery plans to locate in a previously unopened distillery in Hickman, Ky., creating 17 jobs with a $9.7 million investment.
Twilio opens Atlanta office, plans to hire 50
Twilio, a San Francisco-based cloud communications platform company, has opened an office in Buckhead, and plans to add more than 50 employees, including positions in sales, human resources and engineering.
Kentucky mines to hire 150 jobs
Coal companies tied to West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced plans recently to hire 150 employees at three surface mines in Eastern Kentucky. The mines — two in Pike County and one in Letcher County — have been inactive due to a decline in the coal market.
Jobs coming to idled Southwest Virgina factory
Mountain Top Timber Products will invest $3.76 million into the old Louisiana-Pacific fiberboard factory in Dungannon, Va., which has been idle and empty for more than 20 years. The project will expand the company’s wood chipping operations, adding 50 new jobs. They have also committed to purchase over $14 million of Virginia-grown timber from area loggers and forestland owners.
Lexington, Tenn., to add manufacturing jobs In 2018
Recently, Nidec Motor Company announced plans to expand its current operations in Lexington with the creation of more than 300 jobs and an $18 million investment in Henderson County. Nidec makes industrial, commercial and appliance motors, and control equipment.
Trailer manufacturer growing in Campbell County, Tenn.
BMT Manufacturing (Better Made Trailers) will locate new operations in Jellico and expand its current operations in Jacksboro, Tenn. The company plans to invest a total of $3.7 million and create 148 new jobs in Campbell County.
Manus Bio expands Georgia facilities
Manus Bio will create up to 50 jobs through the acquisition of a manufacturing facility in Richmond County, Ga. The company produces natural ingredients used as flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, cosmetics, vitamins, pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals.
Apple supplier still growing at new DFW plant
California-based Finisar has hired 200 of the roughly 500 workers it intends to employ at its new facility in Sherman, Texas, where it will make iPhone parts.
Caterpillar to expand North Little Rock operations
Caterpillar, the Illinois-based manufacturer of heavy equipment, said recently it will expand its North Little Rock operations with the hiring of another 250 workers and an investment of another $40 million by 2020. The plant currently has 522 employees.
Port of Beaumont expanding
Port of Beaumont will buy the the Chicago Bridge and Iron Building, a 75-acre facility on the Neches River flooded by Tropical Storm Harvey, for $8 million and will work with a private group to open a fabrication and paint shop as well as rebuild the docks and make other improvements. The project will create about 200 jobs.
Australia’s EOS selects Alabama for flagship facility
Electro Optic Systems (EOS), an Australian defense contractor specializing in remotely controlled weapon systems, announced plans to locate its flagship U.S. manufacturing facility in Huntsville, creating as many as 100 jobs in the first year.
LG Electronics to open Alabama plant
LG Electronics plans to invest $28 million to open a solar module assembly plant in Huntsville, creating 160 jobs. LG will establish the new factory on its 48-acre campus in Huntsville, where it has had operations for four decades. The new jobs will increase LG’s employment by 60 percent, to more than 400 workers.
Fujifilm expanding in Greenwood, S.C.
Tokyo-based Fujifilm Manufacturing USA announced plans to expand its existing operations in Greenwood County. The company’s $3.9 million investment is projected to create 67 new jobs. The company operates five state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities on its 500-acre campus located near Lake Greenwood.
Big River Steel expanding Arkansas mill
Big River Steel is investing $1.2 billion in an expansion that will double the capacity of its hot-rolled steel facility in Osceola, Ark. The expansion will facilitate the company’s ability to produce even higher grades of electrical steel, demand for which is expected to increase with continued focus on energy efficiency and the increase in hybrid and electric vehicle sales.
Furniture maker expands plant In Houston, Miss.
Franklin Corporation, one of the largest privately owned furniture manufacturers in the United States, is expanding in Mississippi. The $2.7 million investment will create 60 new jobs to make upholstered furniture.
Afni expands Kentucky call center
Afni, a customer engagement company, plans to create 86 full-time jobs as it invests $316,000 in its call center in Bowling Green, Ky. The new hires will support a new premier-brand retail client.
Fabricators use $2 million package to expand in North Carolina
Amada America, a manufacturer of precision sheet metal fabrication equipment, recently broke ground on a new facility in High Point. The $87 million project will receive more than $2 million in taxpayer support and subsidies. The expansion is forecasted to create 201 new jobs.
GE Appliances expanding in Decatur, Ala.
GE Appliances announced plans to invest $115 million in an expansion of its manufacturing facility in Decatur that will add 255 full-time jobs, bringing the Alabama plant’s total employment to nearly 1,300.
DENSO expands Kentucky facility
DENSO Air Systems Michigan will double its footprint in Christian County, Ky. The company plans to invest more than $3.5 million and create 45 full-time jobs. The expansion will boost production of aluminum HVAC pipes, tubes and hose assemblies for the automotive industry.
CSX facility planned for Edgecombe County, N.C.
Railroad giant CSX Corporation will build and operate a new intermodal transportation facility in Edgecombe County. The facility, known as the Carolina Connector (CCX), will be built on the CSX mainline and CSX will run it. NCDOT will invest up to $118.1 million for site development and roadway construction. NCDOT determined that the facility will have an indirect job impact of up to 1,300 jobs.
Bowling Green Metalforming plans $14 million expansion
Bowling Green Metalforming, a Canadian-owned automotive parts manufacturer, plans its sixth expansion since 2004, a $14.2 million investment set to create 27 new jobs in Warren County, Ky.
Auto supplier to spend $40 million in Alabama expansion
Japan-based Unipres, an automotive supplier specializing in stamping technologies, plans to invest $40 million in an expansion that will create 70 additional jobs at its Alabama production facility. The project will enhance production of parts for Nissan’s luxury mid-size vehicle.
Two Kentucky distillers plan multimillion-dollar expansions
Heaven Hill Distilleries, which owns Evan Williams and other brands, plans to invest $5.9 million to add more barrel-aging warehouses at a site in Nelson County. Campari America, which owns Wild Turkey, also plans to increase capacity for bourbon-barrel storage.
Meridian expands manufacturing in Aberdeen, N.C.
Meridian, a kiosk manufacturer and software developer, is expanding fabrication and assembly facilities at its 13-acre headquarters in Aberdeen.
LBX breaks ground on $10 million Customer Experience Center in Lexington, Ky.
LBX, the maker of Link-Belt excavators, material handlers and forestry equipment, has begun construction on its $10 million customer experience and training center in Lexington to supplement its current headquarters. The new facility will house dealer training, product demonstrations and customer events, as well as the company’s engineering staff.
Coca-Cola Consolidated plans hub in Erlanger, Ky.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated will create more than 430 full-time jobs as part of a $30 million investment to build a 300,000-square-foot facility sales and distribution facility in Erlanger. Company leaders expect to open by late summer 2019.
CKE Restaurants expands in Franklin, Tenn.
CKE, parent to the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s sister chains, will invest $3.6 million and create 145 jobs in to expand its headquarters operations in Williamson County.
British-Based Synthomer expands South Carolina plant
British-based Synthomer plans to expand its existing manufacturing operations in Roebuck, S.C. The company, a supplier of acrylic and vinyl emulsion, latex and specialty polymers, is investing $16 million and is expected to create 10 new jobs as a result in Spartanburg County.
Container Maintenance Company bringing 54 new jobs to Dillon County, S.C.
Container Maintenance of Dillon is bringing $11.5 million of capital investment and creating approximately 54 jobs to open a new facility to support the newly-opened Inland Port Dillon.
New assembly line for Mobile’s Airbus facility
Airbus and Bombardier closed a deal recently that paves the way for Bombardier’s C Series planes to be built in Mobile, Ala. Although no construction date has been announced, local leaders expect 400 new jobs at the assembly line to be built at the Airbus facility.
Steel Dynamics to invest more than $230 million In Columbus, Miss.
Fort Wayne, Indiana-based Steel Dynamics announced plans to invest $230 million to upgrade its northeast Mississippi steel mill, creating 45 jobs. Steel Dynamics says it has unmet demand for galvanized steel after it shifted some production at the Columbus mill from selling to pipe and tube makers to selling to more lucrative customers, including auto and appliance makers.
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