October 2021

Reshoring on track for record job migration to U.S.

According to the Reshoring Initiative, the U.S. (as of September) is on track to add a total of nearly 250,000 jobs from abroad in 2021. The data includes foreign direct investment — which was down dramatically in 2020 — so the "reshoring" data is skewed. Foreign direct investment, for the most part, has no relationship with reshoring. However, using the Reshoring Initiative's data, the projected jobs created in 2021 is 38 percent more than 2020, when 161,000 jobs were created either by reshoring or FDI.

 

Two huge Ford Motor deals

Ford Motor and battery supplier SK Innovation have planned to invest over $11 billion at two sites in the South, one in Kentucky and the other in Tennessee. The projects will produce electric vehicles and batteries. The two sites are the Memphis Regional Megasite and the Glendale Megasite in Hardin County, Ky. The Tennessee project will include a 3,600-acre campus, a supplier park, recycling center and a new assembly plant to build F-Series trucks. The two projects are expected to create almost 11,000 full-time jobs and are part of President Joe Biden's call for companies to onshore supply chains amid the global shortage of semiconductor chips and the logistics backlog that is being experience in the supply chain from foreign countries. The state of Tennessee invested more than $174 million on improvements at the Memphis Regional Megasite. Tens of millions have also been spent on the Glendale Megasite in central Kentucky over the years as well. That site came in second in the Hyundai site search that ended up in Montgomery, Ala., nearly 20 years ago. The joint venture on both sites will be called BlueOvalSK.

 

Raytheon opens new plant in McKinney, Texas

Raytheon Technologies, an aerospace and defense contractor, has opened a new 178,000-square-foot intelligent manufacturing facility at its McKinney campus. The company has also announced it will build a larger plant on the site by 2025. The two plants are expected to house over 700 workers.

 

Martinsville-Henry County, Va., is at it again

Germany-based Schock is setting up shop in Henry County, Va., one of the most successful rural locations in the South for economic development. The company manufactures all kinds of kitchen sinks. The $85 million deal will create 355 jobs.

 

Global automotive supplier Auria to expand in South Carolina

Auria Spartanburg has announced that it is expanding its plant in Spartanburg to meet growing demand. The $12 million deal will create 103 new jobs. The company makes flooring, acoustic systems and other parts for a variety of automakers.

 

Corning expanding in North Carolina

Corning is investing $150 million in optical cable manufacturing in North Carolina, initially adding 200 jobs in Hickory, N.C. This is just the latest Corning expansion in Hickory. The deal is part of Corning’s collaboration with AT&T Inc. to increase fiber network capacity to meet high demand and accelerate 5G deployment.

 

Software company to add over 100 jobs in North Carolina

Vantaca, a software-as-a-service provider, will add 104 new jobs in New Hanover County. The company is expanding in its hometown Wilmington.

 

Midtown Atlanta keeps the momentum going

Tech-heavy midtown Atlanta continues its string of massive tech deals in the fall of 2021. Visa announced last quarter they plan on occupying a 123,000-square-foot office at 1200 Peachtree Street and hiring 1,000 new employees over the next few years. The company’s new office facility is expected to open in 2022 with a focus on technology and client services.

 

Another tech deal, this one at Research Triangle Park

Fidelity Investments is bringing another 1,500 jobs to Research Triangle Park. The announcement means that Fidelity will employ a total of 2,500 in the Raleigh-Durham area.

 

Largest satellite facility in the world to be constructed at Florida's Space Coast

Terran Orbital announced in the fall that it will invest $300 million in Merritt Island on Florida's Space Coast. Florida's governor Ron DeSantis said the company’s move to Florida will create the largest satellite manufacturing facility in the entire world. The 660,000-square-foot facility will be able to produce more than 1,000 satellites a year and 1 million satellite components. The deal will create 2,000 jobs.

 

Thermo Fisher expands in Missouri

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced plans to expand its drug substance manufacturing facility in St. Louis County, Mo. The $82.5 million deal will create 169 jobs.

 

Auto parts supplier relocating to Texas site

Vehicle Accessories Inc. plans to relocate 315 manufacturing jobs and its $13.5 million annual payroll from Sunnyvale, Calif., and other locations to Mesquite, Texas. The company plans to combine operations in Sunnyvale, Buffalo (N.Y.), Toronto, Ontario and Magog, Quebec, to the new Mesquite location.  The relocation project will create 315 jobs.

 

Petcare firm adding jobs in Arkansas

Mars Petcare is investing nearly $120 million into its Fort Smith operation as pet food demand rises, capitalizing on earlier expansion plans and producing even more jobs. The company will add two new production lines and 140 new workers.

 

Modular home manufacturer to set up shop in rural South Carolina

Impresa Building Systems of Greenwood  will establish a new factory in Greenwood County, S.C., and create 180 jobs. The company will be making a $9 million investment.

 

Toyota celebrates 25 years in West Virginia

In the fall quarter, Japanese automaker Toyota celebrated a major milestone— the company has operated in Buffalo, W.Va., for 25 years. The company makes four- and six-cylinder engines there are well as transmissions and hybrid trans-axles.

 

Bourbon maker bringing jobs to Somerset, Ky.

Horse Soldier Bourbon is investing $200 million to bring bourbon and tourism dollars to Pulaski County, Ky. The deal will create 50 jobs.

 

Plastics manufacturer expanding in Virginia

Virginia Industrial Plastics is investing over $6 million to expand its plant in Rockingham County, Va. The deal will create 92 jobs.

 

International automotive manufacturer to open facility in Central Texas

The Greater San Marcos Partnership announced in the fall that Plastikon Industries will open a new factory in Kyle, Texas. The company supplies interior components to companies like Tesla and Toyota. The $13.6 million deal will create 200 jobs.

 

Oak barrel manufacturer chooses rural South Carolina for new plant

South Carolina Oak Barrel announced in the fall it will invest $6.8 million in a new plant in Bamberg County, S.C. The barrels will be used for whiskey and wine operations. The project will generate 122 new jobs.

 

Mining operation creating jobs in West Virginia

CS Global Group, which is based in Turkey, will located a barite mining and manufacturing operation in Moundsville, W.Va. The $10 million project will create 47 jobs.

 

Aerospace company to break ground on new plant in Virginia

Aery Aviation, a full-service commercial and government services provider to the aerospace industry, is breaking ground on a new 60,000-square-foot hangar facility at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. The $15 million deal will create 211 jobs.

 

1,000 jobs being created at historic Walter Reed Army Medical Center

The Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus is opening a new facility at Walter Reed in Northwest D.C. The deal will create 1,000 jobs.

 

Manufacturer to locate new plant in Central Texas

Knauf Insulation plans to open a new factory in McGregor, Texas. The $210 million project will create 151 jobs.

 

Financial services giant Charles Schwab adding hundreds of new jobs in Austin

Schwab and TD Ameritrade are adding jobs in the Texas capitol. Most of the 450 jobs are tech jobs such as software development.

 

Toyota again expanding its Alabama engine plant

Japanese automaker Toyota will be the exclusive North American producer of the twin-turbo V6 engine for the 2022 Tundra. The manufacturer said the twin-turbo V6 engine line represents a $288 million investment in Toyota Alabama operations and an added 450 jobs, bringing total employment to 1,800.

 

Moody's expanding in Charlotte

Moody’s Investor Services is expanding in Charlotte, taking up enough space in the South End to accommodate 500 employees. Employers will start occupying the new space in the first quarter of 2022.

 

Fintech startup approved for incentives outside of Austin

Moca Ventures, a fintech startup, has received final approval from the Bastrop City Council for an incentives agreement to help build a “Google-like” headquarters in the city located east of Austin. The project could create up to 700 jobs.

 

Vitamin maker to expand its manufacturing and analytical testing operations in Sugar Land, Texas

Bluebonnet Nutrition Corporation, headquartered in Sugar Land, will invest $18 million to expand its Sugar Land Business Park location and add 200 new jobs. It will be the company's third facility in Sugar Land.

 

Waitr bringing new jobs in Mississippi

Food delivery service company Waitr is expanding in the Hattiesburg, Miss., area. The company is looking for 200 new contract drivers.

 

Big deal in Middle Tennessee

Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it will establish an equipment manufacturing plant just east of Nashville in Lebanon, Tenn. The company will make bioprocess containers and fluid transfer assemblies that will be used by biopharmaceutical companies around the world to develop and produce vaccines and therapeutics. The $100 million investment is expected to create 1,400 jobs.

 

Arkansas company expands after expanding

Jonesboro-based Hytrol Conveyor Corp., a maker of conveyor systems, announced earlier in 2021 that it would add a second factory in Fort Smith, Ark. Initially 250 workers were to be housed at the plant. Now, the company has announced  it will expand by adding 100 new employees at its Fort Smith location.

 

REHAU announces another expansion in Cullman, Ala.

German auto supplier REHAU is expanding again in Cullman, Ala. In the summer, REHAU officials said they would spend $50 million at the Alabama plant for new equipment and tooling. REHAU's largest customer in Alabama is the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa County.

 

Marine electronics maker to expand in East Alabama

Hummingbird is expanding its plant in Eufaula, Ala. Hummingbird, part of Johnson Outdoors, makes marine electronics including fish finders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers and cartography products.The deal will create 77 jobs.

 

Carvana creating jobs in Oklahoma

Auto retailer Carvana is investing in an inspection and reconditioning center in Oklahoma City that’s expected to bring more than 350 new jobs to the metro.

 

Drug therapy firm picks Raleigh over Durham and Atlanta

Gilead Sciences, the maker of breakthrough HIV, hepatitis C and cancer therapies as well as the COVID treatment remdesivir, has chosen Raleigh for a facility. The deal will create 275 jobs.

 

Interesting deal in Tampa

Genesis Systems, a developer of technologies that aim to solve global water scarcity, plans to establish its corporate headquarters and launch its first line of products in Tampa, Fla. The company plans to add 125 new jobs over the next five years.

 

Atlanta-based Earthlink bringing 285 jobs to Southwest Virginia

Internet provider Earthlink plans to hire 285 workers when it opens a $5.4 million customer care center in Norton, Va.

 

Manufacturer of farm equipment expanding its facility in North Carolina

Everything Attachments, a manufacturer of high-quality farm implements and tractor attachments, is expanding its plant in Conover, N.C. The $20 million deal will create 147 new jobs.

 

GenH2 establishes global HQ in Titusville, Fla.

GenH2, a leading developer of hydrogen infrastructure solutions and liquid hydrogen production, is locating its global headquarters in Titusville, Fla. The $35 million project will create 400 jobs.

 

Manufacturer expands in West Virginia

TeMa North America announced in the fall it will invest $7 million and add 15 jobs in Jefferson County, W.Va.

 

Life science firm Patheon expands in North Carolina

Life science firm Patheon, a subsidiary of Thermo Fisher, is adding nearly 300 jobs as it expands in Greenville, N.C. The company is investing $154 million.

 

Amazon adding 3,000 jobs in Kentucky

Amazon is adding 3,000 jobs in Kentucky at existing locations. The jobs are in addition to the 2,000 Amazon Air jobs at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). The jobs will be added in Lexington, Shepherdsville, Erlanger and Hebron.

 

Metals manufacturer to invest more than $100 million in Virginia

Service Center Metals, a maker of aluminum extrusions, will invest more than $100 million to expand in Prince George County, Va. The project will create 94 jobs.

 

Auto supplier to establish first U.S. factory in Northeast Tennessee

Sungwoo Hitech America will place its first U.S. factory in Telford, Tenn. The company plans to produce bumpers, rear components, and side framing for a variety of automakers including BMW, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen. Approximately 115 jobs will be created.

 

New factory for Tyson in Virginia

Arkansas-based Tyson Foods announced it will open a new factory in Danville, Va. The $300 million plant will house about 400 workers.

 

Audi could build electric vehicles at Volkswagen's plant in Tennessee.

Audi's parent company is VW and the chances of the German automaker building EVs in Chattanooga are growing stronger every day. Audi shares the same all-electric architecture as the ID.4 model which it builds in Chattanooga.

 

Peanut plant slated for South Carolina

Premium Peanut is investing $64.3 million to establish operations in Orangeburg County in a move expected to create 130 jobs.

 

Bioplastics manufacturer to open plant in Savannah, Ga.

NANTRenewables, a subsidiary of NantWorks, will invest up to $29 million to build a manufacturing facility at SeaPoint Industrial Terminal Complex in Savannah. The venture will create 134 jobs.