KFC U.S. is leaving Kentucky and landing in Dallas-Fort Worth. Louisville-based parent company Yum Brands announced in February that it is relocating KFC’s corporate brand headquarters to Plano, north of Dallas, and combining it with the Pizza Hut brand HQ already located in the city. Roughly 100 corporate roles in Louisville are affected, with relocations happening over the next six months.

Whoa! Another fast food giant moves its headquarters to the South

In-N-Out Burger is moving its headquarters out of Irvine, Calif., to Nashville, following KFC’s move to Texas. By 2029, the popular restaurant will operate from two hubs: a western headquarters in its original home of Baldwin Park, Calif., and an eastern headquarters in Franklin, Tenn., according to The Press-Enterprise, citing a news release. The $126 million relocation will create 275 jobs. 

Atlanta officials consider even more restrictions on data centers

Atlanta officials are considering additional restrictions on data centers after banning them in and around the Beltline. A special-use permit for data centers is now required and neighborhood commercial districts like Little Five Points are prohibited from building. 

All kinds of rules are being drawn up to slow data center growth in the Atlanta mega-market, including one that requires permit applicants to show their project’s impact on natural resources and the environment, including a water consumption plan, water conservation and sustainability plan, energy consumption plan, transmission line impact assessment, tree preservation and reforestation plan, and a storm water management plan.

Microsoft, Google and Apple are out of control with data center spending and there is no end in sight as long as the lights don’t go out

Artificial intelligence has emerged as fast as Godzilla from the sea. Tech hulks like Google, Microsoft, Apple and others are scoping out sites in the South far faster than any time we have seen. Georgia, Virginia, Texas and North Carolina have led that game since its inception. But other states such as Alabama, Mississippi and really all of the Southern states, are not only getting looks, they are capturing data center deals that rank at the top of investments in state history. Let’s see if the grid keeps up. 

After spending millions to outfit a 1 million-square-foot facility in Texas, Google walks away from the deal

Tech giant Google has walked away from a 1 million-square-foot lease north of Fort Worth. Google signed for space at the massive Northlake 35 Logistics Park in Northlake, Texas, and spent over $20 retrofitting the space. The project was part of Google’s $1 billion investment in data centers and cloud center infrastructure in Texas. The leasing company was told that at this time Google did not need the extra capacity. The space is now completed and back on the market. 

Wolfspeed's massive North Carolina chip plant enters final phase 

Wolfspeed's $5 billion semiconductor factory is nearing completion in Chatham County, N.C. The new facility features complex chip production processes. The electric vehicle market is the target sector for the company's technology and employees will start moving in as early as June. The $5 billion project fell into one of President Biden’s initiatives aimed at reshoring chip plants in the United States, and President Trump wishes to carry that forward. The 1,800-acre site near Siler City was one SB&D walked in 2014 with land owner Tim Booras. 

Toyota is close to opening its $14 billion North Carolina battery plant

Toyota’s third-quarter financial report provided by Chief Financial Officer Yoichi Miyazaki showed that the Japanese automaker expects to open its battery plant in Randolph County, N.C., in mid-spring. The 5,000-employee plant is Toyota’s 11^th manufacturing site in the United States and the first to make batteries for hybrid, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric vehicles in the United States, Miyazaki noted.

Tracking Ford’s EV sales prior to its opening of BlueOval near Memphis

The West Tennessee Ford plant being built near a site between Memphis and Jackson, Tenn., is still two years away from opening. So, since electric pickups will be assembled there along with battery manufacturing, where are Ford’s EV sales prior to BlueOval City’s opening? Ford electric vehicle sales got off to a strong start in 2025, continuing to improve year over year after a record 2024. The Michigan-based behemoth sold more than 5,600 EVs in January 2025, a 21 percent increase from the same month a year prior. The company also sold more than 13,000 hybrid vehicles, a 19 percent jump YOY. Ford classes EVs and hybrids as "electrified" vehicles. 

The numbers show that within two years, the Ford plant will have plenty of demand from consumers. BOSK's BlueOvals’s Kentucky One plant should come online this year, and its Tennessee facility is scheduled to come online near the end of this year. Those facilities are expected to significantly increase Ford's EV production capacity.

Failures from the surge in next generation clean mobility investments are mounting up

The failed Freyr Battery project in Coweta County, Ga., might turn out smelling like a rose for both parties. The Norwegian battery company Freyr announced plans to build a $2.6 billion battery factory in Coweta County in November 2022. However, in February 2025, Freyr announced that it was canceling the project and is putting up a large swath (368 acres) of woodlands it owns for sale. The property sale in Coweta County could garner $50 million. The company will use part of that to pay back about $27 million it has received in incentives for the project. The property is at Interstate 85 and Bethlehem Church Road, south of the Newnan-Coweta County Airport. Freyr was set to receive a total of $358 million in grants and incentives for its clean energy tech project.

Montgomery, Ala., stays red hot

Rarely does a quarter go by now without a significant announcement made in Alabama’s capital city. In the winter quarter of 2025, Diageo North America announced a $415 million manufacturing plant in Montgomery. Premium drinks company Diageo North America announced plans to open a new manufacturing and warehousing facility in Montgomery with 100 jobs as the company moves to build an increasingly resilient and efficient supply network. The 360,000-square-foot facility will have a multi-million case annual production capacity for Diageo’s leading beverage alcohol brands. This site will enhance the company’s North America supply chain operations and support future growth for the company’s export business.

Buffalo Trace finishes $1.3 billion distillery expansion in the capital city of Frankfort, Ky. 

In early January, a 10-year, $1.3 billion expansion plan came to a close at Buffalo Trace’s distillery in Frankfort. The company recently added eight fermenters, at 93,000 gallons each, giving it 32 total on the campus.

Churchill Downs unveils $920 million new Kentucky Derby experience

Churchill Downs announced in the winter hundreds of millions in capital projects stretched out over multiple years, to "enhance and expand the Kentucky Derby experience." The Louisville-based company projects are, collectively, the largest expansion and renovation projects undertaken in the 150-year history of the storied racetrack.

Class A office vacancy success in Atlanta after a few years of post-pandemic “see-throughs” 

What is a “see-through”? Easy. Look at a new office building and if you can see through to the other side of windows without obstruction, well, there ain’t anyone in there. New construction in Austin, Atlanta, D/FW, NOVA, Charlotte, even Nashville, has waned as of late after a surge under the Biden administration. Generally, a good thing as folks come back to the office in droves, four years later. 

But Atlanta seems to have come back strong from the emptying-out of high-rises during and after the pandemic. As of February, metro Atlanta’s new space brought to the mega-market $14 million square feet built from 2016 to 2021 -- those office buildings were 92 percent occupied, according to commercial real estate giant JLL. Still, office vacancy rate across metro Atlanta is still 27 percent as of the fourth quarter of 2024.

Richmond, Va.-based Dominion Energy to spend $50 billion to increase capacity 

Dominion Energy is preparing for the rash of data centers and growth in general by investing over $50 billion over the next five years. Dominion said data centers contracted 88 percent more power capacity, or 19 gigawatts (GW), in December as compared to July.

Washington-based software giant Microsoft announces two massive Texas data centers in Medina County

Microsoft is planning two new massive data centers in Medina County, according to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Dubbed "SAT93" and "SAT94," the two structures would be 245,000 square feet each and rise at a parcel of land the firm owns north of the County Road 381 and 385 intersection, just north of Potranco Road. The two projects combined are estimated to cost $700 million, though those estimates are usually subject to change. The greater San Antonio region has attracted a number of data center players over the years. 

North Carolina-based Boom Supersonic validates quiet supersonic flight

In the winter quarter, Boom Supersonic said that results from its successful sound-barrier-breaking flight of its demonstration plane indicate that faster-than-sound flight without an audible sonic boom is technically possible with its technology. The company expects to build “no sonic boom” airliners next at its complex at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C. The Denver-based company said that specialized arrays of microphones under the flight path of the XB-1 test plane on January 28th confirmed that sonic booms did not reach the ground during the plane’s repeated periods of flights above Mach 1.

Texas’ Permian Basin booms

The Texas Oil and Gas Association recently came out with its annual energy and economic impact report showing record-breaking industry numbers for 2024. And yes, the Permian Basin is booming again. Texas saw mass crude oil production this past year, with new records being set in the last six of the past 12 months. In October, the state produced 5.86 million barrels per day of crude oil. This is the highest total ever and accounts for 44 percent of the nation's total. 

Texas becomes the top-rated state for solar installations in the U.S. 

A new report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie released that Texas is the top-ranked state for solar capacity installed in 2024 with 7.9 GWdc through Q3. Texas is also leading the way with more solar and wind jobs than any other state, passing California and Florida in 2024.

U-Haul ranks D/FW metro No. 1 for one-way moves in 2024

Dallas/Fort Worth was the hottest place in the country for one-way moves last year. Austin ranked No. 5 among the top U.S. growth metros in 2024, and Houston ranked No. 9. Texas was the No. 2 state for move-ins — bested from the top spot after three consecutive years by South Carolina. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area was followed on the recent list by Charlotte, N.C., (No. 2); Phoenix (No. 3); and Lakeland, Fla. (No. 4).  Texas was the No. 2 state for move-ins but was beat out by South Carolina, which is having its best in-migration according to data released in January.

Eli Lilly announced in the winter quarter that it will invest $27 billion to add capacity through the building of four new manufacturing plants in the U.S. The company is responding to demand to its weight loss and diabetes injections which are soaring in sales. Eli Lilly operates several manufacturing plants in the South,The company is currently in negotiations with several states and welcomes additional interest in the four new plants with ones already underway in North Carolina. 

Duracell to relocate from Connecticut; invests $56 million into R&D center near Georgia Tech 

Chicago-based Duracell will invest $56 million into a new research and development headquarters in Atlanta. The company will place the new hub at Georgia Tech’s Science Square, creating 110 jobs. It's set to open in summer 2026 and will be part of the Science Square Labs. Duracell is relocating the R&D facility from Bethel, Conn., said a company spokesperson.

Jacksonville Jaguars break ground on $1.4 billion stadium redo

The home of the Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 Alltel Stadium Place began its $1.4 billion renovation in early January, a team spokesperson said. Current work includes driving test piles to ensure they’re strong enough to support the weight of loads. Such work was approved through a foundation permit in December.

Serioplast to open manufacturing site in Shenandoah County, Va. 

Serioplast, a global manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging, will invest $25,725,000 to occupy a 140,000-square-foot industrial facility in Shenandoah County. The company is headquartered in Seriate, Italy, and provides packaging for companies like Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser and more. The project will create 45 new jobs. 


Charms LLC to expand in Tipton County, Tenn. 

Charms will invest $97.7 million and create 62 new jobs to expand its manufacturing plant and distribution center near Memphis in Tipton County. Established in 1912, Charms is the manufacturer of Blow Pops™ and has been manufacturing candy in Covington since 1973. The company was acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries in 1988. Upon completion of the project, Charms will employ nearly 500 people in Tipton County.

West Star Aviation to expand in Hamilton County, Tenn. 

Norwegian outerwear manufacturer adding jobs at HQ in North Carolina

Helly Hansen, a Norwegian outerwear and workwear brand, is adding jobs in Greensboro, N.C., at Kontoor Brands’ headquarters there. There are a yet-to-be-known number of new jobs announced in the deal. 

Semiconductor supplier expanding in Texas

Korean semiconductor supplier Samsung Electronics is investing $110 million at its facility in Killeen, Texas. The deal will create 24 new jobs. 

Hendrick Motorsports expanding its racin’ HQ in North Carolina 

The NASCAR team is investing $65 million to expand its presence in Concord, N.C. No jobs reported. 

That clawback feeling

California company Smart Wires moved to North Carolina pledging 250 jobs. Now the state is pulling its incentives. North Carolina has terminated millions worth of incentives set for the cleantech company that moved its headquarters to Durham from California with plans to create hundreds of local jobs. In 2021, the company, which partners with electric utilities to help maximize grid capacity picked Durham over a competing site in Austin, Texas, for a new headquarters.

Federal government aviation partner Science and Engineering Services celebrates expansion in Huntsville

Key Tronic Corporation executes new lease to expand domestic operations in Arkansas

Key Tronic Corporation, a provider of electronic manufacturing services, is expanding its clean-tech manufacturing operations in Arkansas, establishing its flagship manufacturing and research and development location in Springdale. The company anticipates investing more than $28 million in the new facility and expects to create over 400 new jobs in the next five years.

Georgia-Pacific announces $90 million investment to grow consumer tissue business

Georgia-Pacific is investing $90 million at its Crossett, Ark., mill to continue growing its retail consumer tissue business. The investment at the Crossett mill will add 50 new jobs and will increase converting capacity for high quality bath tissue, including Georgia-Pacific’s valued Angel Soft brand. Initial production from this investment is expected in 2026. By the end of this project, Georgia-Pacific will have invested more than $250 million at Crossett since 2019.

Southeastern Timber Products is expanding its operations in Ackerman. The project represents a corporate investment of $123.4 million and will create 40 new jobs. Southeastern Timber Products is a family-owned-and-operated manufacturer of southern yellow pine lumber, timber and decking products. The company is expanding its Ackerman sawmill to increase production capacity from 120 million board feet per year to 300 million board feet per year. 

Yancey Engineered Solutions locating operations in Panola County, Miss.

Generator enclosure and fuel tank manufacturer Yancey Engineered Solutions, a division of Yancey Bros. Co., is locating operations in Batesville. The project is a $20.8 million investment and will create 250 jobs.

Compass Datacenters project generates $10 billion investment in Lauderdale County, Miss.

Dallas-based Compass Datacenters, a multinational data center developer, is locating its next hyperscale data center campus in Meridian. The campus will consist of eight data centers that will be constructed over an eight-year period. Upon occupancy, Compass Datacenters’ campus will represent an investment of $10 billion, including future tenants’ information technology equipment. The campus will also create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. Compass Datacenters builds single-tenant, hyperscale data center campuses. The large-scale campuses built by Compass are designed to last for more than 100 years and create economies of scale to support local businesses and jobs.

Stark Aerospace expanding in Columbus, Miss.

Global aerospace and defense company Stark Aerospace is expanding in Lowndes County, Miss., as it has won a new U.S. Navy contract. The deal will create 96 jobs. Investment totals were not available. 

Messer expands presence in the South with new air separation unit in Berryville, Ark. 

Messer, a leading industrial gases company, has announced a strategic investment of over $70 million to construct a state-of-the-art air separation unit (ASU) in Berryville, Ark. The new facility will address the growing demand for industrial gases in the southern part of the U.S., reinforcing Messer’s commitment to supporting expanding industries in the region. Messer’s site in Berryville will create quality career opportunities, will employ more than 20 people and provide temporary local jobs during the construction phase of the project. This new ASU will also complement the company’s existing facility in Lewisville, Ark., enhancing production capacity to meet the increasing demand for essential gases.

Longtime Birmingham manufacturer invests $45 million in neighboring Walker County, Ala.

Texas Biomedical Research Institute expanding in San Antonio

The Texas Biomedical Research Institute has launched a major expansion of its West San Antonio campus. The company is spending $210 million to expand its 200-acre campus where it does research and development. It is looking to leverage the gains made through its involvement in efforts to combat Covid-19 and other infectious diseases. The company is recruiting scientific talent at this time. 

Japanese prosthetic leg maker sets up U.S. headquarters in NOVA

BionicM, a Japanese developer of prosthetic devices that use humanoid robotics technologies, has announced its new U.S. headquarters in Loudoun County, Va 

Huntsville and other Southern markets rank at the top for Southern tech hubs

Huntsville, Washington, D.C.; Austin, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; Dallas and Huntsville round out the top five in the South in a report conducted and published by CommercialCafe. The five markets were ranked by measuring factors like tech job density, median earnings and quality of life. D.C. was named No. 1. 

Steelmaker ArcelorMittal is planning a $1.2 billion expansion near AM/NS Calvert in Mobile County, Ala. 

A European steel manufacturer announced it is proceeding with plans to build a $1.2 billion advanced, non-grain-oriented electrical steel plant in Mobile County. Construction is expected to begin later this year. The deal will create 200 full-time jobs and an estimated 1,300 construction jobs. 

 Amazon workers reject union in vote at North Carolina warehouse

L3Harris Technologies marked the beginning of construction on four new solid rocket motor production facilities at the company’s Camden site, hosting Department of Defense officials, industry customers and state and local dignitaries at a ceremony in the winter quarter. The expansion is part of a $215.6 million cooperative agreement with the Defense Department’s Defense Production Act. The new facilities will incorporate modern equipment and processes.

Key Tronic Corporation executes new lease to expand domestic operations in Arkansas

Key Tronic Corporation, a provider of electronic manufacturing services, is expanding its clean-tech manufacturing operations in Arkansas, establishing its flagship manufacturing and research and development location in Springdale. The company anticipates investing more than $28 million in the new facility and expects to create over 400 new jobs in the next five years.

ROCKWOOL expanding operations in Marshall County, Miss.

ROCKWOOL is expanding its operations in Marshall County. The project represents a corporate investment of more than $100 million and will create approximately 30 new jobs. ROCKWOOL, the world’s leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly stone wool insulation, has been operating in North America for over 35 years. The company’s Marshall County facility, which has been in operation since 2014, produces a range of residential, commercial, industrial and roofing stone wool insulation.

MetOx International to create 333 jobs in Chatham County, N.C. 

Eastern Engineered Wood Products selects Anderson County, S.C.