February 2021

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) recommends these actions from President Biden

To support manufacturing in the United States, NAM advocated these policies during President Biden's first term:

 

1. NAM supported actions by Biden that have already been implemented, including reversing the ban on immigrants from certain Muslim-majority countries. NAM also supported recognizing and paving a way for citizenship under the DACA program. Biden also reversed the ban on diversity training that Trump put in place.

 

2. NAM would also support Biden in other programs, such as increasing the number of refugees that are currently capped and reversing the Trump administration’s restrictions on non-immigrant visas.

 

Alabama's auto industry will have some legs this year and next

As many as 6,000 jobs are expected to be created in 2021 in Alabama's auto industry, and Alabama's automotive industry is assured of a fantastic 2021 and 2022. Here are some of the reasons why:

 

1. The new $2.3 billion, 4,000-employee Mazda Toyota plant in Huntsville is expected to open this year or early 2022.

 

2. Mercedes-Benz is closer to starting electric vehicle manufacturing at its assembly plant in Tuscaloosa and Bibb counties in Alabama.

 

3. Alabama made 11 different vehicle models in 2020. That will increase to 15 this year, including two new vehicles at Hyundai's plant in Montgomery, Ala.

 

Job market news: Almost 90 percent of private companies will hire this year

According to the J.Thelander Consulting-PitchBook survey of 200 owners of private companies, there will be a hiring spree by the end of this year. Almost 90 percent of those surveyed said that they will be hiring in 2021 and that they would consider flexibility when it comes to work-from-home.

 

The U.S. loses its title as the world's top destination for new foreign direct investment

China topped the U.S. as the No. 1 destination for new foreign direct investment in calendar year 2020, a spot that been held by the U.S. for decades. But, FDI in 2020 fell by 40 percent, according to United Nations data. So, China’s ranking is really a result of the crater in FDI in the U.S. more than a large increase in companies investing in China. Foreign company investments in China only rose 4 percent in 2020. FDI in the U.S. totaled just $134 billion in 2020. . it peaked in 2015 at $440 billion, with more than 10 percent of that total coming from China. In 2020, China saw a total of $163 million in foreign investment inflows, topping the U.S. for the first time ever. Experts say that the pandemic and former President Trump's go-it-alone tariffs were the main contributors to the FDI collapse in the U.S. last year.

 

At the end of 2020, job growth was exclusive to the South

As last year ended, the South led all U.S. regions in job recovery as it created hundreds of thousands of jobs. Texas gained the most jobs in December with 64,200. Georgia placed second with 44,700. In comparison, job growth in the Northeast, Midwest and West was nonexistent.

 

Economy of 2020 decreased most since 1946

The U.S. economy shrank by 3.5 percent in calendar year 2020, the worst performance since the year after World War II. The economy did grow by 4 percent in the fourth quarter, but that was not enough to counter the losses in quarters 1, 2 and 3, according to the Commerce Department. 

 

West Virginia vaccine system is the best we have seen

If you live in West Virginia and want the COVID vaccine, you simply sign up on a new platform that came out in January. But, the West Virginia system takes it a step further. If you do not show up for your vaccine appointment, or if pharmacists end up with extra doses, the new platform can instantly contact the next eligible person on the appointment list.

 

Source: Trump's' tariffs cost America jobs

A study by the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) that came out in January 2021, claimed that former President Donald Trump's trade policies, particularly with China, cost the U.S. 245,000 jobs. The source said that the trade policies during the Trump administration cost jobs because the policies were based on antiquated ideas about how trade actually works.

 

Union participation down; percentage of decline in wage and salary workers high for nonunion workers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of union members in the U.S. was 14.3 million at the end of 2020. That is down by 321,000, or 2.2 percent, from 2019. From 2019 to the end of 2020, the number of wage and salary workers was down by 9.6 million. This increased union membership by 0.5 percent, meaning union membership overall rose to 10.8 percent. In 1983, the first year union membership was documented, union participation was 20.1 percent.

 

Is Samsung poised to build multi-billion-dollar advanced chip plant in Austin?

Korean conglomerate Samsung, which has operated a somewhat dated computer chip plant in Austin, Texas, since 1997, may be considering opening an advanced logic chip-making plant next to its existing facility in the Texas capital city. The plant, according to reports, could represent an investment of at least $17 billion. In October, the company purchased land next to its existing Austin campus that is large enough for the expansion. That land was also rezoned industrial. Other reports as of February 1, cited multiple possible sites for the new plant. According to The Wall Street Journal, possible sites include the one near its current Austin facility, another site in Central Texas near Taylor (just north of Austin), and sites in New York and Arizona. 

 

Virus and a struggling economy create the worst poverty rate since the 1960s

According to a report from the University of Chicago and University of Notre Dame, 8 million Americans were added to the government's definition of poverty during the year 2020. It is the largest spike in poverty since the 1960s. At the end of December 2020, the overall poverty rate in the U.S. rose to 11.8 percent.

 

Corps approves money to deepen Mississippi River Channel

In the winter quarter, the Army Corps of Engineers will spend $45.7 million to finish deepening the Mississippi River -- from Baton Rouge to the mouth of the river at the Gulf of Mexico -- to 50 feet. The depth will allow larger Panama ships to navigate the river.

  

Mississippi Development Authority officially names director

The Mississippi Development Authority, the state's primary economic development agency, has named John Rounsaville as its permanent director. Rounsaville had been the interim director after the retirement of Glenn McCullough. Mississippi’s Gov. Tate Reeves named Rounsaville as permanent director after Mississippi captured several high-profile projects in the tough economic environment of 2020.

 

Dallas leads U.S. in commercial property transactions

Many major and mega-markets in the U.S. saw commercial property transactions cancelled or delayed in 2020. Not so much in the Dallas area, where almost $20 billion in real estate transactions took place, catapulting Dallas to the top ranking, leading second-place Los Angeles by about $1 billion. The report by Real Capital Analytics showed that Dallas ranked third in the country in 2018 and 2019.

 

Reshoring is coming true this time

As a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a trade war with China, U.S. companies are rethinking the strategy that has been prevalent for years; outsourcing manufacturing to low-cost labor markets in Asia. A winter quarter survey by New York-based Thomas, an industrial sourcing firm, showed that 69 percent of businesses are "likely" or "very likely" to reshore or nearshore operations to secure their supply chains. That is up from 54 percent in the same month last year.

 

U.S. Space Command HQ to be located in Huntsville, Ala.

Its official. We reported last month that Huntsville, Ala., was the likely location for the U.S. Space Command headquarters. And now, Gov. Kay Ivey says that she has been informed of the decision that Huntsville’s Redstone Region is set to house the headquarters. The Space Command conducts operations such as enabling satellite-based navigation and troop communication and providing warning of missile launches, which is different from the Space Force, which is a distinct military service like the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

 

Cardinal Foods doubles workforce in Pender County, N.C.

Cardinal Foods, an agribusiness company that provides products and services across the eastern U.S., will create 48 new jobs as it launches a $15.5 million expansion at its Pender County operations.

 

BCBS of South Carolina to add 700 jobs

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina plans to add 702 jobs in Columbia, S.C., over the next five years. The job creation is paired with a $60 million-plus investment in the city.

 

Integrated Fiber Solutions to expand plant in Rome, Ga.

Integrated Fiber Solutions announced a $30.2 million, three-phase expansion of its plant in Rome, including the addition of approximately 40 employees over the course of the next five years. The company manufactures synthetic yarns for the carpet, rug and automotive industries.

 

SGL Carbon expands Arkansas operations to produce components for EV batteries

A manufacturer of graphite and composite materials is expanding its operations in Arkadelphia, Ark., to produce components for electric vehicle battery enclosures. said the $4.5 million expansion will create 35 new jobs over the next three years.

 

Virginia manufacturer announces $10.7 million expansion

Motion control product manufacturer Moog will invest $10.7 million to transfer existing jobs and equipment from its Blacksburg, Va., facilities to a larger building in Montgomery County, Va. The investment will also create 75 jobs.

 

New aviation company bringing jet traffic and jobs to Selma, Ala.

A new aviation company is bringing more jet plane traffic and 30 new jobs to Craig Field in Selma. City Jet/Turbine Worx is opening a dispatch facility and aircraft maintenance operation on the flight line at Craig Field.

 

New facility in Greer, S.C., will create 100 new jobs

More than 100 new jobs will soon be open in Spartanburg County. TTI Floor Care North America, a floor care company, has announced plans to establish a new distribution center in Spartanburg County. The company will invest $93 million and create 134 new jobs.

 

Chemical company creating 40 jobs in Louisiana

A new specialty chemical company planning operations at the Central Louisiana Regional Port will bring 40 new jobs to the Alexandria area. Avant Organics’ products include flavor and fragrance enhancers for foods and beverages. The company is making a $4 million capital investment and will create 40 new jobs through the project.

 

Modine expansion creating 45 new jobs in Lawrence County, Tenn.

The Modine Manufacturing Company, a thermal management company, has announced plans to expand its operation, bringing 45 new jobs to its facility in Lawrence County, Tenn. A $1.2 million investment, the project includes the relocation of three product lines from operations in Missouri and Rhode Island to the company’s Lawrenceburg facility.

 

Electronic components maker expanding in Lowndes County, Miss.

Electronic components manufacturer East Systems is expanding in Columbus, Miss., to accommodate an increase in demand. The project is an $890,100 corporate investment and will create 12 jobs.

 

Marzetti expansion grows in Hart County, Ky.

T. Marzetti Company is increasing its expansion project announced a year ago. Rather than adding 140 jobs with a $93 million investment, 220 full-time jobs will be added with a $133 million investment. The Marzetti operation in Horse Cave manufactures salad dressings, sauces and other foods for retail and foodservice markets. It currently employs over 500 people.

 

Furniture maker opening a distribution center in North Jax

Loctek Ergonomic, which makes ergonomic office furniture like height-adjustable desks and desk bikes, plans to build a new distribution center in North Jacksonville, Fla. The company, which is based in China and maintains a U.S. headquarters in California, says it is expanding into Jacksonville “for e-commerce fulfillment purposes to utilize the Jacksonville ocean port.” The facility will house 20 to 30 employees.

 

Wood pellet mill to open in Arkansas, 50 to100 new jobs

Dansons USA will open “the country’s largest barbecue wood pellet mill and distribution center” in Hope, Ark. The facility is expected to create 50 to 100 new jobs over the next three years.

 

Alabama auto supplier adding 162 jobs

An auto supplier facilitating Mercedes-Benz’s plan to produce electric vehicles is expanding in Tuscaloosa County. Schnellecke Logistics Alabama will move to a new building near the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International automobile plant in Vance, Ala., and plans to add 162 jobs.

 

ALDI breaks ground on HQ in Baldwin County, Ala.

Grocery store giant Aldi recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new regional headquarters and distribution center. The new facility will also create more than 200 new jobs in Loxley.

 

Freshly grows Southeast operations with new Georgia facility

Freshly, a prepared meal delivery service, will expand its assembly and distribution operations by opening a new facility in Austell, Ga. Centrally located in the Southeast, the distribution center will bring more than 150 jobs to the greater Atlanta area.

 

PPE manufacturer to locate in Harrisonburg, Va.

Valley Guard Supply, a veteran-owned company that produces disposable masks, will invest $1 million to establish a personal protective equipment manufacturing facility in Harrisonburg. The project will create 45 new jobs.

 

Printing firm fulfillment center brings 100 jobs to North Texas

North Carolina-based online printing firm Printful is expanding to North Texas with a new fulfillment center. The fast-growing company is hiring 100 people for the new facility in Coppell. The company plans to invest $15 million in the new operation.

 

Microsoft plans significant Atlanta expansion

Microsoft President Brad Smith said the company plans to make metro Atlanta a major hub as it embarks on a significant expansion. The tech giant is adding two regional data centers and could bring thousands of jobs to 90 acres of land it bought in recent months at the stalled Quarry Yards development on the city’s Westside.

 

Gilead Sciences will create 275 jobs in the Research Triangle region

Gilead Sciences, a leading biopharmaceutical company, has selected North Carolina’s Research Triangle region as the location for a major business services and information technology hub, creating 275 jobs. The company will invest up to $5 million in Wake County.

 

NUPI Americas expanding operations in Hampton County, S.C.

NUPI Americas recently announced plans to expand operations in Hampton County. The $4.3 million investment will create 28 new jobs. Founded in 2001, NUPI Americas is a plastic fabrication company specializing in pipe and fitting systems for the distribution of hot and cold water in plumbing and air conditioning systems; gasoline and diesel in service stations; and water and natural gas underground.

 

Generac establishing 450-job operations in Edgefield County, S.C.

Generac Power Systems announced plans to open a new manufacturing, assembly and distribution operation in Trenton, S.C. The facility will support increased demand for home standby generators and associated energy technologies, and serve as a distribution center to customers in the southeast part of the United States, creating approximately 450 new jobs over the next two years.

 

EV battery maker to build plant in Tennessee, add 287 jobs

An electric car battery manufacturing company is planning to invest $220 million in a new Tennessee plant that is expected to create 287 new jobs. Microvast plans to renovate and expand a Clarksville facility to build battery cells, modules and packs.

 

Vytal Studios’ new HQ in Richmond, Va., creating 155 new jobs

Vytal Studios, a technology-based education and training content developer and producer, will invest $6.8 million to relocate its corporate headquarters from Austin, Texas, to Richmond. The company will renovate a facility to include studio and office space. Virginia successfully competed with Florida and North Carolina for the project, which will create 155 new jobs. 

 

Israeli manufacturer to build $2 million facility, create 55 jobs in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

JANSTEEL, an Israeli heavy-equipment manufacturing company, will spend $2 million to expand its operations in Port St. Lucie. The company was founded in 2004, and specializes in the design and manufacture of transport products such truck bodies.

 

Locker manufacturer to open plant in Batesville, Tenn., create 60 jobs

Lockers Manufacturing announced that it will open a manufacturing operation in Batesville. The project is a $5.35 million corporate investment and will create 60 jobs. The company is based in Piperton, Tenn., near Memphis, and produces storage systems.

 

Peabody Engineering & Supply expands with new South Carolina plant

A California-based manufacturer of storage tanks, telecommunications-disguising equipment and other plastic products is expanding with a new production facility in Liberty, S.C. Peabody Engineering & Supply — a 69-year-old supplier with headquarters in Corona, Calif. — will create 35 jobs over the next five years.

 

Finnish tire maker adding 400 jobs in Tennessee

Tire manufacturer Nokian plans to nearly double the workforce at its facility in East Tennessee in coming months, part of a plan to add more than a hundred new jobs and significantly increase production. The company expects to add 150 positions that will allow the company to go from two shifts to four as demand for tires increases in the North American market.

 

Manufacturer bringing $45 million, 205 jobs to Georgia

Spring Mountain Center will invest $45 million in opening a manufacturing and distribution headquarters in Barrow County, delivering 205 jobs. Spring Mountain Center is a manufacturer of plumbing fixtures, home furniture and more.

 

Copper company plans North American HQ in Louisville, Ky.

Wieland North America, a producer of copper and copper alloy products, is planning to locate its new North American headquarters in Louisville, bringing an $8.8 million investment and 75 jobs with it.

 

New distillery to open in South Carolina

Under construction since May 2019, the Burnt Church Distillery will open its doors in March. The site will create more than 40 full-time and 20 part-time jobs, and is projected to attract 150,000 tourists to the area in its first year alone.

 

QuaLex Manufacturing to create 60 new jobs in South Carolina

QuaLex Manufacturing, a sheet metal fabrication company, announced plans to expand operations in Fairfield County, S.C. The $2 million investment will create 60 new jobs.

 

Tech company bringing 100 jobs to Northwest Arkansas

Loanpal, a financial technology company, will open a new operating center and bring more than 100 new jobs to Bentonville, Ark.

 

Healthcare laundry operations creating 75 jobs in Mississippi

Healthcare laundry company Westport Linen Services is locating operations in Greenville, Miss. The project is a $5.8 million corporate investment and will create 75 new jobs and retain 75 existing jobs.

 

Biotech firm investing $5 million in Alabama growth plans

Birmingham-based molecular diagnostics company BioGX plans to expand its R&D and manufacturing at a new corporate headquarters. BioGX has purchased a building in Shelby County, Ala., for the move from its current location at a business incubator in downtown Birmingham. The company is investing $5 million, which will allow it to add 30 new employees to its roster of 80.

 

Tennessee lands eighth Amazon fulfillment center

A new 634,000-square-foot fulfillment center using Amazon Robotics Technology will create 800 new jobs in East Tennessee. The internet retailer is investing at least $200 million to build a warehouse fulfillment center in Alcoa.

 

Shipping company keeping headquarters in Norfolk, Va., adding 400 jobs

International shipping company CMA CGM will keep its North American headquarters in Norfolk and expand its operations, adding 400 new jobs in the Commonwealth. Norfolk was chosen after a “competitive site-selection search” that included many other North American port cities.

 

Auto supplier bringing 240 jobs to Chattanooga

Enterprise South Industrial Park in Chattanooga will become home to a new auto manufacturing plant in the summer of 2021. Sesé Industrial Services, a Spanish manufacturer, announced that it would begin new operations in the park, create 240 new jobs, and invest $42 million by 2022. The new plant will assemble axle components for Volkswagen Chattanooga’s first electric Atlas SUV.

 

Amazon to open six more DFW delivery centers

Amazon, which already occupies more North Texas warehouse space than any other company, is announcing six more Dallas-Fort Worth delivery stations. These shipping hubs, which average between 150,000 and 250,000 square feet, are smaller than the huge regional distribution systems and are part of what the company calls its “last mile of Amazon’s order process.”

 

CARTI building surgery site in Little Rock

Cancer-care provider CARTI plans to break ground this summer on a 35,000-square-foot surgery center next to its campus in Little Rock, Ark. The $25 million facility is projected to create up to 75 new jobs when completed in 2022.

 

Rockline’s $18 million expansion will add 100 jobs at Arkansas plants

Rockline Industries of Sheboygan, Wisc., said that it will spend more than $18 million this year to add production lines at its three Arkansas wet wipes plants. The company, which has facilities in Springdale, Russellville and Booneville, said it will add 100 jobs to meet demand spurred by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Horton opens new facility in Oconee County, S.C., with 125 jobs

Oconee County leaders gathered recently for the grand opening of a new business focused on engine cooling solutions for on- and off-highway vehicles. Horton’s manufacturing facility will be adding 125 jobs to the area.

 

Kreative Technologies expansion to add 296 in Northern Virginia

Kreative Technologies, an IT company focusing on the federal healthcare industry, will be investing $1.5 million to expand its operation in Fairfax County. This expansion will allow the company to quadruple its current workforce of 67 to create 296 additional jobs.

 

Auto supplier plant bringing hundreds of jobs to Meriwether County, Ga.

KB Autosys is set to bring a multi-million-dollar manufacturing project to Georgia. The brake pad supplier will spend $38 million to build its first U.S. advanced manufacturing facility in Meriwether County. The project will create around 180 jobs.

 

EV charging network for Tennessee

The Tennessee Valley Authority and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced a partnership that will create a statewide charging network for electric vehicles. There are currently 24 charging stations for electric vehicle across the state. The new agreement will add 50 new locations -- or one station every 50 miles -- along Tennessee’s interstates and highways.

 

United Community Bank chooses Greenville County, S.C., for HQ

United Community Bank has announced plans to expand operations and locate its new corporate headquarters in Greenville County, S.C. The $24.8 million investment will create 227 new jobs.

 

Spirit Airlines moving jobs to Orlando

Spirit Airlines plans to increase its operations at Orlando International Airport and create more local jobs. The airline will move part of its operational control center, which helps it track flights, from South Florida to Orlando. That means 75 to 100 positions will move to Central Florida.

 

Pasco County, Fla., gains two new employers

Ensurem, an insurance broker and technology provider for retirement-age clients, is investing $500,000 to upgrade existing retail space that will be home to 200 employees. Santander, a consumer finance company focused on vehicle financing and third-party servicing, is investing a minimum of $12 million and will create 875 new jobs.

 

Fifty new jobs for York County, S.C.

3D Systems announced plans to expand operations in York County, S.C. The $13 million investment will create 50 new jobs. Founded in 1986, 3D Systems brought the innovation of three-dimensional (3D) printing to the manufacturing industry through the invention of Stereolithography.

 

Swiss biotech company expanding in South Carolina

A Greenwood company is expanding operations by making a $53.7 million investment and creating 30 new jobs. Lonza, a supplier to the pharmaceutical, biotech and nutrition markets, announced its plans to expand operations at its Greenwood facility.

 

New manufacturer for Southwest Virginia

A manufacturer of wood products will establish a new production facility in Southwest Virginia. Rambler Wood Products will invest $7.6 million in a former furniture factory in Saint Paul, Va., to house its new operations. The project is expected to create 73 new jobs.

 

Home Depot bringing 1,500 new jobs to Dallas-Fort Worth

The Home Depot has opened a new distribution center in Dallas to fulfill online and store orders. The 1.5 million-square-foot distribution center will house 1,500 employees.

 

Amazon will bring 230 new jobs to Lubbock with two facilities

Amazon will be building a $24 million sortation facility in the Lubbock Business Park. Two hundred full-time workers will be hired, and 100 to 150 part-time jobs. In addition, a delivery station will be located in northeast Lubbock. That facility will provide 30 full-time positions and 70 to 90 part-time positions. Amazon has leased a space in that area.

 

AdventHealth plans new Florida hospital

AdventHealth will construct a new 100-bed hospital in Palm Coast. The $100 million project will encompass 10 acres, allowing for expansion in the years ahead.

 

Material Handling Systems creating 200 jobs in Bowling Green, Ky.

Material Handling Systems, a Kentucky-based manufacturer of conveyor and sortation equipment headquartered in Mt. Washington, plans to create 200 full-time jobs with a $7.6 million investment in a new facility in Bowling Green.

 

Logistics company establishing operations in Charleston County, S.C.

Ray-Mont Logistics plans to establish operations in Charleston County. The $16 million investment will create 85 new jobs for the Canadian global logistics company.

 

OldCastle creating 50 jobs in Floyd County, Ga.

Irish building materials giant Oldcastle APG’s lawn and garden division is putting a new facility in Rome, Ga., an investment that will employ up to 50 people after it begins production in the spring of 2022. The capital investment was not disclosed.

 

Eastman going green in Kingsport, Tenn.

A global leader in plastics, chemicals and fibers, Eastman will build one of the world’s largest methanolysis facilities at its site in Kingsport, Tenn. Eastman will invest approximately $250 million in the facility over the next two years. Through methanolysis, the new facility will convert polyester waste that often ends up in landfills and waterways into durable products.

 

Call center to hire 110 Buchanan County, Va.

Up to 110 new jobs will be coming to the Southern Gap area of Buchanan County as the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) relocates and expands its customer service call center. The VEC requires additional employees to respond to needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

New Amazon delivery station in Bartow, Ga.

One of four new Amazon delivery stations in Georgia will be located in Bartow County. The new stations will power Amazon’s last-mile delivery capabilities to speed up deliveries for customers in the metro-Atlanta area. The Bartow facility will require “hundreds” of new hires.

 

Amazon hub to deliver hundreds of jobs to La Marque, Texas

E-commerce giant Amazon Logistics plans to build a 180,000-square-foot warehouse that will create hundreds of jobs in La Marque. The facility will be the first delivery station in Galveston County. Amazon in September announced plans to open 1,000 delivery hubs in cities and suburbs across the country, which is part of an effort to compete with Walmart and to fulfill a goal of providing same-day delivery to customers who subscribe to the company’s Prime service.

 

Shintech expands Iberville and West Baton Rouge operations

Shintech Louisiana, the world’s leading manufacturer of polyvinyl chloride resins or PVC, will invest $1.3 billion to expand its facilities in Iberville and West Baton Rouge parishes in Louisiana. The company is also making a $1.25 billion investment to expand its manufacturing facility in Plaquemine, which was announced in 2018 and is expected to be completed this year. Shintech is also expanding its PVC packaging and warehouse operation in Addis.

 

Largest initial capital investment ever for Henry County, Va.

Crown Holdings, a metal packaging technology company, is investing $145 million to open a new 355,000-square-foot aluminum can production facility at the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre and will create 126 new jobs. This is the largest initial capital investment a company has ever made in Henry County, according to Jim Adams, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors.

 

Moffitt Cancer Center to begin 775-acre campus in Florida

Moffitt Cancer Center will create 1.4 million square feet of research, manufacturing and clinical building space on a 775-acre campus in Pasco County, Fla. The expanded facilities will accommodate Moffitt’s growth in the Tampa Bay region and is estimated to support more than 14,500 additional jobs in the area.

 

Hargett Materials plans Milan, Tenn., production center

Hargett Materials, a construction materials manufacturing company, will invest $2.2 million to build a new facility and expand operations in Milan, Tenn. The company plans to hire 50 associates during the next five years.

 

Valmont Industries expands Tennessee manufacturing complex

Valmont Industries will expand its operations by investing $15 million to $20 million to increase the size of its manufacturing facility in Jasper, Tenn. The company plans to create 65 new jobs over the next five years in Marion County. The location supplies steel poles and structures to utility and transportation markets nationwide.

 

Documotion Research establishes Tennessee manufacturing facility

Documotion Research, a company that manufactures labels for various business sectors, will invest $9.3 million to establish new manufacturing operations in Maury County, Tenn. The project is expected to create 80 jobs.

 

PennyMac Financial Services establishes Cary, N.C., mortgage fulfillment center

PennyMac will invest $4.3 million into PennyMac Loan Services, its mortgage lending subsidiary, to establish a mortgage fulfillment production center in Wake County. The company plans to create 300 jobs there.

 

German auto supplier hiring in Franklin, Ky.

German-owned Fritz Winter North America announced it is adding a third shift and about 50 jobs to its manufacturing plant in Franklin. The 340,000-square-foot plant, which now operates two shifts and has a workforce of about 280, opened in June 2017, making disc brake rotors for the automotive industry.

 

Auto parts supplier Valeo expanding to Bessemer, Ala., with $5 million facility

Valeo North America, a top-10 auto parts supplier in the world, announced plans to expand into Bessemer with a $5 million facility that is expected to create 70 jobs. Valeo will be occupying an existing facility in Bessemer and is expected to be at full production by June.

 

Britain-based Arq eyes St. Rose, La., industrial plant

Arq, an environmental technology company, plans to establish operations in St. Rose, La. The $40 million investment is expected to create 12 new jobs in St. Charles Parish. The facility will produce the company’s proprietary Arq Fuel product.

 

Civica to create 186 jobs with new New Virginia pharmaceutical facility

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Civica will invest $124.5 million to establish its first in-house pharmaceutical manufacturing operation in Petersburg, Va. The project will create 186 new jobs. Civica is a nonprofit generic drug company launched in 2018.

 

German manufacturer plans Waco, Texas, manufacturing center

A Germany-based, family-owned floor products company will be spending over $31 million dollars on a facility in Waco that will provide at least 42 jobs to manufacture flooring installation products such as grout for tile installation under the Uzin brand.

 

Tabet Manufacturing Company expands Virginia operations

Tabet Manufacturing Company, a manufacturer of large suite communications equipment and custom solutions for military and industrial customers, will invest $6.5 million to expand its operation in Norfolk, Va. The company is expected to create 68 new jobs.

 

Diamond Drinks establishes operations in Indian River County, Fla.

Diamond Drinks, a Pennsylvania-based contract beverage manufacturer, is expanding its operations into Indian River County, Fla. The company anticipates 25 new jobs to start, eventually ramping up to 40 to 50 employees.

 

UPS buys land for Mebane, N.C., distribution center

United Parcel Service now owns about 185 acres in Mebane’s North Carolina Commerce Park. The company plans to build a $262 million distribution center with 451 full-time jobs.

 

Ruiz Foods Florence expands operations in South Carolina

Ruiz Foods Florence plans to hire over 100 new employees as part of its expansion efforts, which were first announced last November. Ruiz Foods established a manufacturing facility and distribution warehouse in Florence County in 2014 and began manufacturing product in January 2016.

 

International Paper plans investment in Bogalusa, La.

The International Paper mill in Bogalusa plans will get a $52.2 million makeover to modernize its manufacturing site, which is the largest employer in Washington Parish. The company will retain 492 jobs.

 

CRST Flatbed Solutions establishes Alabama HQ

Flatbed transportation company CRST Flatbed Solutions plans to open a new 23,361- square-foot divisional headquarters in Birmingham. The $5.14 million project will house the company’s 42 divisional headquarters employees, with room for another 10 new employees.

 

AeroClean Technologies establishes Florida HQ

AeroClean Technologies, a company focused on developing a full line of air purification, sterilization and disinfection devices, has established its new headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The company projects the creation of at least 100 new jobs with an average salary of over $100,000 per year.

 

Designer Construction Corporation establishes manufacturing plant in Pageland, S.C.

Designer Construction Corporation, a subsidiary of Axhoj Enterprises, plans to establish operations in Pageland, S.C. The $4.6 million investment will create 37 new jobs in Chesterfield County. The company is currently developing efficient building systems that are being rolled out in the Charlotte area. As Sears Homes revolutionized the home construction market in 1908, selling over 70,000 home kits, this new building system is a 21^st century answer to affordable housing.

 

E-commerce company unveils plan for 3,500-job facility in Tennessee

E-commerce order company Red Stag Fulfillment is planning a 420-acre, $300 million distribution center in Sweetwater that could include 3,500 jobs. Red Stag, based in Knoxville, stores, packages and ships products that range from furniture to pet food to electronics.

 

Tesla hiring 500 in Florida

Tesla is hiring 500 positions in Florida. CareerSource Tampa Bay partnered with Tesla to host a virtual hiring event on January 27, in hopes of filling openings for both Tesla’s solar and automotive positions.

 

ICON Clinical Research expands Brentwood, Tenn., operations

ICON Clinical Research will expand its research operations in Brentwood. The project will create 85 new, high-paying jobs in Davidson County over the next five years.

 

LamTech plans $4 million expansion in Virginia

Ohio-based Laminate Technologies (LamTech), one of the largest privately held custom laminators in the United States, will invest $4 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Henry County, Va. The company will install a new automated hardwood plywood press line to serve its East Coast market. The expansion will create 42 jobs.

 

Amazon to open new sort center in Berkeley, Mo.

Amazon announced it is opening a new sort center in Berkeley and will need hundreds of employees for the new facility. Packages come to the sort centers to be organized by zip codes before being transported to delivery stations or last-mile delivery partners.

 

New hotel in Greenville, S.C.

The AC Hotel in downtown Greenville is almost ready to open its doors. The hotel is looking to fill 175 positions ranging from management to hospitality.

 

Intertape Polymer Group adding 50 jobs in Pittsylvania County, Va.

Intertape Polymer Group will bring 50 new jobs to its Pittsylvania County manufacturing facility as the company looks to increase production of several of its packaging products. The expansion calls for 30,000 square feet to be added to the facility, part of a $45 million investment to increase production, operations and capacity.

 

Koch Foods expansion bringing 135 jobs to East Alabama

Koch Foods announced an expansion in Gadsden, Ala., that will make it Etowah County’s second-largest business employer. The company is investing $15.9 million to expand the production line at its Gadsden poultry processing facility. The project is expected to bring 135 jobs over the next three years.

 

Georgia-Pacific moving all Dixie cup production to Kentucky

Georgia-Pacific says it plans to expand its Dixie cup manufacturing operation in Lexington, Ky., while closing a facility in Pennsylvania by the end of the year. The expansion will create about 50 jobs. Georgia-Pacific also has a plant in Bowling Green that makes plates and bowls. A recent expansion there created more than 70 jobs.

 

Ametrine locates HQ in Round Rock, Texas

Ametrine, a manufacturer of camouflage systems, will locate its new U.S. headquarters and manufacturing operations in Round Rock. The company plans to invest approximately $8.6 million and create 140 new jobs earning an average wage of approximately $75,000.

 

West Tennessee manufacturer plans expansion with 150 new jobs

ERMCO — a subsidiary of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives to manufacture transformers and components — will build a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Dyersburg, Tenn., in the former Caterpillar plant. The project is set to create up to 150 manufacturing jobs over the next five years.

 

Tex-Isle headed for Robstown, Texas

Tex-Isle, a provider of Oil Country Tubular Goods and associated services, plans to open a new steel tubular mill located in Robstown, Texas. The project will bring the company’s total capital investment in the region to nearly $100 million.

 

Honda Aircraft opens new addition to Greensboro complex

Honda Aircraft Company has begun operations at its newly opened Wing Production and Service Parts Facility, located at the company’s world headquarters at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C. The new 83,100-square-foot facility is the latest addition to the 133-acre Honda Aircraft Company campus, and represents an additional investment of $24.3 million, bringing the total capital investment in its North Carolina facilities to more than $245 million.

 

Scoop: GM will build electric crossovers for Honda and Acura in Tennessee

GM will apparently build two battery-electric crossovers — one sold as a Honda and another sold as an Acura — within the next four years. According to two anonymous people “familiar with the plans,” Honda’s GM-built EV will be assembled at the American automaker’s plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, the same factory that puts the Chevy Blazer and Equinox together. That crossover will reportedly enter production in 2023. Meanwhile, the Acura will reportedly be built in Spring Hill, Tenn., alongside the Cadillac Lyriq, starting in 2024.

 

Trex brings additional U.S. manufacturing online in Virginia

Composite decking manufacturer Trex opened 200,000 square feet of manufacturing and support facilities next to its headquarters in Winchester, Va., capping off a $200 million expansion program that increased capacity by 70 percent in about 18 months.

 

Amazon may be headed to Spanish Fort, Ala.

Amazon’s newest distribution center in Alabama could be in Spanish Fort, according to city officials. Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan said the center would be a $45 million facility on 24 acres, and could bring more than 100 jobs to the city and surrounding areas.

 

OPSWAT relocates corporate HQ to Tampa

OPSWAT, a leader in critical infrastructure protection, has relocated its corporate headquarters and operations from San Francisco to Tampa, Fla. Over the next three years, the company plans to hire 100 employees to add to its current 350-person global workforce.