Montgomery, Ala., breaks ground on $50 million whitewater park
Announced in 2019, the 120-acre park will employ about 640 people during construction and eventually create 125 jobs. An economic impact study estimated the attraction should draw about 300,000 visitors to Montgomery each year, with ongoing operations expected to generate more than $35 million.
Facebook spending tops $1 billion in Huntsville
Facebook announced recently that its ongoing expansion in Huntsville will top $1 billion in capital investment. The social media giant also said that once the expansion is complete, it will employ more than 200 at the 2.5 million-square-foot campus.
Headquarters relocating from California to Alabama, bringing 816 jobs
Shipt founder Bill Smith’s newest creation is coming to Alabama. Landing, which is his nationwide membership network of fully-furnished apartments, is relocating its headquarters from San Francisco to Birmingham. The company also plans to create 816 new full-time jobs.
One-hundred-million-dollar manufacturing facility coming to Opelika
An investment of $130 million is coming to Opelika by way of a new manufacturing facility for Hanwha Cimarron, a producer of filament-wound carbon fiber tanks and pressure vessels relating to the aerospace, marine, drone, rail, and gas transport industries. The investment will create 261 jobs for the Lee County city.
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.
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.
Steel processor to build in Blytheville
Majestic Steel plans to build a service center and processing facility on the Nucor Hickman steel production campus in Blytheville. The 515,000-square-foot facility will create about 225 jobs.
Disney moving 2,000 jobs from California to Florida
Walt Disney Company 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 plans to to build a campus near the Lake Nona community in Orlando, Fla., to house employees currently located near the studio’s main Southern California campus.
Amazon selects Tallahassee for robotics fulfillment center
Amazon has announced plans to bring a new 630,000-square-foot robotic fulfillment center to Leon County to open in 2022. The project will generate 1,346 full-time jobs and 2,256 construction jobs, and represents a $200 million investment by Amazon.
Amazon announces first fulfillment center in St. Lucie County
Amazon has announced plans to open a fulfillment center in Port St. Lucie. The site, which is anticipated to launch in 2022, will create more than 500 full-time jobs that pay at least $15 per hour.
Medical tech company expanding in Gwinnett County, Ga., adding 1,200 jobs
Intuitive, a pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery and a global leader in minimally invasive care, will invest more than $500 million in its current campus in Gwinnett County, creating approximately 1,200 jobs in Peachtree Corners. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Intuitive is the manufacturer of the da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical systems and Ion bronchoscopy system.
New fintech center bringing 700 jobs to Sandy Springs
Deluxe Corp. has opened its FinTech and Customer Innovation Center in Sandy Springs, where it will eventually employ more than 700 workers with an average salary of $91,000. The company is investing more than $12 million in the project.
Henry County continues its run of deals
After earning recognition in the spring issue’s SB&D 100, Henry County, Ga., has continued its run of deals in 2021. Pregis, a leading manufacturer of protective packaging, is investing $14 million to open a plant in Henry County. The project will create about 230 jobs.
Mattress maker expanding in Georgia
Purple Innovation (“Purple”), will expand its facilities in Henry County, Ga. The project will create 500 jobs.
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.
Amazon opens its $1.5 billion air hub
After more than four years of planning and construction, the Amazon Air Hub in northern Kentucky will serve as the central hub for Amazon Air’s U.S. cargo network. The $1.5 billion air hub is a major milestone for Amazon Air, which launched in 2016.
DHL delivers jobs in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
DHL eCommerce Solutions will fill more than 200 new positions at its Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG) distribution center. In addition, at the beginning of 2021, the company raised its hourly wages at CVG by approximately 30 percent, with starting pay ranging from $20.50 to $22.00 per hour.
AppHarvest breaks ground on two massive indoor farms in Kentucky
AppHarvest has begun construction on two massive greenhouses in Central Appalachia in Eastern Kentucky. The Somerset farm (30 acres) will grow strawberries. The Morehead farm (15 acres) will grow leafy greens. AppHarvest, which is building huge, high-tech greenhouses in Kentucky to grow vegetables and fruits, wants to have 12 sites by the end of 2025, and the new locations near Somerset and Morehead will put the company nearly halfway there.
Gov. Edwards announces decision on ExxonMobil refinery in Baton Rouge, La.
Gov. John Bel Edwards recently announced ExxonMobil’s final investment decision for more than $240 million in capital improvements at the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery. The projects will help retain 1,300 existing jobs at the refinery, create more than 600 construction jobs and ultimately provide more than 20 full-time jobs for graduates of the North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative, a program spearheaded by ExxonMobil in 2012 to provide no-cost, fast-tracked industrial training for community residents.
New Amazon robotics facility for Baton Rouge
Amazon recently announced its latest robotics fulfillment center in Louisiana, with over 1,000 jobs and a $200 million capital investment coming to Baton Rouge. The development will also generate 800 construction jobs.
New sugarcane biofuel plant commits to Iberia Parish
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.
Company to rebuild Louisiana chlorine plant
KIK Consumer Products’ BioLab division will rebuild its chlorine plant in Westlake, La., near Lake Charles. The plant was damaged in 2020 by Hurricane Laura. The company will invest $170 million in the deal that will create 82 jobs.
Ocean Aero moving to Gulfport, Miss.
Ocean Aero, a manufacturer ocean-going autonomous underwater and surface vehicles (drones), is relocating its manufacturing operations and headquarters from San Diego, Calif., to Gulfport. The project is a $4.65 million corporate investment and will create 45 jobs.
Milwaukee Tool adding another Mississippi facility
Wisconsin-based Milwaukee Tool is expanding its presence in Mississippi once again by leasing a facility in Clinton to grow its operations. The manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools will invest more than $7 million with the expansion. The announcement is part of the company’s commitment to create 1,200 jobs in the state.
Ingalls to add 3,000 jobs in Mississippi
A day after announcing it had secured a Navy contract worth more than $700 million, Pascagoula’s Ingalls Shipbuilding announced it would be adding 3,000 full-time jobs.
AeroSafe Global bringing 100 jobs to Olive Branch
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.
Missouri cannabis industry adds more than 4,000 jobs in a year
According to a report from the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has to date issued some 4,584 state agent ID cards required to work at medical marijuana facilities.
Life science company expanding and adding jobs
Pantheon Biologics, which is a subsidiary of Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher Scientific, is hoping to fund a 58,000-square-foot expansion at its Berkeley, Mo., facility with $85 million in Chapter 100 bonds. The development will include two more manufacturing suites and will expand site capacity and manufacturing capabilities. It also expects to create 169 new full-time jobs by 2025.
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.
Semiconductor wafer jobs coming to Missouri
Semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries and silicon wafer manufacturer GlobalWafers have signed an agreement to expand production in O’Fallon, Mo. The long-term agreement includes $210 million in capital expenditures to expand GWC’s facility, creating more than 75 new jobs.
Duke Energy begins construction on largest solar plant in Surry County, N.C.
Duke Energy continues to expand solar power in North Carolina with construction starting on its 22.6-megawatt Stony Knoll Solar power plant. Once completed, it will be the largest solar plant in Surry County. . . the facility will power the equivalent of 5,000 homes The plant will be located on 195 acres in Dobson, N.C.
California company moving HQ to Durham
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
High-tech sawmill operation slated for North Carolina
Roseburg Forest Products will invest $200 million in a new sawmill operation in Halifax County, N.C. The deal will create 137 new jobs.
Biopharma will hire 300 in Raleigh
Gilead Sciences, which focuses primarily on antiviral drugs, will open new office spaces in Raleigh. The company, headquartered in California, will hire 300 positions.
Oklahoma airpark becoming logistics hub
Under a $124 million development plan, a significant portion of the Ardmore Industrial Airpark in Ardmore, Okla., will become an international, state-of-the-art multimodal logistics facility. The newly developed Global Transportation & Industrial Park of Oklahoma (GTIP) includes more than 200 acres of shovel-ready and build-to-suit land.
Cimarron Trailers adding 40 new jobs in Chickasha
Cimarron Trailers, a manufacturer of aluminum trailers and stock boxes, announced plans to add 40 employees to its facility in Chickasha. The company, which primarily serves the equine industry, currently employs 132.
Port of South Carolina’s Leatherman Terminal earns “project of the year”
South Carolina Ports’ Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal has earned the 2021 South Carolina Project of the Year by the South Carolina Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The Leatherman Terminal’s Phase One project represented a $1 billion investment and can work the biggest ships calling on East Coast ports. The terminal saw its first customer in the spring of this year. Photo by Walter Lagarenne
TELUS creating 1,200 jobs in Charleston County
TELUS, a company that provides multilingual IT solutions, is opening a new facility in North Charleston. The initial investment of $3.4 million will create approximately 1,200 new jobs by 2022.
Generac expanding in Edgefield County
Generac Power Systems, a power and technology company, is expanding its plans for operations in Edgefield County. As a result, 300 more jobs will be created.
Door manufacturer to locate new facility in South Carolina
Masonite International, a manufacturer of interior and exterior doors, will locate a new operation in York County, S.C. The project is expected to generate 220 jobs.
Sterlite Technologies creating 120 jobs in Kershaw County
Sterlite Technologies has announced plans to establish operations in Kershaw County. The $23 million investment is expected to create 120 new jobs. The company specializes in network software.
Distribution company bringing 200 jobs to Laurens County
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.
Biometric tech company moving to Franklin, Tenn.
Integrated Biometric Technology, a fingerprinting technology company, is moving its headquarters to Franklin. The company is investing $2.3 million in Williamson County and will create more than 140 jobs. Headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., Integrated Biometrics was founded in 2002 as an alternative to the commonly used optical and silicon fingerprint technologies.
Thermo Fischer Scientific to establish new manufacturing facility in Wilson County
Thermo Fisher Scientific officials announced that the Massachusetts-based life sciences company will establish a new manufacturing facility in Wilson County that will lead to 1,400 new jobs. To date, Thermo Fisher has committed more than $100 million to build a new facility to produce containers and assemblies used by biopharma companies to develop and produce therapeutics and vaccines.
Gap to hire 1,000 more at Nashville area distribution center
Gap continues to grow its 25-year-old distribution center in Gallatin, Tenn. The company is adding 1,000 jobs at the facility.
Chewy creating 1,200 jobs in Wilson County
The 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.
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.
East Tennessee manufacturer adds 200 jobs
A manufacturing plant in Alcoa is increasing its production. Arconic, a manufacturer of aluminum products, says it has added 100 people to its workforce and is hiring an additional 100 to fulfill contracts to make beverage cans.
Housewares company opening new distribution facility in Fayette County
Helen of Troy Limited announced a new distribution operation in Fayette County, expecting to create 350 jobs. Helen of Troy — a designer of brand-name housewares, health and beauty products —
plans to develop a 2 million-square-foot facility in Gallaway.
SpaceX to build rocket engine factory near Waco
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.
Firefly Aerospace adding 680 jobs in Cedar Park, Texas
Firefly Aerospace, a Cedar Park-based rocket maker, is expanding its operations in the suburb north of Austin and adding more than 600 jobs, with the help of $4.3 million in taxpayer-funded incentives. Firefly is among an emerging group of launch providers that serves the small satellite market.
Australian manufacturer opens first U.S. plant in Texas
Based in Australia, Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies will establish a new manufacturing facility in Parker County, Texas. The project is expected to create 304 new jobs. Wagners CFT makes fiberglass sections for use in bridges, boardwalks and marine infrastructure.
Frito-Lay is bringing 160 new jobs to Rosenberg, Texas
Frito-Lay has announced a $200 million investment at its Rosenberg site. The project will provide 160 new jobs. The facility currently employs more than 750 full-time associates.
Spectrum begins hiring 900 for El Paso call centers
The 929 jobs Charter Communications plans to add in El Paso, Texas, by the end of 2023 for its Spectrum arm will offer good wages — $20 per hour — and chances to advance in a nationwide company, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser said after a news conference announcing Spectrum’s expansion.
Financial services firm hiring more than 1,000
Charles Schwab is hiring more than 1,000 after moving its headquarters to Westlake, Texas, earlier this year. Schwab and TD Ameritrade merged earlier this year and now the company has hired thousands in the Dallas area.
Goldman plans new Dallas campus
Goldman Sachs is on the hunt for a new office campus in Dallas that could become the Wall Street bank’s largest presence in the U.S., outside of its Manhattan headquarters. Executives are in advanced talks with developers as the firm scouts for expanded space in North Texas.
Hispanic foods maker hiring 200 jobs at new Texas plant
A Los Angeles-area maker of Hispanic cheeses, dairy beverages and chorizo has broken ground on a Texas factory that is expected to add 200 jobs when it opens next year. Cacique has begun construction on a new 200,000-square-foot facility in Amarillo that will produce dairy products for nationwide distribution. The $88 million factory is expected to open in the fall of 2022.
Tyson Foods chooses Virginia for $300 million operation
Tyson Foods will invest $300 million to establish a manufacturing facility in Cane Creek Centre, an industrial park jointly owned by the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County, Va. The project is expected to create 376 new jobs.
United Airlines expected to expand in Northern Virginia
United Airlines is expected to grow its workforce in the Washington, D.C., region by up to 3,000 workers. Nearly all of those workers are expected to be hired at United’s hub at Virginia’s Dulles Airport.
Nestlé Purina PetCare announced large expansion
Nestlé Purina PetCare will invest $182 million to expand its plant facilities in King William County, Va.
F-22 fighter jet training division to relocate to Virginia
The U.S. Air Force is relocating its F-22 Raptor training unit from Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base to Virginia’s Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton. The unit was displaced by Hurricane Michael at its former home at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City. The relocation will bring about 2,300 people to the Hampton Roads region.
Fairfax County, Va., lands StarKist headquarters
StarKist, a well-known provider of seafood and chicken in the United States, will invest $3.6 million to relocate its headquarters operations from Pittsburgh to Fairfax County. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland for the project, which will create 83 new jobs.
MHIRJ to expand in Bridgeport, W.Va
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Regional Jets (MHIRJ) will soon expand its presence at North Central West Virginia Airport with the construction of two new hangars totaling more than 100,000 square feet. The $19.1 million project could bring as many as 800 jobs to the area, including 300 positions during the construction phase.
North Carolina-based ESC Brands is investing in Bluefield, W.Va.
The company is beginning Phase 1 of a three-phase plan that will eventually include a new 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and the creation of 300 jobs. ESC Brands specializes in the development of antiviral and antimicrobial products
Ammunition maker breaks ground on two West Virginia facilities
Five years after plans were first unveiled, a major rifle ammunition manufacturing complex is officially under construction in West Virginia. Ranger Scientific has broken ground on two different production facility projects. One will overhaul former high school grounds in Montgomery, W.Va., while the other will establish a new facility in nearby Dickinson, W.Va.
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