August 2021

American companies want to hire lots more immigrants

With labor tough to find, American companies and foreign companies operating in the U.S. want to hire many more immigrants. But work visas, such as H-1Bs, H-2As and H-2Bs, were artificially reduced in the Trump administration and there are just not enough to go around. They are so much in demand that the government has been using a lottery to award H-1Bs and H-2Bs. The only visa not capped is the H-2A visa for farm workers, which has grown 60 percent in the past four years.

 

For fiscal 2022, the government received 308,613 petitions for the treasured H-1Bs in the capped program. H-1Bs fill in gaps in science, technology and math mostly for technology companies. For fiscal 2022, the government received 308,613 petitions for H-1Bs, but only 28 percent were awarded the visa. Two-thirds of petitions got a visa in 2014.

 

Companies need an expansion of the visa program now. There are about 9.5 million unemployed Americans and 9.2 job openings in May, the most in one month ever. But we are getting to the point where labor is nonexistent. More people retired than were born in half the states in the U.S. last year. The aging population will need more healthcare workers and personal aides, and immigrants have historically filled those roles. Plus, as workers age out and are not replaced, the burden is placed on Social Security and Medicare funds. We just need more people and immigration is a natural answer.

 

Mississippi centralizes workforce training

Mississippi spends $350 million a year in state and federal funds on workforce and job training. But those efforts are done through a dozen agencies. Mississippi has never had a single main source for training its workforce. . .until now. Gov. Tate Reeves has formed Accelerate Mississippi to be its primary workforce training agency.

 

Global shortage of computer chips has effect on the Southern Auto Corridor

The pandemic has created disruptions in the supply chain, especially the computer chip industry. Experts estimate that automakers in the U.S. will assemble 1 million fewer vehicles because of the dearth of computer chips. This in turn has created inflation in both used and new cars.

 

Amazon-based electric vehicle start-up Rivian announces it will build another assembly plant

In the summer quarter, electric vehicle start-up Rivian said it would build another assembly plant. The company has raised $10.5 billion to date and is currently building its first plant in Illinois.

 

U.S. economy back to pre-COVID levels

Fueled by government aid of over $5 trillion, the size of the U.S. economy has now surpassed its pre-pandemic level. The April-to-June quarter saw a 6.3 percent annual growth rate

 

Study says fast internet nationwide could add $160 billion to U.S. economy

A new study released by the Aspen Economic Strategy Group attempted to estimate what nationwide high-speed internet could do to boost labor productivity, especially in rural areas. The expansion of internet services is part of President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan.

 

U.S. may be losing population soon

One of the economy's greatest threats is cuts in work visas for immigrants and a 10-year fertility slump. In half of all states last year, more people died than were born. The U.S. population grew for the year ending July 1, 2020, at 0.35 percent, the lowest in the nation's history. U.S. population could shrink, which would be the first time on record.

 

$500 million in sawmill investments in Louisiana

More than half a billion in sawmill investments are planned in Louisiana to harvest fast-growing pine to hardwoods. The projects are based on higher lumber prices.

 

Toyota celebrates 10 millionth Camry at Kentucky plant

Toyota’s first wholly owned vehicle plant in North America, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) in Georgetown, recently produced its 10 millionth Camry. Toyota also celebrated 35 years of operating the plant.

 

Commission approves millions for South Alabama Megasite

The Growing Alabama Commission recently approved improvements at the South Alabama Mega Site in Baldwin County. The $5.5 million is for rail improvements, including a rail spur to a CSX mainline.

 

Dallas is the nation's top commercial investment market for first half of 2021

Through the first six months of this year, Dallas saw almost $13.4 billion in commercial property deals. That's 43 percent more than in the same period a year ago. Dallas retained the top real estate spot it gained last year during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report by Real Capital Analytics.

 

Volkswagen Chattanooga ending sedan assembly to concentrate only on SUVs

Volkswagen is dumping the Passat sedan production at its Tennessee plant. The plant is readying for all SUV production and a massive effort at electrifying all its vehicles in Chattanooga.

 

Tonnage record set at Port of Corpus Christi

The Port of Corpus Christi ended June 2021 with a new record quarter and a record first half of the year, moving nearly 80.5 million tons of cargo in the first six months of 2021. The Port’s first-half 2021 total tonnage yielded a 4.7 percent increase over the same period in 2020, largely due to a 72 percent year-over-year increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, a 42 percent year-over-year increase in agriculture commodities, and a 3.6 percent increase in crude oil exports.

 

Virginia begins aggressive $700 million plan for universal broadband by 2024

The Virginia Commonwealth will invest $700 million of federal funds to provide universal broadband to its residents by 2024. It is the most aggressive and comprehensive universal broadband plan by any state.

 

Kentucky has built the largest budget surplus in its history

In the summer quarter, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that the Kentucky economy has grown hot and that the Commonwealth is ending the 2021 fiscal year with a general fund surplus of over $1.1 billion. The figure is the highest in Kentucky history. General fund receipts saw a 10.9 percent increase to $12.8 billion.

 

Virginia named CNBC's top state for business for the second straight year

CNBC Top State for Business this year is Virginia for the second consecutive year. Virginia beat out North Carolina and Texas.

 

Virginia-based credit union adds 300-job mortgage office in Irving, Texas

Virginia-based PenFed Credit Union has leased 30,000 square feet in Irving to expand its local operations. “PenFed is expanding our mortgage origination and servicing businesses in Texas, and we’re eager to hire up to 300 new originations and servicing team members in Irving,” said Lee Wardlow, PenFed’s senior vice president of mortgage servicing. PenFed previously added to its Texas workforce in 2019 with a 500-job financial service center in San Antonio.

 

Kaiser Aluminum relocating HQ to Williamson County, Tenn.

Kaiser Aluminum officials announced that the company will relocate its corporate headquarters from Foothill Ranch, Calif., to Franklin, Tenn. The producer of specialty aluminum products for aerospace, automotive and other industries will invest $3 million and create 80 jobs in Franklin.

 

Kairos Power establishes Tennessee reactor

Kairos Power, a nuclear engineering company, will invest $100 million to establish a low-power demonstration reactor called Hermes at the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The company plans to create 55 jobs.

 

Red River Foods plans facility in Henrico County, Va.

Red River Foods, a U.S. supplier of premium specialty snacks headquartered in Richmond, will invest $16.5 million to establish a warehouse and processing facility for tree nuts, seeds, and dried fruits in Henrico County. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the project, which will create 60 new jobs

 

Fruit of the Loom creating 50 jobs in Bowling Green expansion

Fruit of the Loom, a Bowling Green-based clothing company, is expanding its existing distribution center in Warren County, Ky., and creating 50 jobs.

 

Biopharma will hire 300 in Raleigh, N.C.

Gilead Sciences, which focuses primarily on antiviral drugs, will open new office spaces in Raleigh. The company, headquartered in California, will hire 300 positions there.

 

Huge deal for Henderson County, Ky.

Pratt Paper will build two new facilities in Henderson County. The $400 million investment will result in 321 new jobs. “It is so great to be here in Henderson for what I can verify is the largest single investment and economic development announcement in the last 25 years,” said Gov. Beshear.

 

New manufacturing plant coming to Augusta, Ga.

PureCycle Technologies has reached an agreement with the Augusta Economic Development Authority to build a facility at a 200-acre location in Augusta Corporate Park. The new plastic recycling plant is expected to bring 80 to 100 jobs.

 

Charlotte-area beverage hub scores another big deal

Another global company plans to create 220 jobs and invest $383.8 million at the new beverage manufacturing hub in Concord, N.C. Ball Corp., an aluminum beverage packaging company based in Colorado, will join Red Bull and Rauch at The Grounds at Concord, the former Philip Morris cigarette manufacturing site near Charlotte Motor Speedway. Red Bull and Rauch recently announced plans to build a 2-million-square-foot beverage manufacturing site, adding more than 400 jobs and investing $740 million by 2027.

 

California company opening manufacturing site in Fort Worth, bringing 140 jobs

EJ Lauren, a California-based upholstery company, has announced plans to expand operations and open a manufacturing facility in Fort Worth. The move will create up to 140 full-time jobs within the first year of operations.

 

Life science companies expanding and adding jobs

Pantheon Biologics, a subsidiary of Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher Scientific, is hoping to fund a 58,000-square-foot expansion in its Berkeley, Mo., facility with $85 million in Chapter 100 bonds. The development will include two more manufacturing suites and expand site capacity and manufacturing capabilities. It also expects to create 169 new full-time jobs by 2025.

Scripps Research is discussing a merger of its Jupiter, Fla.-based biomedical operation with the University of Florida’s academic health center’s research division. Scripps expanded into Florida in 2003 on a 30-acre campus next to Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Florida granted Scripps $310 million to open a lab in Florida, and Palm Beach County added $269 million.

Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher Scientific is expanding operations in Austin, Texas, with plans to create more than 300 jobs in Central Texas. In the past year, its South Austin campus had added more than 130 jobs to manufacture its TaqPath COVID-19 detection kits. The current site added about 10,000 square feet to its manufacturing facility and is expected to add another site east of the existing campus, with 125,000 square feet of manufacturing space for COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. 

 

Amarillo City Council approves agreements expected to create 230 jobs, $8 million in payroll

North Heights Linen Service will hire 100 new full-time employees over five years, averaging $1 million in new payroll over that time period. 

Torkworx, a company that is expanding its wind turbine services division to Amarillo, will hire up to 80 employees, with the company expecting to hire 15 full-time employees in 2021. 

Roberson Cartridge, which manufactures brass cartridges for firearms, will hire an additional 50 full-time employees over a five-year period.

 

Kval establishes plant in Hutto, Texas

Kval, a California-based manufacturer of advanced door machinery, will open a production facility in Hutto. The project is expected to create 80 jobs over the next three years.

 

AeroSafe Global bringing 100 jobs to Olive Branch, Miss.

AeroSafe Global will be adding a branch to Olive Branch in the I-22 Logistics Park. The $2.5 million corporate investment  will create 100 jobs. In Olive Branch, the company will produce components used to protect critical cold chain medical and clinical shipments.

 

Forty-three jobs and $19 million for Georgetown County Airport in South Carolina

Georgetown County, S.C., announced that engineering firm Sherpa 6 and its aviation wing, Sherpa Air, will open new facilities at the Georgetown County Airport that will create 43 high-paying jobs. The company will invest $19 million.

 

Distribution company bringing 200 jobs to Laurens County, S.C.

Malouf Companies, which warehouses and distributes home furnishings and other consumer products, plans to establish operations in Laurens County. The $47.2 million investment will create 240 new jobs.

 

Virginia Diner investing in its gourmet peanuts

Virginia Diner is set to invest over $4.5 million to nearly double the production of its iconic gourmet peanuts. The iconic landmark has been known for its restaurant on Route 460 in Wakefield, Va., since 1929, along with its line of gourmet peanuts, peanut brittles and other candies.

 

FedEx hiring at new Port St. Lucie facility

FedEx is looking to fill multiple positions for its new regional sortation facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The company needs 28 managers and maintenance technicians for its 245,000-square-foot facility under construction there.

 

California company moving HQ to Durham, N.C.

Smart Wires, a power technology startup from San Francisco, is moving its headquarters to Durham and bringing 250 jobs to the city. The decision comes after the company was approved for a Job Development Investment Grant worth $2.8 million and $125,000 worth of incentives.

 

POLYWOOD will expand in Person County, N.C.

POLYWOOD, a manufacturer of outdoor furniture made from recycled plastics, will expand its operations in Person County to create 300 jobs over five years. The company will invest $61.6 million to build additional capacity at its manufacturing and distribution center in Roxboro.

 

Stik-Pak Solutions cuts the ribbon in Franklin County, Va.

Stik-Pak Solutions, a contract packaging firm, recently held a ribbon-cutting on an expansion creating 52 new jobs in Franklin County. The company’s $10 million investment includes a 50,000-square-foot building as well as new equipment.

 

Packaging company bringing 120 new jobs to Anderson County, S.C.

Pregis, a global manufacturer of protective packaging, announced plans to establish operations in Anderson County. The $80 million investment will create 120 new jobs.

 

Half a billion invested in Louisiana sawmills

Developers are on track to build $557 million of sawmill projects in Louisiana. The newest is a $240 million sawmill planned in Bienville Parish by a joint venture between Ruston-based Hunt Forest Products and privately held Canadian timber business Tolko Industries Ltd. The mill will employ about 60 people when operations begin in the first half of 2023, and 130 people when it is operating at full capacity. The companies plan to use local timber to produce 320 million board feet of lumber annually from 1.3 million tons of trees.

 

Disney moving 2,000 jobs from California to Florida

Walt Disney Co. announced plans to move approximately 2,000 jobs from California to Florida and will reap a nearly $580 million tax break in the process. The company’s plan is to build a campus near the Lake Nona community in Orlando, Fla., to house positions currently maintained near the studio’s main Southern California campus.

 

UT, UK to spearhead $50 million advanced manufacturing project for army

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the University of Kentucky, and the U.S. Army have announced a new five-year, $50 million advanced manufacturing project aimed at developing the next generation of military equipment. The project will not only enhance military capabilities but also contribute to civilian applications and workforce training that will spur economic development in key industries in the region, including aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and energy production.

 

Biometric tech company moving to Franklin, Tenn.

Integrated Biometric Technology (IBT), a fingerprinting technology company, has announced it’s moving its headquarters to Franklin. The company is investing $2.3 million in Williamson County and will create more than 140 jobs.

 

BRN sleep products establishing operations in Orangeburg County, S.C.

BRN Sleep Products, a manufacturer of bedding products, announced plans to establish operations in Orangeburg County. The $4.3 million investment will create more than 300 new jobs.

 

Grey Ghost Bakery expanding in Charleston County, S.C.

Grey Ghost Bakery, a made-from-scratch cookie company, announced plans to expand operations in Charleston. The $395,000 investment will create 25 new jobs.

 

Federal construction contractor relocates HQ to Orlando

Conti Federal Services, a federal construction and engineering contractor, has chosen to move its headquarters from New Jersey to Orlando. The company plans to hire more than 40 new, high-wage jobs in the region.

 

New Way Trucks expanding in Mississippi

Recycling and refuse equipment manufacturer New Way Trucks is investing $4 million and creating at least 120 jobs as it expands production. New Way Trucks announced in October 2019 that it would locate operations in the former Wolverine Tube building in the Booneville/Prentiss County Industrial Park. There, employees manufacture refuse trucks for the collection of waste.

 

DataRobot opens Morgantown, W.Va., satellite office

As a part of its quest to “democratize AI,” tech company DataRobot has opened a satellite office in Morgantown with hopes of expanding the company’s reach in the Mountain State. The Boston-based artificial intelligence company has 25 positions posted for the Morgantown location, with average salaries in the six-figure range.

 

Solar company establishing operations in Barnwell County, S.C.

Barnwell PV 1, a solar solutions company, has announced plans to establish operations in Snelling. The developer of renewable energy generation facilities is investing $75 million into the project.

 

American Airlines plans Charlotte Airport expansion

American Airlines will open three new gates at Charlotte Douglas International Airport by the end of the year with plans to hire hundreds of new employees this year and next.

 

New sugarcane biofuel plant commits to Iberia Parish, La.

Hundreds of jobs are now officially heading to Iberia Parish. Delta Biofuel has committed to a $70 million fuel plant following final approval of a significant tax exemption. The company is purchasing leftover dry pulp, known as bagasse, from four Acadiana sugar cane mills that will be processed into fuel pellets for energy production. The facility will create around 162 direct jobs.

 

Expansion bringing 40 new jobs to Charleston County, S.C.

Your Crawlspace (YCS) is bringing 40 new jobs to the Charleston County area with a planned expansion. The company will invest $4.6 million. YCS is a family-owned company that creates vapor barrier systems.

 

Glen Raven selects Warren County, N.C., for major expansion

Glen Raven, a provider of performance textiles with widely recognized brands including Sunbrella®, will create 205 new jobs as it expands operations in Warren County. The company will invest up to $82 million in North Carolina.

 

New warehouse to create hundreds of jobs in North Mississippi

A massive new warehouse is under construction in Hernando, Miss. Although there has been some pushback from locals, Associated Wholesale Grocers plans to create hundreds of new jobs when its warehouse opens in 2023. The 1.2-million-square-foot facility could bring more than 500 jobs.

 

Arkansas company expanding to provide rural internet

Bekaert, a steel wire production facility in Van Buren, Ark., is expanding its operations to help with the Federal Communication Commission’s plans for getting internet to rural areas. Bekaert Van Buren will grow its production with a 50,000-square-foot expansion estimated to cost the company around $8.4 million, creating 35 new jobs.

 

Vi-Jon expanding operations at Smyrna, Tenn., plant

Vi-Jon will be expanding operations in Smyrna, investing $45 million and creating 64 new jobs in Rutherford County. Vi-Jon produces personal care products including the nation’s second largest brand of hand sanitizer under the Germ-X label.

 

Southeast Texas plant completes expansion

Team Industries, which moved to Southeast Texas in 2008 and makes piping for various industrial customers, recently completed a multimillion-dollar expansion at its Port Arthur facility. The expansion could also mean the addition of dozens of jobs.

 

Chewy creating 1,200 jobs in Wilson County, Tenn.

A pet products company will establish a new regional e-commerce fulfillment center in Mt. Juliet that will create 1,200 jobs. The fulfillment center will be Chewy’s first in Tennessee.

 

Deli Star HQ coming to St. Louis

Deli Star Corporation, a family-owned manufacturer of prepared meal proteins and deli solutions, will locate its new headquarters in St. Louis, Mo. The new facility represents more than $99 million in capital investment and will bring 475 jobs to Missouri. This new 104,080-square-foot space will replace the previous plant in Fayetteville, Ill., that was damaged in a fire in January.

 

Dollar General distribution center opens in Walton, Ky.

Dollar General has opened a new distribution center in Walton. The 630,000-square-foot, $65 million investment will create 300 distribution and private-fleet jobs.

 

Barr Co. plans $10 million expansion in Arkansas

Window and door manufacturer Harry G. Barr Co. of Fort Smith is planning a $10 million expansion that could create 100 jobs. The facility where the company makes its WeatherBarr products is at capacity, so the expansion will allow Barr Co. to meet continued demand from the residential housing construction market.

 

Dentsply Sirona expanding in Charlotte, N.C.

Dentsply Sirona is investing more than $10 million in Charlotte to establish an innovation center focused on dental research and new product development.

 

Roofing manufacturer adding jobs in North Carolina

The Metal Specialist, a fabricator of custom metal roofing, is building a $3 million headquarters and manufacturing facility in Duplin County, N.C. The project will bring 33 new jobs.

 

Auto supplier adding 150 jobs in Elizabethtown, Ky.

Metalsa is hiring to fill at least 150 new positions after expanding its Elizabethtown plant to handle new products for electric vehicles. The Tier 1 auto supplier currently produces frames and other parts for the Ford Expedition, Navigator and F-150. Now, the facility is also going to make frames and battery trays for Ford and RIvian electric vehicles.

 

Home security company bringing 250 jobs to Henrico County, Va.

SimpliSafe, the producer of self-installed home security systems, is investing $3 million to establish a new customer service center in Henrico County. The company plans to hire 250 people to staff it.

 

Plastics company returning to Pulaski County, Va.

A Pulaski County maker of plastic processing components that closed in 2016 is returning and bringing new jobs to the area. Xaloy is moving from Ohio back to Virginia and will reopen in its former facility. The company will invest $1.75 million in its 30-acre site, creating 35 new jobs.

 

More than 245 manufacturing jobs coming to GE Appliance Park in Louisville

A recently announced expansion and $60 million investment will bring hundreds of new, full-time jobs to Louisville’s GE Appliance Park. The investment includes the production of high-end refrigerators and a conversion to a refrigerant with a lower global warming potential, according to a release from the company.

 

United Airlines promises 3,000 new jobs in Houston

In June, United Airlines announced the biggest aircraft purchase by an airline (270 new planes) in more than 10 years. Those new planes mean new jobs in Houston. . .the Houston hub will remain a pivotal part of the airline's plans. The new planes mean nearly 3,000 of those jobs will be based at Bush Airport.

 

SpaceX to build rocket engine factory near Waco, Texas

Detailing the plan in a series of posts on social media, Elon Musk says that SpaceX will break ground soon on a rocket engine factory near Waco. The facility, which will be in McGregor, will be the aerospace company’s second rocket engine manufacturing facility and will produce Raptor 2 engines for use in Starship launch vehicles. The new facility will produce roughly 800 to 1,000 rocket engines per year, or about two to four engines per day, making it the highest output and most advanced rocket engine factory in the world.

 

Engineered belts manufacturer expands in Georgia

Megadyne Group has revealed plans to relocate its U.S. engineered belt business from Cumming, Ga., to Buford, Ga. — a move that will double its manufacturing operations. The Ammega Group member is a manufacturer of engineered belts used in automation and robotics.

 

Nestlé to invest $100 million in South Carolina expansion

Food and beverage manufacturing giant Nestlé USA is about to expand its frozen foods factory in South Carolina. The company plans to spend $100 million at its plant in Gaffney to boost output of frozen entrees under the Stouffer’s and Lean Cuisine brands. The expansion is expected to create about 160 new jobs.

 

MaxLife Industries adding 55 jobs in Rowan County, N.C.

MaxLife Industries announced it will create 55 new jobs while expanding its existing footprint in Rowan County. MaxLife, a producer of building enclosure products, is leasing a 46,000-square-foot warehouse space that will serve as the company’s second manufacturing facility plant and customer service headquarters.

 

Alabama Power moves forward with Butler County solar facility

Alabama Power recently received approval for a large-scale Butler County, Ala., solar project that can generate enough electricity annually to power almost 15,000 homes. The solar installation is expected to create about 250 construction jobs and generate more than $6 million in tax revenues for Butler County and the city of Greenville over the project’s life.

 

Battery charger maker moves HQ from Chicago to Fort Worth

Schumacher Electric Corp., a company that makes batteries and battery chargers, is moving its headquarters from Chicago to Fort Worth, Texas, with plans to add 100 new jobs to its current 150-person workforce.

 

Zeiss Vision Care cuts ribbon on HQ in New Hebron, Ky.

Zeiss Vision Care cut the ribbon recently on its new U.S. headquarters in Hebron. The grand opening completes a multi-year $20 million construction project at Zeiss’s existing Hebron facility, which will create about 75 full-time jobs.

 

TD Bank bringing 250 jobs to Jax

More than 250 jobs are coming to the Jacksonville, Fla., area over the next two years. TD Bank will open a customer service and operations center in Deerwood North that will add about 200 of those jobs early next year.

 

New $34 million brewery headed for South Carolina

Peak Drift Brewing Company is the name of the huge brewery and mixed-use development underway in the former Stone Manufacturing Facility in Columbia, S.C. The $34 million brewery is expected to open in late 2022, and will be the largest brewery in South Carolina.

 

Angel’s Envy plans $8.2 million expansion to Louisville distillery

Louisville-based craft distiller Angel’s Envy is expanding. The company said it plans to add 13,000 square feet to its downtown facility and create 20 new jobs.

 

South Carolina Ports breaks another record

South Carolina Ports celebrates its strongest fiscal year on record for containers handled at the Port of Charleston. SC Ports handled 2.55 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in fiscal year 2021 (which ended June 30). Vehicles remained a strong business segment, up 27 percent compared to the prior year.

 

Blue Origin announces a hiring blitz at Alabama rocket engine plant

Blue Origin has announced a hiring blitz seeking more than 80 skilled machinists and welders to begin building the reusable rocket engines it will produce at its giant $200 million plant in Huntsville, Ala. The company wants to hire those “who are passionate about the company’s mission to lower the cost of access to space,” a company news release said.

 

Alabama’s Wayne Farms desperate for workers

Between the prepared chicken and sausage production plants in Decatur and Albertville and the harvest site in Decatur, there are over 500 jobs available at Wayne Farms Alabama facilities. The company just bumped up hourly pay rates to help fill hundreds of open positions in Decatur and is now offering sign-on bonuses of $1,500 in an effort to entice applicants.

 

Danish company adding to its Bayport facility

Haldor Topsoe will build a hydro-processing catalyst plant at its existing Bayport production site in Pasadena, Texas. The plant will increase production of Topsoe’s TK catalyst family, while moving toward the Danish company’s goal of being the world’s leader in carbon emission reduction technologies by 2024. According to sources, Haldor Topsoe plans to invest $11 million.

 

News 9 will move/invest in downtown OKC

Griffin Communications will move its News 9 studios, newsroom and corporate headquarters into the Century Center building in Oklahoma City, Okla., spending more than $26 million to buy the building, including $10 million in renovations. The company plans to bring nearly 200 jobs downtown.

 

Online fashion company spending $100 million on Georgia warehouse

British online fashion and beauty retailer ASOS is investing $100 million to automate its warehouse in Union City, Ga., south of Atlanta. ASOS initially invested more than $40 million in the warehouse which opened in 2018. The company said it would create an unspecified number of new engineering and software development jobs.

 

Ceramics business expanding in Asheville, N.C.

East Fork Pottery, a Buncombe County handmade ceramics business founded in 2010 and centered in Asheville, just announced plans to invest $2.4 million in its operations. In addition to upgrades, the company will add over 50 new jobs.

 

Liberty Storage expanding in Rowan County, N.C.

Liberty Storage Solutions, which started in a barn in Rowan County, has outgrown its 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Mocksville and has purchased 33 acres nearby to expand. The company will invest $8 million and expects to create 50 new jobs to design and build everything from simple storage buildings to elaborate man-caves and chic she-sheds at its headquarters/manufacturing facility there.   

 

Last Step Recycling establishing operations in Chester County, S.C.

Last Step Recycling, an automotive shredder residue (ASR) company, announced plans to establish operations in Chester County. The $46.4 million investment will create 50 new jobs.

 

Spirit Fitness to expand Jonesboro, Ark., operations

Spirit Fitness, a company that builds residential and commercial fitness equipment, has announced plans to expand its operation in Jonesboro with the addition of a new facility in Craighead Technology Park. When complete, Spirit’s $10 million investment will create approximately 40 to 50 new jobs.

 

Alabama FBI Innovation Center breaks ground

Architecture firm HKS and Clark Construction Group have broken ground on the FBI Innovation Center in Huntsville, Ala. The Innovation Center is located at Redstone Arsenal where the FBI is building a 243-acre campus.

 

Sink manufacturer to expand in Robeson County, N.C.

Elkay Manufacturing, a sink manufacturer, will invest $5.5 million to expand operations in Lumberton, creating an additional 20 jobs. Elkay will become the first tenant in the Lumberton/Robeson County I-95/I-74 Industrial Park.

 

Pete’s Indoor Greenhouse breaks ground in Peach County, Ga.

Pete’s, a California-based indoor greenhouse, will soon bring fresh food and jobs to Middle Georgia. Pete’s broke ground recently on three acres of land at the Robins International Industrial Park. The company’s goal is to expand to 24 acres.

 

Construction begins on $20 million logistics hub in Baldwin County, Ala.

Imperial Dade, a distributor of food service packaging and janitorial supplies, recently kicked off construction of its $20 million facility in Loxley, Ala. The company plans to create 55 jobs.

 

Camgian Microsystems adding 25 jobs in Starkville, Miss.

High-tech research and development and product development company Camgian Microsystems is adding 25 jobs as it expands. In March, the company was awarded a $6.9 million contract with the U.S. Army to develop a next-generation intelligent system for detecting and defeating unmanned aerial threats to U.S. military forces.

 

Smart USA Co. to establish U.S. headquarters in Nashville

London-based retirement technology company Smart USA Co.  will locate its U.S. headquarters in Nashville. The company will create 128 new jobs and invest $2.2 million in its Davidson County operations over the next five years.

 

Drake Software opening call center in Haywood County, N.C.

Drake Software, a software provider for tax professionals, will be opening a call center in Waynesville. The company will add 40 new jobs in Haywood County over the next three years, with an additional 20 jobs by 2026, according to a news release sent out by the county.

 

Mattress company bringing 80 jobs to South Carolina

Solstice Sleep Products, a wholesale mattress company, announced plans to create 80 new jobs in Marion County, S.C.

 

Conner Logistics relocating HQ to Somerset, Ky.

Conner Logistics, a third-party logistics provider, has announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters from California to Kentucky with a starting investment of $1.3 million, creating 20 full-time jobs in Pulaski County.

 

Viking Metal creating jobs in Philadelphia, Miss.

Metal fabricator Viking Metal has located manufacturing operations in Philadelphia. The project is a $908,000 corporate investment and will create 15 jobs.