January 2020

Federal Reserve: Tariffs a drag on manufacturing

A report written by Aaron Flaaen and Justin Pierce of the Federal Reserve showed that President Trump's tariffs have led to job losses in the manufacturing sector and higher prices for producers and consumers. The researchers state, “Our results indicate that tariffs have been a drag on employment and have failed to increase output.” They concluded, “There are virtually no modern episodes of a large, advanced economy raising tariffs in a way comparable to the U.S. in 2018-2019.” A similar report by the Fed, Princeton University and Columbia University said that the tariffs implemented in 2018 cost Americans as much as $1.4 billion per month.

 

U.S. manufacturing closed out December with worst reading since June 2009

Manufacturing in the U.S. saw its fifth consecutive month of contraction in December. The Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing managers’ index fell to 47.2 in December from 48.1 in November. December's performance was the worst score since June 2009, and it marked the eighth decline in the last nine months.

 

Fed report says tariffs have backfired

A Federal Reserve report that came out in December laid out the claim that American tariffs imposed by President Trump have hurt American manufacturing. The protectionist policies have slowed manufacturing as well as the overall economy, the report stated. In 2019, economic growth decelerated from 3 percent at the beginning of the year to 2 percent.

 

New census figures show population keeps shifting from the North to the South

The Census Bureau released new data in the winter quarter that shows population continues to shift from the Midwest and Northeast to the South and Southwest, which has been going on for decades. Congressional seats and electoral votes are allocated to states based on a census conducted every 10 years. Because the 2019 estimates come less than a year before the next decennial census, they closely approximate which states will gain and lose as a result of the 2020 count that gets fully underway in the spring. According to the data, Texas is expected to gain two congressional seats and Florida and North Carolina are expected to gain one. Eight states are likely to lose one seat and New York, Illinois, Michigan and California are in that mix. It would be California's first loss since it became a state in 1850.

 

North Carolina, Texas at top of Forbes' "Best States for Business"

In the winter quarter, North Carolina was named the No. 1 state for business by Forbes. Texas came in second and Virginia, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee made the top 10 in the South. Utah, Washington, Colorado and Idaho made up the top 10.

 

Google to locate first U.S. operations center in Mississippi

In December, Google announced it was locating its first U.S. operations center in Northwestern Mississippi, although the exact location was not disclosed. Google’s current operations centers are located in India and the Philippines. The project will create 350 jobs that will provide customer service to Google users.

 

Wood pellet plant slated for West Alabama

Tuscaloosa-based Westervelt and Canadian Pinnacle Renewable Energy will combine to build a $99 million industrial wood pellet facility in Demopolis, Ala.

 

Amazon picks Deltona, Fla., for another warehouse

Amazon announced in the winter quarter it will locate yet another warehouse in Deltona, Fla. The deal will create 500 jobs.

 

Seven Southern markets make top 10 for manufacturing jobs

Greenville, N.C.; Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, Ky.; Spartanburg, S.C.; Jonesboro, Ark.; Morristown, Tenn.; Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, S.C.; and Athens-Clarke County, Ga., made SmartAsset's Best Places to Work in Manufacturing ranking that came out in the winter.

 

Northern Alabama could see 25,000 new jobs

The Northern Alabama counties of Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties could see 25,000 new jobs at the same time the Huntsville region is seeing record unemployment rates. Mazda Toyota will open its $1.6 billion joint assembly plant in Huntsville in 2021.

 

Chassis manufacturer expands in South Carolina

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, a manufacturer of vehicle chassis, is expanding its plant in Cherokee County, S.C. The almost $14 million expansion will create 193 jobs.

 

Austin, Durham cited by Inc. Magazine

Durham, N.C.'s affordable rent and educated workforce have earned the city a ranking in Inc. Magazine's "Surge Cities" ranking as one of the 50 best cities for startups in 2020. Durham is No. 3 while Austin is No. 1. Salt Lake City place second. Charleston, S.C., and Miami made the top 10 while Nashville and Raleigh ranked just outside the top 10.

 

New Kentucky governor restores voting rights to nonviolent felons

New Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order in December to restore the voting rights of 140,000 nonviolent offenders who have completed their sentences. Beshear signed the order on his third day in office.

 

Universal Orlando to locate Creative Team World HQ

Universal Orlando Resort, which is building the Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, announced in December it will locate a new world headquarters for its Universal Creative team at the new park. The 187,000-square-foot facility will cost nearly $350 million to build and will mean 150 new jobs

 

Virginia governor announces tuition-free community college

In December, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced that his proposed budget for 2020 would include money to provide tuition-free community college for in-need students that are studying for certain job fields. HIs proposed “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back” program includes $145 million over two years to pay for the tuition.

 

Houston's economy is contracting

Houston's economy contracted in November, according to the Houston Purchasing Manager’s index. It's the first time the area economy has contracted since Hurricane Harvey struck the region in August of 2017 causing $130 billion in damage.

 

Global manufacturer of transformers to locate in Memphis

South Korea-based Hyosung will locate a new transformer plant at the former Mitsubishi facility in Memphis. The project will create 400 jobs. The company plans to invest nearly $87 million in a former Mitsubishi Electric transformer factory on the city’s southwest side. Mitsubishi Electric officials announced the six-year-old plant would close and be sold to a rival power equipment company last month.

 

Montgomery, Ala. sees record-breaking numbers

Montgomery saw $1 billion in industrial capital investments in 2019, the second largest total ever for Montgomery County. It was surpassed only by 2002, when Hyundai announced its plant there. A total of 31 companies announced projects in Montgomery in 2019 that created 1,214 new jobs and retained 7,784 jobs.

 

Boston-based tech firm to locate in Tampa

Boston-based tech company Drift, a conversational marketing firm, is opening its fourth operations center in Tampa. The deal will create 100 jobs.

 

Wegmans Food Market to locate new distribution center in Virginia

Wegmans Food Market, a grocery retailer with stores in the Northeast and in mid-Atlantic states, announced it will place a $175 million distribution operation in Ashland, Va. The deal will create 700 jobs in Hanover County, Va.

 

Auto supplier expands in Henderson, Tenn.

Automotive products manufacturer Arvin Sango will expand its existing operations in Henderson. It supplies stamped auto body parts and door safety parts for the automotive industry. The company’s customers include major brands such as Toyota and Nissan. Sango Co. is headquartered in Japan, and Arvin Sango is headquartered in Indiana. The company is expected to create 153 jobs in Chester County over the next five years.

 

Steel fabrication manufacturer to expand in Arkansas

SFI Arkansas, a steel fabricator, plans to expand in Conway, Ark. The project will create 75 new jobs.

 

AeroFarms to build new facility in Virginia

AeroFarms announced in the fall it will build a 150,000-square-foot indoor vertical farm in Danville, Va. The $42 million farm will house 92 workers.

 

Natural gas is a cyclical business; it currently is at the bottom of the cycle

Plentiful natural gas has changed the manufacturing industry in the U.S. like nothing else in the last decade. It has made the U.S. so competitive in the manufacturing arena that the sector added more than 1 million jobs over the last 10 years for the first time in decades. While natural gas continues to take market share from coal to supply electric power plants, the gas industry is going bust. There is currently a glut of the fuel. Miners are shutting down rigs and Chevron, the nation's second largest oil and gas player, announced in December it is writing off $10 billion to $11 billion in shale gas holdings as well as a planned LNG export facility in Canada. The number of gas rigs nationwide has slipped from 184 last year to 132 in December 2019.

 

Houston MSA leads the nation in residential building permits

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land continues to lead the nation in both multifamily and single-family residential unit permits. The Houston region saw 36,073 permits issued from July 2018 to July 2019, the largest number in the country and nearly 20 times the 1,843 permits issued in the average metro area. Dallas-Fort Worth came in second with 34,523 residential building permits.

 

GM completes $1.4 billion expansion of its large SUV plant in Texas

General Motors has completed the $1.4 billion expansion of its SUV plant in Arlington, Texas. The automaker celebrated by unveiling new generation Chevy Suburban and Tahoe models. The 1.6 million-square-foot addition to the plant that was built in 1954 will bring total square footage to 5.75 million.

 

Austin, Raleigh No. 1 and No. 2 in Tech Town Index

CompTIA came out with its Tech Town Index in the fall -- Austin ranked first and Raleigh second. To compile the list, CompTIA considered six factors, including number of IT jobs, cost of living index rank, and location quotient (Number of IT job advertisements by number of people employed).

 

757 is now the branding name for Hampton Roads, Va.

Hampton Roads, Va., which includes Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Newport News among other cities, is now called 757 (the entire area's area code) in a rebranding effort by several of the economic development agencies in the area.  The region is home to 1.7 million people. Prior to the name Hampton Roads, the area was referred to as Tidewater.

 

Factory expanding in Montgomery, Ala.

St.Louis-based Hager Companies, a maker of door hinges, is investing $25 million in its plant in Montgomery. More than 240 people work at the facility and the expansion will add 51 more.

 

Bottler expanding in Oklahoma

Refresco US announced in the fall it will invest $12 million at its bottling plant in Fort Gibson, Okla. The project will create 75 new jobs.

 

CNBC poll says 60 percent of CFOs predict head count reductions

The fourth quarter 2019 CNBC Global CFO Council survey came out in the fall and 60 percent of CFOs polled said they will be cutting jobs and slowing hiring in 2020, even with the blowout jobs report of 266,000 new jobs created in November.

 

Design firm to create over 100 jobs in North Carolina

Michael Aram, a luxury design company offering a wide range of craft-based jewelry, tabletop and home furnishings, will create 118 jobs as it relocates a logistics center to Wayne County, N.C. The company will invest nearly $5.7 million in the facility to be located in Goldsboro.

 

Timber manufacturer to locate plant in Arkansas

Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation, a mass timber manufacturer, is investing $90 million in a facility in Conway, Ark. The company is retrofitting a former steel plant that will house 130 new jobs.

 

German filtration manufacturer expands in Tennessee

MANN+HUMMEL USA, a maker of filtration solutions for automobiles, is investing $15 million at its plant in Dunlap, Tenn. The project will create 50 jobs.

 

Pratt & Whitney investing in West Virginia jet engine plant

Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp., will invest $30 million in its jet engine facility in Bridgeport, W.Va. The company makes engines used by Savannah-based Gulfstream on its business jets.

 

Deal in West Georgia calls for 155 jobs

First Credit Services is adding jobs at its call center in Columbus, Ga. The company is investing $2 million and adding 155 jobs, with an emphasis on hiring spouses of military service members.

 

Houston home to more than 30 wind energy companies 

The Houston MSA is involved in a big way in the wind energy industry. Companies include wind farm development firms, blade inspection and maintenance, lubricant manufacturers, and other sectors that support wind energy. Texas produces 20 percent of its power from wind energy and almost 25,000 people work in the sector in the Lone Star State.

 

Engineered plastics manufacturer to open new plant in Murray, Ky.

TPG Plastics is opening a new plant in Murray, Ky. The manufacturer of engineered plastics will invest over $14 million and create 75 jobs in the deal.

 

It's never been done before in this country

For the first time in the nation's history, the U.S. will go more than 10 years without a recession. Records kept before the Civil War show that a recession has occurred at least once every 10 years. The last one was particularly difficult as the U.S. economy fell into recession from December 2007 to June of 2009. 

 

Smartasset publishes "boomtown" ranking

Several Southern cities made Smartasset's boomtown ranking that came out in December. Longmont, Colo., was named No. 1, but Denton, Texas; Mount Pleasant, S.C.; Miami; New Braunfels, Texas; Charleston, S.C.; North Charleston, S.C.; and Round Rock, Texas, all made the top 10 in the South. The other two were in Colorado.

 

Ashley Furniture is expanding in Northeast Mississippi

Ashley Furniture is expanding it upholstery manufacturing and regional distribution center in Ecru, Miss. The $25 million project will create 100 jobs. Ashley employs 3,290 workers in Mississippi and about 2,300 workers at its Ecru plant in Pontotoc County.

 

Virginia port to be East Coast's deepest harbor

The Port of Virginia began dredging its harbor to 56 feet, which would make it the deepest channel on the East Coast. The dredging began in December and when it is completed in 2024, the commercial channels serving the Norfolk Harbor will be able to simultaneously accommodate two ultra-large container vessels. The investment in the project exceeds $350 million.

 

State-of-the-art greenhouse to be built in rural North Carolina

Massachusetts-based Little Leaf Farms, a producer of fresh lettuce, is building a greenhouse complex in Burnsville, N.C., in Yancey County. The $86 million project will create 100 jobs.

 

Metal fabricator to build new plant in Texas

United Alloy, a maker of fuel tanks and other fabricated projects, is investing $35 million in a new plant in Seguin, Texas. The deal will create 100 new jobs.

 

Merck expands in Eastern North Carolina

Merck, the biopharmaceutical giant, is investing $57 million in its facilities in Wilson, N.C. The company is locating a filling and packaging line for one of its vaccines. The deal will create 55 jobs.

 

Charles Schwab CEO said operating expenses not a "big driver" in HQ move to North Texas

In a story in the Dallas Business Journal in December, Charles Schwab CEO Peter Crawford said that reducing operating expenses in moving its headquarters to Westlake, Texas, from San Francisco was night a "big driver" in the company's decision. Charles Schwab, the discount brokerage, acquired TD Ameritrade and both companies have more than 4,000 employees in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.

 

Winter Haven, Fla., captures large can manufacturing plant

Winter Haven has won a $120 million, 300,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing plant for aluminum cans.  The project will create 160 new jobs.

 

Tampa is the top U.S. city to be hit by "silver tsunami"

According to Zillow research, Tampa has more senior citizens that own homes and is the most susceptible city in the U.S. for the "silver tsunami." The "silver tsunami" occurs when people age out of home ownership, die or find other living accommodations. About 34 percent of owner-occupied U.S. homes are owned by people aged 60 or older, but that percentage is much higher in Tampa.

 

One of the largest current projects going up in Tennessee

Amazon has begun work in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., on one of the South's largest current projects. Amazon is building a new 3.6-million-square-foot warehouse in the city located east of Nashville. The deal is expected to create 1,200 jobs.

 

The furniture industry is coming back in the South, but there are not enough workers

In December, the Wall Street Journal published an article that stated that furniture makers like Crate & Barrel, Ashley Furniture and Williams-Sonoma are expanding manufacturing capacity in the U.S., and that factories of furniture manufacturers are "humming." That is true in many of the historical furniture manufacturing states such as Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia. We have seen more furniture projects than at any time since the 1990s, when many of them bee-lined to China. But the article also said that there are not enough skilled workers to support the "renaissance." Sewers and upholsterers lost thousands of jobs, meaning there are few who trained for the furniture industry since it collapsed, leaving it reliant on an "aging workforce."

 

Tax cuts make U.S. tax burden one of the lowest in the world

President Trump's 2017 tax cuts have reduced the U.S. tax burden to the lowest among major developed nations, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The tax cuts have also contributed to the U.S. government's budget deficit of nearly $1 trillion in 2019. The deficit rose by $205 billion, or 26 percent in the last year. Only three of the major world economies currently have a lower tax burden than the U.S.

 

Cooling solutions firm to locate in South Carolina

AIRSYS Cooling Technologies, a cooling solutions firm, is investing $5 million in a deal in Spartanburg County, S.C. The project will create 116 jobs.

 

German company bringing jobs to Waco, Texas

Berlin-based ZinkPower announced in the fall quarter that it will locate a hot-dip galvanizing facility in Waco. The company will invest $32 million, create 100 new jobs and serve the structural steel industry.

 

SKF expands in Sumter, S.C.

SKF, a manufacturer of bearings of all sizes for use by the military, semiconductor and medical industries, is investing $26 million in its plant in Sumter, S.C. The project will create 10 jobs.

 

The U.S. is now a net exporter of oil

For the first time in decades, the U.S. is a net exporter of oil. The world's top oil producer and consumer, the U.S. exported 89,000 more barrels of crude and other petroleum products a day than it imported in September. September represented the first full month of the U.S. being a net exporter of oil since the 1940s, according to the Energy Information Administration. The U.S. ended the crude export ban that was implemented in the 1970s in 2015.

 

Auto supplier to build new plant in Georgia

Japan-based Mitsui Kinzoku Die-Casting will build a new plant in Spalding County, Ga. The company will invest $20 million in the facility and hire 30 workers where it will make parts for electric vehicles.

 

AFCO Industries expands in Louisiana

A company that makes metal weather stripping and other building construction components is expanding its facility in central Louisiana and closing its plant in Alabama. AFCO Industries will make a $3.62 million investment to expand in Alexandria, La., and close its plant in Pell City, Ala., transferring jobs and operations to the Louisiana location. AFCO’s move will create 16 new jobs.

 

Amazon confirms purchase of land in Suffolk, Va.

Amazon has purchased 87 acres in Suffolk, but neither the company nor the city will say what’s in the works.

 

Amazon building fulfillment center on Gwinnett-DeKalb line, bringing 1,000 jobs to Georgia

The mysterious Project Rocket development that stirred speculation last year is indeed an Amazon fulfillment center. Amazon is building the new fulfillment center on the Gwinnett-DeKalb line, and the project is expected to deliver 1,000 new jobs to the area.

 

Aircraft Solutions investing nearly $100 million in North Carolina

Aircraft Solutions will establish a new subsidiary at North Carolina’s Global TransPark to recycle aircraft parts and materials. The company will create 475 jobs and invest nearly $100 million to establish the new facility in Lenoir County.

 

Ascend finalizes plans for $175 million project in Alabama

Ascend Performance Materials has finalized plans for a $175 million project to expand production at its Decatur, Ala., manufacturing facility and construct energy cogeneration units at the site. The project will add 10 manufacturing jobs to Houston-based Ascend’s Alabama workforce, which exceeds 400 people. The project at the Ascend facility — one of only four in the world that produces adiponitrile, or ADN, on a large scale — will generate 150 jobs by its completion.

 

Ferra Aerospace acquires manufacturing facility in Rogers, Ark.

Ferra Aerospace, an advanced machining and assembly company, has acquired a new manufacturing facility in Rogers that will employ 26 workers. Ferra also currently operates a facility in nearby Grove, Okla., that is undergoing an expansion to double its current manufacturing floor to 100,000 square feet.

 

Martco upgrades facilities in Louisiana

Forest products company Martco, which operates under the trade name RoyOMartin, will invest a combined $25 million to modernize its production facilities in Oakdale and Chopin, La. The company’s oriented strand board site in Oakdale will receive a $23 million capital investment, and its plywood manufacturing site in Chopin will receive a $2.2 million capital investment.

With the projects, the company will retain 1,031 employees and create 10 new direct jobs.

 

Company plans diamond mine in Louisville, Ky.

Kentucky Advanced Materials Manufacturing is establishing a facility to mine diamonds above ground in Louisville. The company is partnering with the University of Louisville’s Conn Center for Renewable Energy to implement a pilot plant/demonstration facility. “Diamond is an advanced material with superlative properties making it the best choice for many technological applications including those that enable connection of renewables to the grid,” explains Dr. Mahendra Sunkara, a professor at the Conn Center.

 

Cloud-based firm bringing 160 jobs to Georgia’s Peachtree Corners

Brightree, a cloud-based healthcare company, recently opened its new 60,500-square-foot headquarters in Peachtree Corners’ Technology Park Atlanta. The building, formerly occupied by Honeywell, was renovated for its 160-employee workforce.

 

Collins Aerospace growing in North Jacksonville, Fla.

Collins Aerospace continues to hire and build out space for its Engineered Polymer Products plant in North Jacksonville that could employ more than 100 people by the end of 2020.

 

Brakebush plans $60 million expansion in Mocksville, N.C.

Brakebush Brothers has committed to invest $60 million and hire at least 244 in the fire-damaged former House of Raeford poultry plant in Mocksville. The Wisconsin-based company is a 94-year-old, family-owned processor of chicken products.

 

Holt Manufacturing to hire 160 in Waco, Texas

The Holt family of San Antonio, whose company claims the title of “largest Caterpillar equipment dealer in the United States,” will make Waco a manufacturing hub for land-clearing and oilfield equipment and water trucks used at construction sites. Holt has permits for a $12 million overhaul of the facility and plans to hire 160 people to work there.

 

Medline Industries creating 464 jobs in Louisiana

Medline Industries will build an 800,000-square-foot distribution center and create more than 460 new jobs in St. Tammany Parish. The $53 million medical supply facility will replace a smaller Medline distribution center located between Covington and Goodbee.

 

Ace Electric expanding Georgia footprint

Ace Electric will expand its footprint in Valdosta-Lowndes County. The company will invest $5.5 million to build a new fabrication facility, and create 15 new jobs. According to the company’s VP, the expansion will allow them to put fabrication, design and engineering operations under one roof.

 

American Airlines adding jobs in Tulsa

American Airlines is adding 30 jobs at the Brake and Wheel Center in Tulsa, Okla. The jobs will focus on maintenance of American’s fleet of the Airbus A-320 family and A-330, as well as the Boeing 757 and 787.

 

Horse Soldier Bourbon announces $50 million expansion in Kentucky

American Freedom Distillery, founded by members of the first U.S. Army Special Forces unit to enter Afghanistan following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, has announced it will expand in Somerset, Ky., launching a two-phase, $50 million project that will add 56 jobs.

 

Congress, Trump approve $138 million to fund Charleston Harbor Deepening Project

President Donald Trump approved $138 million for the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project as part of the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill in the 2020 Budget. With this approval, the project is now fully funded to completion and on track to be completed by 2021, according to the South Carolina Ports Authority.

 

Ampirical to build HQ in Louisiana

A company that specializes in electrical infrastructure engineering, design and construction management will build a 78,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in Louisiana and consolidate its existing St. Tammany Parish locations into the new building. Ampirical plans to create 400 new jobs and invest $20 million at the facility near Covington over the next decade, with an average annual salary of more than $85,000 including benefits.

 

City Council of Arlington, Texas, approves $810 million project

Arlington continues to build on its economic momentum with a planned $810 million expansion of the Entertainment District, which would add a best-in-class hotel brand, new convention center, corporate office headquarters, mixed-use residential building, small business coworking and incubator space, and even more dining, retail and entertainment options.

 

Pierburg expanding in Greenville County, S.C.

Pierburg, a manufacturer of components for air supply and emission control, announced plans to expand its existing operations in Greenville County. The $27 million investment will create 95 new jobs. Pierburg is one of three brands under the Rheinmetall Automotive group.

 

VA building new clinic in Fort Smith, Ark.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is building a 45,900-square-foot clinic in Fort Smith that could add around 100 jobs — doctors, nurses and support staff — and “significantly” increase healthcare access for veterans.

 

Boeing Oklahoma wins $400 million deal

The Boeing Company recently secured a $400 million contract to provide engineering services to B-1 and B-52 aircraft. Work related to the deal will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base (La.), Edwards Air Force Base (Calif.), Barksdale Air Force Base (La.), and Oklahoma City (Okla.). With the recent modification, the total cumulative value of the contract reached $800 million.

 

Rempac Foam to expand in Lumberton, N.C.

A foam manufacturer has received a grant that will protect about 200 jobs at its plant and lead to the hiring of as many as 40 more. Rempac Foam plans to invest $4 million to add 50,000 square feet of space to its facility.

 

China-based flooring maker hiring hundreds in Bartow County, Ga.

A China-based flooring manufacturer says it will create 238 jobs and invest $26 million in a refurbished facility in Adairsville. GreenView Floors International will renovate a vacant building there to establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility.

 

Arizona company investing $25 million in Georgia

Zummit Plastics, a manufacturer of plastic stretch film based in Phoenix City, Ariz., is planning to open a new manufacturing facility in Georgia. The company is expanding with plans to create 50 new jobs and invest $25 million into the project in Columbus.

 

National Cement expands rural Alabama plant

National Cement Co. of Alabama, whose parent company is France-based VicatSA, plans to invest more than $250 million to construct a new kiln at its production plant in Ragland, Ala., 50 miles east of Birmingham. Local leaders say it is St. Clair County’s biggest capital investment in more than 20 years.

 

Jemison Metals expands in Sumter, S.C.

Jemison Metals, a supplier of carbon flat-rolled products, plans to expand operations at its complex in Sumter. The $14 million investment is expected to create 57 new jobs.

 

Sea Pro Boats expands in Winnsboro, S.C.

Sea Pro Boats, a saltwater fishing boat manufacturer, plans to expand operations in Winnsboro. The $3 million investment is expected to create 135 new jobs in Fairfield County.

 

Alorica expands in North Charleston, S.C.

Call center Alorica plans to expand its current operations in North Charleston. The $1.2 million investment will create more than 300 new jobs. The company services a variety of brands in the retail, healthcare, energy and utilities industries.

 

Bottling company expands Springfield, Mo., operations

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, a third generation family-owned bottler, is investing $40 million to expand its local operations in Springfield. Undertaking a two-phase expansion, the company will create approximately 25 new jobs and build a new 430,000-square-foot warehouse adjacent to its existing plant.

 

Charlotte-based Nucor expands in Blytheville, Ark.

Nucor will build a coil-paint line at its Nucor Steel Arkansas plant, which will make that facility the Charlotte-based company’s first that can produce painted steel. Nucor has not disclosed the cost of the latest expansion. The company recently completed a $230 million cold-rolled steel line at the plant in Blytheville, and is currently installing a $240 million galvanizing line.

 

Louisiana will keep taking refugees

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is one of more than 30 governors to tell President Donald Trump that their states will continue to accept refugees. Trump issued an executive order allowing states to opt out of the federal refugee resettlement process. Edwards, a Democrat, recently sent in paperwork saying Louisiana would continue to consent to refugee resettlement.

 

GM investing $1.5 billion in Missouri expansion

General Motors recently confirmed it will invest $1.5 billion to produce its next-generation Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickups at its plant in Wentzville, Mo. The plant, where the Chevy Colorado and Express, and the GMC Canyon and Savana are built, currently employs about 4,000 hourly and 330 salaried employees. The announcement represents one of the largest single project investments from the private sector in Missouri.

 

Auto parts manufacturer to build second plant in Charlotte Region of North Carolina

Cataler North America Corporation, a manufacturer of catalysts for automobiles and engines, will build a new manufacturing plant in Hickory, N.C., creating 151 jobs. The Japanese company will invest a minimum of $42 million in the project in Catawba County.

 

Tyndall AFB slated for $1.5 billion in emergency funding

All but destroyed by Hurricane Michael, Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., is slated to get a major boost for recovery and redevelopment in this year’s federal defense budget, receiving more than $1.5 billion for emergency construction projects. Estimates for the full reconstruction of the base have ranged from $3 billion to more than $4 billion.

 

Heinz investing $25 million in Texas expansion

Kraft Heinz Food Company will invest $25 million in an expansion of its Garland, Texas, operations, and plans to add approximately 250 new full time jobs to its current workforce of 843 employees. The project has been approved under the Texas Enterprise Zone Program, which promotes business investment and job creation in economically-challenged areas. As required by the state, at least 35 percent of the new jobs must be filled by Enterprise Zone residents, veterans or economically disadvantaged citizens.

 

Johnson Controls expanding Hattiesburg operations

Johnson Controls is expanding, bringing between 40 to 50 new jobs to its Hattiesburg, Miss., facility. The plant currently employs around 225 to manufacture both YORK and Miller-Picking brand systems.

 

LNG plant to bring 35,000 jobs to Mississippi and Louisiana

Officials said a liquid natural gas plant coming to Port Gibson, Miss., could bring up to 35,000 new jobs to the areas of Southwest Mississippi and East Louisiana. In April 2019, the city of Port Gibson entered into an agreement with Houston-based gas company HESCO to bring the plant to the city. Three hundred jobs will be created for the plant’s construction, and 35,000 once it’s operational. Alderman Scott Davis said this is a huge step for an area that’s been economically depressed for decades.

 

Phoenix invests $600,000, adds 16 new jobs in Bamberg, S.C.

Phoenix Specialty Manufacturing announced it has added 16 permanent jobs and invested over $600,000 at its manufacturing facility in Bamberg, population 3,200.

 

Supreme Rice expands facility in Crowley, La.

Supreme Rice will undertake a $20 million expansion of its rice mill in Crowley. According to Louisiana Economic Development, “Supreme Rice is the largest rice-milling operation in Louisiana. The project will secure the company’s position as a leading rice processor by adding 25,000 square feet of manufacturing space, bringing the facility to 75,000 square feet.”

 

Merrick Engineering relocates HQ to Waco, Texas

Merrick Engineering, a manufacturer of plastic and injection molded consumer products, will relocate its corporate headquarters from Corona, Calif., to Waco, Texas. The project represents a $33 million investment, which includes the construction of a new 400,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility along with corporate offices. Merrick will retain its existing workforce of 150 employees and create 20 new positions.

 

WABCO expands Kentucky distribution hub

WABCO plans to triple its employment as it invests over $3 million in the distribution portion of its heavy duty truck parts manufacturing and warehousing facility in Hebron, where it currently employs 77 people.

 

Consulting firm moving HQ from St. Louis to Austin

Consulting firm Sense Corp. is moving its headquarters from St. Louis to Austin. The company plans to invest more than $80 million while creating more than 200 new jobs focused on advanced data analytics such as AI and digital technologies.

 

Microsoft expands Morrisville, N.C., operations

Global technology and software company Microsoft will invest $47.5 million and create 500 new jobs to expand its operations in Wake County. In October, Microsoft also announced an expansion in Charlotte that will create 430 jobs with a $23 million investment.

 

Frontier Airlines building $10 million hangar at Orlando International Airport

Frontier Airlines announced it will build a 35,000-square-foot hangar at Orlando International Airport. The project is expected to create 45 new jobs, doubling its current maintenance workforce at the airport.

 

Multi-Pack moving into new facility in Greenville, S.C.

Multi-Pack Solutions, a manufacturer of packaging for over-the-counter drugs and personal care products, has begun moving its production lines into a new 125,000-square-foot facility at the S.C. Technology and Aviation Center. The facility represents a $16.3 million investment by Multi-Pack.

 

Georgia wins gun-maker and 300 jobs

It took two decades, millions in tax credits and the gift of a free factory, but Georgia finally landed a Brazil-based gun-maker, who is moving from the Miami area to a small town just north of the Florida border. Taurus Holdings is expected to bring 300 jobs to Bainbridge, Ga., population 12,000.

 

Alcami expands in North Charleston, S.C.

Alcami, a provider of solutions for the pharmaceutical and biologics industries, plans to expand its current operations in North Charleston. The $17 million investment will create 30 new jobs.

 

Mattress manufacturer establishing in Gaffney, S.C.

Palmetto Pedic, founded in 2018 as a joint venture between mattress industry veterans from the U.S. and China, plans to establish a production center in Gaffney. The $8.5 million investment is expected to create more than 60 new jobs in Cherokee County.

 

Logistics company relocates HQ to Florence, Ky.

Logistics services provider LeanCor Supply Chain Group will invest $4.4 million to relocate its headquarters into a larger office building in Florence. The company plans to add 53 full-time jobs within Boone County.

 

Global Lending Services plans $4.2 million expansion in Greenville, S.C.

Global Lending Services, an automotive lending company, will invest more than $4.2 million to expand its current operations in Greenville. The investment is expected to create 669 new jobs. The company has developed technology to approve customers at competitive rates in less than 20 seconds.

 

Lubbock Economic Development Alliance announces three wins

The Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA) announced during a press conference in December the expansion of three businesses adding 343 jobs and $10.8 million in capital investment in the Lubbock community. Key Organics, a food processing facility, will build an organic grains and milling facility investing $5.8 million and adding 38 new jobs. Saint Francis Ministries will open three new offices in Texas with the largest one in downtown Lubbock, adding 190 jobs there. Tyler Technologies, a software company, announced plans to add 115 jobs over the next five years along with $5 million in capital investment.

 

StruXure Outdoor plans expansion in Dahlonega, Ga.

Advantage Capital plans a $1.75 million investment in StruXure Outdoor, a manufacturer of pergolas for residential and corporate outdoor spaces. The investment will support the expansion of its current facility and the immediate creation of 25 jobs, and 40 over the next three years.

 

Eagle Roofing Products expands facilities in Florida

A manufacturer of concrete roof tiles has begun expanding its plant in Sumterville, Fla., and building a new stocking facility in West Palm Beach.

 

Florida’s Project Farmer revealed

The Marion (Fla.) County Commission approved a $9.9 million incentive package toward the massive distribution facility promising up to 700 jobs. The company behind Project Farmer, a 1.7 million-square-foot distribution center, is indeed Dollar Tree.

 

Danville, Va., moving toward 100 percent renewable energy by 2050

Danville recently announced the commencement of two 5MW AC solar power plants, its third and fourth solar power purchase agreements. In collaboration with TurningPoint Energy and solar partner, Navisun, the combined 10MW will begin construction by the end of the year in Pittsylvania County.

 

Unilin to add 30 jobs in Thomasville, N.C., as part of $15 million expansion

The Unilin North America production facility in Thomasville is expanding again, this time with a $14.9 million investment that will lead to 30 new jobs. Unilin is a supplier of laminate flooring, selling under the Quick-Step and Pergo brands.

 

Arlington, Texas getting $800 convention center

An ambitious hotel and convention center project in Arlington’s evolving entertainment district is getting the go-ahead from city leaders. The City Council voted unanimously to move forward with incentive agreements that will put a $550 million Loews hotel and an attached 150,000-square-foot convention center in motion. The 880-room hotel would be more than twice the size of a Live! by Loews hotel that recently opened across the street. The plan also includes a $200 million residential and office project called Stadium Lofts that Cordish Companies will build at the Texas Rangers’ former ballpark.

 

Foam Products Corp. adding jobs following expansion

A multi-million dollar expansion at a manufacturing facility in Unicoi County, Tenn., will bring jobs. Georgia-based Foam Products Corporation in Erwin completed the nearly two-year project at its Erwin facility in December. The company currently employs 70 workers and has hired 20 more over the past seven years. Now, they are in the process of hiring more. This comes as the plant completed a recent $1 million expansion to the building and added $6 million worth of new equipment.

 

Coast Professional expands West Monroe, La., contract center

Coast Professional recently dedicated its newly designed 8,200-square-foot contact center in West Monroe. The company already has hired more than 100 new employees at the location.

 

Waterlogic chooses Texas for North American headquarters

The U.K.-based drinking water dispenser company will invest $1.6 million and create up to 164 jobs in Grapevine, Texas. Waterlogic USA, currently headquartered in New Castle, Del., will establish a new North American Headquarters and Center of Excellence there.

 

Hundreds take buyouts at Gadsden, Ala., Goodyear plant

More than 700 employees are taking buyouts at Gadsden’s Goodyear Tire & Rubber plant. The buyouts took effect Dec. 20. The plant will continue to operate at reduced staffing levels.

 

New paint plant in East Chattanooga

One hundred and fifty new jobs are coming to East Chattanooga with a new $60 million Nippon Paint Plant set to build on the former Harriett Tubman site. Leaders and residents of the Avondale community have long asked for better access to quality jobs in their neighborhood.

 

Gov. Ivey awards grant to create 40 jobs in Monroeville, Ala.

Governor Kay Ivey announced recently a $100,000 grant to the city of Monroeville to create 40 new jobs. J & L Industrial Services will open a business in the Hornady-Sawyer incubator building in 2020. The startup company makes piping and structural steel to be used in paper and steel mills.

 

Baton Rouge hospital expansion to create 80 new jobs

Oceans Behavioral Health Hospital will expand promises to be a first-class healthcare facility to address mental health issues not only in north Baton Rouge, but in other areas. The Oceans expansion is expected to create 80 jobs.

 

Charlotte airport breaks ground on expansion

Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina has celebrated the groundbreaking of its Terminal Lobby Expansion project, the biggest construction project in the airport’s history. The $600 million project

will add 175,000 square feet and renovate another 191,000 square feet, and is part of a $3 billion capital investment program, Destination CLT, to meet passenger growth through 2035.

 

Kemira expanding in Eastover, S.C.

Global chemicals company Kemira will invest $20 million to expand operations in Eastover. Headquartered in Finland, Kemira manufactures chemicals for a wide range of applications, including pulp and paper, water, industrial, and oil and gas.

 

Dennis Eagle establishes operations in Dorchester County, S.C.

U.K.-based manufacturer Dennis Eagle, which designs and manufactures refuse collection vehicles, plans to establish operations in Dorchester County to assemble Elite Chassis for compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel trucks. The new facility should be operational in 2020, with hiring beginning in the coming months.

 

Golding Barge Line expands Vicksburg, Miss., operations

Inland water transportation company Golding Barge Line will invest $20 million to expand operations in Vicksburg. The company specializes in the transport of refined petroleum products, petrochemicals and chemical products throughout the U.S.’s inland waterway system.

 

Samuel Associated Tube Group plans $29 million Alabama expansion

Samuel Associated Tube Group is building a $29 million manufacturing plant in Jefferson County and will hire about 50. The company manufactures small diameter carbon steel tubing.

 

North Carolina governor announces $4 million in rural infrastructure grants

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 12 grant requests to local governments totaling $4,113,122, Governor Roy Cooper announced recently. The requests include commitments to create a total of 473 jobs. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $111 million in private investment.

 

First U.S. steel plants powered by wind and solar

The steel industry has a massive carbon footprint, as much as 6 percent to 7 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Rocky Mountain Institute study. But, Nucor’s micromill in Sedalia, Mo., is set to be the first U.S. steel plant to run on wind energy. The $250 million plant, which is expected to open by the end of the year, is a partnership between the steel company and local utility Evergy.

 

Dallas-based Panda Biotech breaks into hemp business

A Dallas-based company is tapping into the Texas’ hemp industry with a new facility that will process the plant and turn it into a material that can be used for clothing, car parts and insulation for houses. Panda Biotech will open a 255,000-square-foot facility in Shallowater, a small town 12 miles northwest of Lubbock. The company plans to hire 20 employees and use hemp that’s grown within a 100-mile radius to reduce transportation costs. Texas state lawmakers legalized the crop in January and will begin issuing licenses to grow hemp in early 2020. Hemp is a type of cannabis. It’s related to marijuana but has low or untraceable amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the psychoactive compound that gives marijuana users a high.

 

Magnolia Botanicals plans hemp processing facility in Ridgeville, S.C.

Magnolia Botanicals, a joint venture between South Carolina-based Blue Water Green Bridge and United Cannabis Corporation, plans to establish an industrial hemp processing plant in Ridgeville. With a capital investment of $3.2 million, the company will create 52 jobs in Dorchester County.

 

Forty percent of manufacturing workers now have a college degree

Manufacturing was once considered one of the best career options for people with only a high school degree. But a growing share of factory jobs are now going to college graduates as manufacturers upgrade their plants with robots and complex software programs. About 40 percent of manufacturing workers now have college degrees, compared with about 20 percent in the early 1990s, according to an analysis from The Wall Street Journal.

 

Georgetown, Texas, okays $4.4 million incentive package for Costco

Georgetown has approved a $4.4 million incentive agreement to bring a $20 million Costco store to town, with some council members saying it would increase sales tax revenue by attracting out-of-town shoppers and create 235 jobs once the store opens.

 

Clark Material Handling completes expansion in Lexington, Ky.

Clark Material Handling announced the completed expansion of its third facility in Kentucky. The Lexington-based company is a manufacturer of forklift trucks and spare parts.

 

Four hundred new jobs for Chesterfield County, Va.

Governor Ralph Northam announced that Carvana, an e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, plans to invest $25 million to establish a new vehicle inspection and reconditioning facility in Chesterfield County. The project will create an estimated 400 new jobs.

 

New printing tech center opens in Alabama

A manufacturing facility has opened a new component in Athens, Ala., which will create roughly 60 jobs in the next five years. Carpenter Technology Corp. opened its Emerging Technology Center on site near its 500,000-square-foot facility, which originally opened in 2014. It is a $40 million investment that was first announced during the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow. The main facility produces specialty alloy products mainly for the aerospace and energy markets. The new Emerging Technology Center will create metal powder out of certain alloys and manufacture finished parts using 3D metal printing.

 

Tech company’s’ Plano office to triple employment

Software company Qualtrics plans to triple its staff in Plano, Texas, to 300 people in the next two to three years. Most new jobs will be in sales, but some will be in other roles, such as recruiting.

 

Warner Bros. beefing up its Atlanta presence

Warner Bros. has leased more than 500,000 square feet of studio space in two warehouse buildings and is in talks to take on a third, all clustered in the Atlanta Industrial Parkway warehouse district, some 10 miles west of Midtown Atlanta. The studio — responsible for Atlanta productions like the Clint Eastwood-directed Richard Jewell and the DC Comics superhero show Black Lightning — is in discussions to take over an additional 92,000 square feet.

 

Nashville selected for IHeartRadio’s second digital HQ

iHeartMedia, the leading audio company in the U.S., has selected Nashville as the location for iHeartRadio’s second digital headquarters, further expanding its current New York-based digital team and creating new jobs.

 

98 Ventures relocates to Village of West Greenville, S.C.

98 Ventures, an executive management services company, plans to expand operations in the Village of West Greenville. The project is expected to create 150 new jobs. 98 Ventures specializes in human resources, accounting and risk management, among others.

 

Mississippi trucking and equipment facility to create 22 jobs

A new trucking and equipment facility coming to Natchez is expected to bring about 22 jobs to the area. Stribling Equipment is partnering with Empire Trucks to expand its facility there to include sales, parts and service for equipment companies such as John Deere and Hitachi as well as trucking companies Freightliner and Western Star.

 

Battery maker to invest $10 million, bring 46 jobs to Greensboro, N.C.

Sunlight Systems, a battery maker based in Greece, announced it will open its first U.S. facility next year in Greensboro. The company will invest $10 million and create 46 jobs. Sunlight Batteries will assemble and distribute lithium batteries from the facility

 

FedEx reaches deep into Mississippi Delta for workers

FedEx has tapped deep into the Mississippi Delta to find workers for the largest facility in its world-wide supply chain located in Memphis. Lured by the chance to work for a global company and earn hourly wages starting at $13.26, some 200 workers gather in a Walmart parking lot in Cleveland, Miss., five nights a week to board buses bound for Memphis.

 

Fifty-four Upstate New York manufacturing jobs moving to Mississippi

ACCO Brands is ending 73 years of manufacturing office products in Ogdensburg, N.Y., and shipping 54 jobs to Mississippi. The company announced in September it will would move the manufacturing of three-ring binders and whiteboards from its plant in New York to Booneville, Miss.

 

Redstone Arsenal growing to 50,000 workers by 2025

Huntsville, Ala.’s Redstone Arsenal will grow from 44,000 employees to “over 50,000 by 2025,” its senior commander said recently, and it plans $2 billion in infrastructure investments in the next five years to keep growing.

 

Q2 Solutions plans $73 million lab, adding 750 jobs in Durham, N.C.

The creation of Q2  Solutions dates back to 2015 when Quintiles and Quest Diagnostics teamed up to create a clinical trial laboratory. Now, Q2 plans to invest $73 million in a new facility in Durham, creating 749 jobs in the process. The project will see Q2 move its headquarters from Morrisville to the neighboring city of Durham.

 

JaxPort expansion ahead of schedule

Construction on a new international container terminal is now underway at the Jacksonville Port Authority’s Blount Island in Florida. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in December on the $238 million facility. The port expansion is expected to create or protect about 3,500 jobs over the next decade.

 

Cajun food company doubles down in St. Landry Parish, La.

A company that develops, manufactures and distributes a wide range of authentic Cajun food products, Savoie’s Sausage and Food Products, plans a $12.7 million expansion of its production facility in St. Landry Parish near Opelousas, La. The larger facility will enable Savoie’s to nearly double its production.

 

Lockheed Martin expands in Hancock County, Miss.

Global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin is investing $20.9 million to expand its operations at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, where the primary activity is designing and building satellites and spacecraft for government and commercial customers. Lockheed Martin currently employs 118 workers at the location.

 

New metro station in Alexandria, Va., will bring over 20,000 jobs

The $322 million Potomac Yard Metro Rail Station will soon be open for business in Alexandria. Officials say this project has been in the works for a quarter century, and will bring about 13,000 new residents to the area.

 

Virginia Beach, Va., gaining 360 new jobs

A trio of Virginia Beach tech companies will create hundreds of new local jobs as part of new investment grants from the economic development authority. DOMA, a document scanning business, plans to grow from 175 to 475 full-time employees and move to a new location there. Web hosting and design company InMotion plans to spend $10.8 million to consolidate two locations into new space and create 50 jobs. G2 Ops, a systems engineering and cybersecurity company that contracts for the military, plans to create 10 positions when they expand their facility.

 

South Greenville Enterprise Park welcomes first tenant

Greenville County, S.C.’s first new industrial park in 20 years is set to gain its first tenant by early 2021. Vermeer Co., an Iowa-based heavy equipment manufacturer, has closed on a 43-acre parcel in the park off U.S. 25 in Piedmont. Vermeer’s existing plant in Greenville makes vacuum excavators, but the new facility will be triple the size of its existing one, and will add another 25 jobs at the new site,

 

Tennessee’s Campbell Clinic opens $49 million expansion

Campbell Clinic recently unveiled a state-of-the-art expansion to its Germantown orthopedic center. The $49 million project almost doubles the clinic’s footprint in the suburb and will bring 185 new jobs to Germantown.

 

Three companies expanding in Kansas City, Mo.

Three companies are expanding in Kansas City, with plans to create 388 new jobs and invest a projected $4.9 million. Homebase, a company that develops and markets apartment management software, is expanding its existing facility in Kansas City and expects to create 300 new jobs. Simplifyy, a startup company that focuses on tech solutions for property management, is investing $4.1 million to open an office and plans to hire 71 new employees. Mark II Transfer Station, a construction and demolition waste transfer station, was recently built and expects to add 17 new jobs, with a capital investment of $842,000.

 

Enviva receives approval for $175 million Alabama plant

A $175 million project in West Alabama has taken another step forward. Enviva Partners, which is planning a facility for the Port of Epes Industrial Park, received approval from Alabama Department of Environmental Management for a permit allowing the company to construct a wood pellet facility in Sumter County. The project is estimated to create at least 85 full-time jobs and another 180 additional jobs in logging, transportation and local services for the region.

 

H-E-B to invest $200 million in South Austin, add 1,000 jobs

Supermarket chain H-E-B is planning a major expansion in South Austin, Texas, that includes $200 million in investment and more than 1,000 new jobs. Plans include the opening of three previously announced new stores and a major remodel of an existing location.

 

Nestlé Purina opens $320 million pet food plant in rural Georgia

Nestlé Purina has opened its newest pet foot plant in Hartwell, Ga. The plant is located in an abandoned textile factory. The $320 million deal will create 240 jobs. According to reports, about 35 percent of the new jobs are held by South Carolina residents.

 

Walmart hiring 200 for distribution center in Cocoa, Fla.

Walmart will hire 200 associates — order fillers, fork lift drivers and other key roles — to support its grocery distribution center in Cocoa.

 

CarMax coming to Murfreesboro, Tenn.

CarMax is opening a new location in Murfreesboro and plans on creating 100 jobs.

 

Community college breaks ground on aerospace academy in Hancock County, Miss.

Pearl River Community College has broken ground on the Phil Bryant Aviation and Aerospace Technology Academy in Hancock County. The facility is being built at Stennis International Airport and is expected to help create 469 jobs, retain 550 jobs, and generate $5 million in private investments.

 

Computer manufacturer moving to Garland, Texas

All Quality and Services, a company that makes computer components, will relocate its operations to Garland, Texas. More than $800,000 will be invested in renovating an existing facility and150 new full-time positions will be created.

Developer breaks ground on $1 billion development in Rowlett, Texas

Sapphire Bay Land Development broke ground on the first phase of its 117-acre, lagoon-anchored development in Rowlett. The $1 billion mixed-use project will include a resort, conference center, marina and beach club.

 

Manufacturer to locate North American HQ In North Carolina Triad City

Bovone, an Italian manufacturer of machinery for processing flat glass and natural and synthetic stones, plans to renovate a former Harley-Davidson dealership in Reidsville, N.C., for offices, warehouse and workshop space. The company’s total investment in the 13,380-square-foot building is expected to be about $1 million, and is is expected to employ fewer than 10.

 

Ground breaking on $1.7 billion North St. Louis project

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency will break ground on its $1.7 billion western headquarters in North St. Louis, Mo.

 

Flooring manufacturer says expansion will bring new jobs to Randolph County, W.Va.

“It is the large employer in Beverly and the largest private, for-profit company in Randolph County,” said Robbie Morris, the Executive Director of the Randolph County Development Authority. The AHF Manufacturing (formerly Armstrong Flooring) Plant in Beverly, W.Va., is the largest pre-finished hardwood flooring plant in the United States. The plant worked with the county to expand in late November last year and will hire 50 to 60 new direct jobs.

 

Chip startup plans to grow in Austin, Texas

California-based Nuvia, the chip startup founded by a trio of former Apple execs, has added a new office in Austin that is expected to grow to about 40 employees by year’s end.

 

Army Cyber Command HQ means opportunity for Aiken, S.C.

The establishment of the U.S. Army’s new Cyber Command headquarters at Fort Gordon in South Carolina and other related developments have created a huge opportunity for the entire Palmetto State, especially Aiken. During the coming months and years, the flagship Columbia campus and USC Aiken will partner with various cybersecurity entities that will strengthen both schools.

 

India-Based Polyhose to locate in Pender County, N.C.

Polyhose, an industrial hose manufacturer, will invest $7.9 million to locate a 40,000-square-foot warehouse and assembly plant in Pender County. The company plans to hire 51 associates.

 

Innovative Poultry Products expands in Bamberg County, S.C.

Innovative Poultry Products, a manufacturer of equipment for poultry farmers, plans a $505,000 expansion to the company’s current operations in Olar, S.C.