March 2020

United Plastics expands Houston plant

Texas-based United Plastics Group has expanded its Houston plant’s manufacturing and assembly space. The nearly 17,000-square-foot expansion added about 25 jobs to the area in the last six months.

 

Auburn, Ala., auto supplier plans $24 million expansion

Germany-based wheel manufacturer Borbet Alabama is planning a $23.9 million expansion of its Auburn operation, creating 25 jobs over the next two years. The company makes light metal alloy wheels for the automotive industry.

 

Health-tech company to create 400 jobs in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Startup healthcare technology company Well will build its operations center in Chapel Hill, and will invest $3 million in Orange County, aiming to create at least 400 jobs. Well was incorporated in January 2019 and will primarily offer an app allowing customers to track health goals and navigate health care.

 

Missouri’s DRE Health o manufacture face masks

DRE Health Corporation, a Kansas City, Missouri-based manufacturer of medical supplies, plans to build a manufacturing plant for disposable gloves and disposable face masks in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. The project is expected to add several hundred jobs and cost upward of $40 million.

 

Radiopharmaceutical companies plan production complex in Hickory, N.C.

Isotopen Technologien München AG (ITM), a group of radiopharmaceutical companies, plans to construct a manufacturing facility in southeast Hickory, N.C., to produce a new generation of targeted drugs for the treatment of cancer. ITM plans to create 137 jobs and invest $12 million in machinery and equipment. An additional $5 million will be invested in new facility construction there.

 

Another tech company is moving from California to North Texas

Dasan Zhone Solutions (DZS), a provider of technology to the telecommunications industry, will be shifting its headquarters from Oakland to Plano. DZS, which has more than 700 employees, will keep a presence in the Silicon Valley.

 

Allegiant investing $50 million to establish base at Concord, N.C.’s airport

Allegiant Travel Company announced plans to establish a base of operations at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport. The Las Vegas-based company will invest $50 million, creating at least 66 high-wage jobs.

 

Citibank plans 500 high-tech hires in Brandon, Fla.

Citibank has plans to hire 500 high-tech, high-growth jobs by the end of 2020 in the Tampa Bay area. The jobs will be roughly two-thirds technology-focused and one-third operational, including data engineers, software engineers and business and data analysts.

 

Packaging manufacturer expands in Glasgow, Ky.

AtCorr Packaging Products, a manufacturer of corrugated shipping products, will invest $780,000 to expand production in Barren County, Ky. The company plans to hire 31 full-time associates.

 

Crown Holdings begins construction in Bowling Green, Ky.

Philadelphia-based Crown Holdings has begun construction on a 327,000-square-foot beverage-can manufacturing facility, costing nearly $150 million, at Kentucky Transpark in Bowling Green. The company plans to hire 126 in Warren County for a spring 2021 opening.

 

Recycled pulp facility coming to Chesapeake, Va.

Total Fiber Recovery will invest $49 million to establish its first recycled pulp production facility in Chesapeake, Va. The company plans to create 68 new jobs to process mixed paper and other recycled fiber from the region’s materials recovery facilities. The pulp product created will be transported to paper plants to become new products.

 

Thnks relocates HQ to Williamson County, Tenn.

Thnks will relocate its corporate headquarters from New York City to Williamson County, creating 50 jobs over the next three years. Thnks provides a digital platform that enables users to send gestures of appreciation to improve client relationships, such as coffee for a busy week or a rideshare on a rainy day.

 

Printing facility reopens in Henrico County, Va.

Tulsa, Okla.-based Moore DM Group will invest more than $31 million to establish Richmond Print Group in the former Colortree Group printing facility in Henrico County, Va., creating 239 new jobs. The company will prioritize hiring employees who lost their jobs by the closure of Colortree last year. While the operation will focus on technology and printing, it will also manufacture envelopes used for direct mail.

 

Volkswagen Chattanooga ramps up hiring

Volkswagen Chattanooga announced its goal of hiring up to 600 production employees over the next three months. “As we continue to grow our Tennessee operations as Volkswagen’s North American hub for electric vehicle manufacturing, we must also grow our team,” said Tom du Plessis, president and CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga.

 

Amazon now hiring 1,500 in Bessemer, Ala.

Amazon is now hiring for 1,500 full-time positions at its new fulfillment center in Bessemer. The 850,000-square-foot fulfillment center, which was the largest economic development project announced in Birmingham over the past decade, represented a $325 million investment for the online retail giant and received a heavy dose of incentives.

 

American Airlines makes a huge investment in Oklahoma

Fort Worth-based American Airlines is making a $550 million investment in its Tech Ops maintenance complex in Tulsa, Okla. – the largest investment the company has ever made in a maintenance facility. The project is also the largest capital investment in Tulsa’s history, said Mayor G.T. Bynum.

 

Hundreds of new jobs for Mississippi Delta

Jobs opportunities are coming to Clarksdale, Miss., with the opening of the Robotics Process Automation Center of Excellence. Employees at the center will program computers to do tasks such as payroll, documentation and banking. The center will create over 200 jobs for the area.

 

$150 million lumber plant hiring in Georgia

The $150 million, 320,000-square-foot Georgia Pacific lumber plant in Dougherty County is almost fully operational. The plant is looking to hire about 40 new employees.

 

Auburn, Ala., expanding manufacturing industries

Auburn is expanding due to two industrial expansions that will invest $28.9 million into the community and create 20 job opportunities. Lottee Chemical Alabama manufactures polypropylene resin material for cars and homes. This is the company’s second major expansion. Aptar CPS Technologies is a material science company that creates packing solutions to protect products.

 

Fiberglass manufacturer adding jobs in North Carolina expansion

A Germany-based fiberglass manufacturer is expanding its operations in Huntersville, N.C., with plans to build a manufacturing facility there. Saertex multiCom will invest $24.8 million in a new, 105,000-square-foot fiberglass and carbon-liner plant, adding 45 jobs while retaining 34 employees from its existing facility.

 

Eastman coating Martinsville, Va., with growth and jobs

Investing more than $50 million in the Martinsville area over the past eight years, Eastman Chemical Company, headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., has continued to solidify its claims as a leading manufacturer of high-performance window tint and paint protection film for automotive applications and window film for residential and commercial applications. The company’s recently announced move to the former Stanley Furniture building was one of the largest expansions the Martinsville area experienced in 2019.

 

Envision Modular invests $25.1 million to expand in Hawesville, Ky.

Envision Modular, which manufactures prefabricated modular buildings, will invest $25.1 million to refurbish the 200,000-square-foot former Alcoa building in Hancock County Industrial Park and expand operations in Hawesville. The company plans to hire 85 full-time associates.

 

Logistics company adding 300 jobs in Tennessee

CEVA Logistics, which operates multiple fulfillment centers in Wilson County, Tenn., projects adding 300 more jobs in the next 18 months. The French-owned company already employs a workforce of about 1,200 there in Mt. Juliet and Lebanon.

 

New customs facility in Hendry County, Fla., to bring 1,700 jobs

A new state-of-the-art customs and border protection facility will be built at Airglades International Airport, 100 miles north of Miami, to help with trade (especially perishable imports like fruits, vegetables and fish) between the U.S. and Latin America. The $2.1 million facility is expected to create 1,700 long-term jobs in Hendry County.

 

Steel maker hosting jobs fair in Hammond, La.

Southland Steel Fabricators is hosting a job fair in Hammond alongside the Louisiana Economic Development department as it aims to hire 70 new workers in the coming months. The company needs welders and fitters.

 

Toyota Financial Services opens hub in Georgia

Toyota Financial Services -- the finance and insurance brand for Toyota in the United States -- will open a new office in Alpharetta and become one of three “hub” locations for the company that support automotive dealers across the nation. The investment of more than $8 million will bring 150 new jobs to Fulton County.

 

Freshpet to manufacture in Texas

New Jersey-based Freshpet will build a pet food manufacturing facility in Ennis, Texas. The new facility will create 427 jobs and more than $264 million in capital investment. As an incentive, the company will receive a Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $2,138,000.

 

Shady Rays to hire 38 in Shelby County, Ky.

A sunglasses maker headquartered in Simpsonville, Ky., that operates under the name Shady Rays, plans to hire 38 full-time positions with a $400,000 expansion at its office and distribution center there.

 

Explosives company expanding in Tennessee

Accurate Energetic Systems, a company that manufactures a wide range of explosives for the defense, aerospace and other industries, will invest approximately $9.7 million to modernize and expand its operations in McEwen, Tenn. The project is expected to create 80 jobs.

 

Another biopharma expansion for North Carolina

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies has broken ground on a $54 million expansion of its bio-manufacturing facilities in Morrisville. The investment is part of a $90 million Fujifilm Corporation commitment to meet growing customer demand for biopharmaceuticals.

 

Chemical company to expand in Livingston Parish, La.

Specialty chemical manufacturer Bercen Chemicals plans to invest another $10 million for an expansion in Denham Springs, La. Several weeks ago, Bercen was acquired by Indianapolis-based Vertellus, which makes the mosquito repellant known as DEET.

The project will add eight jobs.

 

Therachem expanding footprint in Chelsea, Ala.

Therachem Research Medilab will be expanding with a second location in Chelsea, Ala.

The global service provider for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies will create 20 new full-time jobs with an average annual salary of $70,000. The project will see an investment of $5 million.

 

Big fishery gets bigger in Florida

Atlantic Sapphire plans to make a $340 million investment to build a 1.1-million-square-foot fish processing plant in Miami, retaining 54 workers and creating 237 new jobs. The new facility would be in addition to the company’s salmon recirculating aquaculture system facility there, which is one of the largest aquaculture farms planned in the world.

 

Hart County, Ky., food plant to invest $92.8 million

Salad dressing maker, T. Marzetti Co., plans to expand its Hart County plant with a $92.8 million investment creating up to 140 full-time jobs.

 

Engineering firm creating 83 jobs in Kenton County, Ky.

Technology engineering firm STEP CG plans to expand its headquarters in Kenton County into new office space, creating at least 83 high-wage jobs. The company plans to

invest nearly $5.3 million in the project.

 

IT firm establishing new HQ in Covington, Ky.

Pennsylvania-based Gentis Solutions plans to establish its new corporate headquarters in Covington and create 80 jobs in the process.

 

SimpliSafe creating 572 new jobs in Virginia

Boston-based SimpliSafe, a producer of home security systems, will invest $5.5 million to establish a customer support operation in Henrico County, Va. The project will create 572 new jobs.

 

Collins Aerospace Systems landing all over the South

Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp., announced plans to lease a new $10.6 million facility on Jacksonville Fla.’s Northside and add more than 100 jobs to manufacture polymer components for military customers. Collins also expects to create 40 new jobs as it expands its landing systems operations in Haltom City near Dallas-Fort Worth. That facility will perform wheel and brake maintenance, repair and overhaul operations and landing gear assembly. The company will close its existing landing gear facility in Fort Worth in March.

 

Publix building distribution center in Greensboro, N.C.

Publix Super Markets has broken ground on a new refrigerated distribution center in Greensboro, N.C. The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer said the Greensboro facility is expected to cost $400 million and create up to 1,000 jobs.

 

N3 adding 80 jobs in Charleston, W.Va.

N3, a company that assists businesses in maximizing online sales and marketing, is adding 80 new jobs in Charleston to support continued growth from top tier clients such as Microsoft, IBM and Cisco.

 

Halter Marine’s $10 million expansion to create 100 jobs in Pascagoula, Miss.

Ship maintenance and repair company ST Engineering Halter Marine and Offshore  (STEHMO), is expanding in Pascagoula. The $10 million corporate investment will create 100 jobs. The expansion will enable the company to perform new commercial repair work for larger ships and oil platforms.

 

Thirty jobs headed to Brookhaven, Miss.

Iowa-based Keystone Electrical Manufacturing is expanding to Brookhaven, investing $4 million and creating 30 jobs, with hiring to start the first week of March. Brookhaven is a small city in Lincoln County, Miss.

 

Lubbock, Texas, announces 302 new jobs

The Lubbock Economic Development Alliance recently announced the expansion of two businesses, adding more than 300 jobs and $5 million in capital investment to the local economy. AT&T is bolstering its local call center and will add 300 new jobs. Corteva Agriscience, an agricultural chemical and seed company, will expand its North Lubbock location for a seed research center, investing $5 million and adding two new jobs.

 

Google to invest $10 billion in 2020

Google has announced its 2020 expansion plans, which will build its footprint in 11 US states. The company has pledged to invest “more than $10 billion” in offices and data centers in Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, California and Colorado.

 

James City County, Va., announces 180 jobs, $77.5 million investment

James City County has announced that condensing tech company, Navien, will establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility for water heaters and boilers at the former Lumber Liquidators facility there. The company will invest $77.5 million and hire 180 people.

 

Progressive on hiring spree in Florida

Ohio-based Progressive Insurance has announced plans to hire up to 8,000 employees this year across the U.S. One thousand of those are planned for Tampa, and another 270 are expected to be hired in St. Petersburg.

 

Ten million dollar investment coming to Greenville, S.C.

Germany-based abat AG and sister company Adah International announced new operations in Greenville County. Their $10 million investment is expected to create 35 new jobs. Abat markets software solutions to commercial customers.

 

Jetstream adding 103 jobs in North Carolina

Aircraft maintenance and refurbishment company, Jetstream Aviations, in Kinston expects to create 103 jobs over two years. Gov. Roy Cooper announced Feb. 25, that the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved a grant to increase water pressure to meet the fire suppression needs for the Jetstream facility at the Global TransPark, which led to the increased hiring.

 

Gulfstream investing $35 million in Texas expansion

Business jet maker Gulfstream plans to build a $35 million maintenance facility at Alliance Airport in Denton County, adding 50 new jobs and stealing another 150 to 200 people from its Dallas Love Field operation. The service center will perform maintenance on Gulfstream’s fleet of business jets.

 

Amazon eyes fulfillment center in Prince George County, Va.

Amazon is expanding its operations in Virginia with plans to open a new fulfillment center in Prince George County. The online retailer is leasing a former Ace Hardware warehouse to serve as a fulfillment center for the company’s Amazon Basics line of products. The center is expected to employ 150 people, adding to Amazon’s current workforce of more than 10,000 full-time employees in Virginia.

 

Mannington Mills investing $22 million in Calhoun, Ga.

Due to increased customer demand for domestically produced luxury vinyl flooring, manufacturer Mannington Mills will invest $22 million to expand in Gordon County. The company purchased a 10.5 acre site in Calhoun and plans to create 268 jobs.

 

Premier Automation locates facility in Alpharetta, Ga.

Premier Automation, a leader in industrial automation and robotics solutions, is expanding operations into Forsyth County. The company worked with local and state officials for nearly a year before finalizing the purchase of a new building and 6.5 acres of property north of Atlanta.

 

Niagara bottling plans complex in Florence, S.C.

Niagara Bottling, which manufactures a variety of bottled water and beverage products, plans to establish a production campus at Pee Dee Touchstone Energy Commerce Park in Florence. The company will invest more than $70 million to construct a facility that is expected to create 70 jobs over the next five years.

 

Atlantic Casualty Insurance expands HQ in Goldsboro, N.C.

Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company, a provider of commercial insurance products, will expand its existing Wayne County headquarters with an investment of more than $11.8 million. The company plans to create 83 jobs.

 

Sonic Automotive to locate regional HQ in Gwinnett County, Ga.

Sonic Automotive, a Fortune 500 Company and one of the largest retailers of new and pre-owned vehicles in the United States, will locate a dealership and regional headquarters for EchoPark Automotive in Duluth, creating 130 new jobs and investing $20 million in the project.

 

New coal mine coming to Tuscaloosa County, Ala.

A new coal mine to be built in northern Tuscaloosa County will bring 350 high-paying jobs (starting salary is $85,000 a year). The underground coal mine will be built by Warrior Met Coal, which will invest $578 million.

 

“Game-Changer”: 100 new jobs in Webster Parish, La.

Canadian manufacturer E.I. Williams Industries will create 100 new jobs in Sarepta, La. The company will locate in an existing building and invest $700,000 to manufacture industrial sound control equipment. "One hundred jobs in a rural area really moves the needle," North Louisiana Economic Partnership President Scott Martinez told USA Today Network. "It's a game-changer."

 

Macy’s to open tech hub in Atlanta

Macy's will open a tech hub in Midtown Atlanta, adding 600-plus jobs, making it one of the first tenants of a newly constructed $80 million building called T3 West Midtown building. Macy's confirmed it will invest $14 million on the technology hub there that will employ 630. Most of the jobs will be in software development.

 

Texas A&M announces $550 million medical complex

The Texas A&M University System will build a $550 million complex in the Texas Medical Center. The development will include two new towers and one renovated building.

 

Plumrose USA to expand in Missouri

Plumrose USA, a prepared foods and packaged meat company, is planning to build a new bacon facility in Moberly, Mo. The facility in Randolph County is expected to bring nearly 200 new jobs to the region and represents more than $68 million in capital investment.

 

Update on Amazon HQ2

Amazon says it has more than 600 employees at its second headquarters in Crystal City, Va., — a fairly significant jump considering there were 400 employees there as of late December. There are currently nearly 550 job openings for Arlington on the company’s listing page. An Amazon spokesperson said the company began hiring for HQ2 ahead of schedule in April 2019.

 

Louisiana textile mill hiring hundreds more than expected

Louisiana-based Vidalia Mills is now turning over a limited amount of product and plans to ramp up production in the near future. However, the mill, which is located in Vidalia, La., just across the Mississippi River from Natchez, Miss., will require more employees than originally planned. Initial projection was 300 hires, the number has grown to nearly 500.

 

Gene therapy company investing $100 million in Sanford, N.C., creating 200 jobs

Audentes Therapeutics, a genetic medicines company, will create 209 new jobs in Lee County, investing $109 million to locate a manufacturing facility there. The primary focus of the company is rare neuromuscular diseases.

 

Nebraska Plastics expands North Carolina plant

Nebraska Plastics, a vinyl fence manufacturer, will invest more than $1 million to develop a manufacturing facility in Edenton, N.C. The company plans to hire 22 new associates in Chowan County.

 

Cybersecurity  company opening HQ in Virginia

GRIMM, a cybersecurity engineering and consulting firm, will invest $435,000 to expand and establish a corporate headquarters operation in Stafford County, Va. The company is expected to create 23 new jobs.

 

Window film maker opens $40 million HQ in Florida

Madico, previously headquartered in Massachusetts, has opened its new location in Pinellas, which consolidates the company’s existing offices in St. Petersburg, Fla., and Massachusetts. Madico has invested $40 million into the Florida site where it employs more than 200 people.

 

Electrical supplier opens massive facility in Florida

Lighting and electrical supplier TAMCO Group recently opened its new fulfillment and manufacturing facility in Port St. Lucie, consolidating its operations from across five locations. The company said the new building’s footprint spans nearly nine acres under one roof, or the equivalent of more than 6.5 football fields. Over 200 people are currently employed there.

 

Concrete manufacturer to locate new facility in North Carolina

In Edgecombe County, Armorock will establish a new manufacturing facility for its polymer concrete structures. The company will invest $6.6 million in the facility in Battleboro and create 55 jobs. Armorock has produced wastewater collection structures for more than 50 years. 

 

Ynot Italian plans corporate HQ in Virginia Beach

An Italian restaurant that currently employs about 450 people in Hampton Roads will be the owner and anchor at a new Virginia Beach office building. The headquarters will consolidate Ynot’s scattered office locations and act as a home base for the restaurant’s franchising and expansion plans. Around 15 to 20 people will work there.

 

Nucor considering $300 million expansion of South Carolina operation

Nucor is considering a $300 million expansion of its Berkeley County, S.C., steel operations as part of a multi-billion-dollar capital spending plan. Berkeley County has given initial approval for tax breaks for the expansion.

 

Metal fabricator expands in Mount Croghan, S.C.

Douglas Machine Shop, a custom metal fabricator, plans to invest more than $2.5 million to expand its current operations in Mount Croghan. The expansion will add 8,000 square feet to the company’s existing building to increase manufacturing capabilities.

 

Universal Orlando to add 1,500 jobs

Universal Orlando Resort is kicking off another major hiring boom for some leadership positions, in addition to seeking to fill full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs. The theme park company, owned and operated by Philadelphia-based Comcast, will be filling up to 1,500 jobs. When the company’s Epic Universe theme park opens in 2023, another 14,000 new jobs will be created.

 

Healthcare IT firm expands in Tampa

Avalon Healthcare Solutions, a healthcare information technology company focused on medical benefit management, is expanding its corporate office in Tampa, Fla., creating 40 new positions.

 

Dormant ethane cracker near Lake Charles, La., restarts after $175 million investment

An ethane cracker in Calcasieu Parish that had been shuttered for nearly two decades was renovated and has been restarted. In 2015, Thailand-based Indorama Ventures struck a deal with then-Governor Bobby Jindal’s administration for economic incentives in exchange for a $175 million investment. Indorama sought to take advantage of cheap natural gas as a feedstock and power supply coming from the Permian Basin in west Texas.

 

Tech firm hiring 160 in Lafayette, La.

Canadian technology firm CGI is looking to fill 160 new jobs for its Louisiana operations. The technology industry continues to grow in Lafayette despite recent struggles at Waitr, the restaurant delivery company headquartered there that’s had three rounds of layoffs in the past year.

 

Jax gets $93 million for port deepening

Jacksonville’s deepening of the St. Johns River is in line for an additional $93 million from the federal government. JaxPort called it a “milestone” for the $484 million project that will deepen 11 miles of river from a depth of 40 feet down to 47 feet.

 

Auto supplier announces $58 million expansion in Anderson, S.C.

NTN Driveshaft has announced a $58 million expansion and the addition of 140 new employees at its facility in Anderson. The company, headquartered in Japan, first announced the construction of a new plant in Anderson in 2016 with an initial investment of $84.5 million and the creation of 300 jobs.

 

Major shipping hub eyes DFW Airport location

One of the country’s biggest mattress firms — Kentucky-based Tempur Sealy — is taking a big block of space near the south end of DFW Airport. No word yet on projected hires for the 585,000-square-foot distribution hub in Irving.

 

Misfits Gaming Group relocating HQ to Palm Beach County, Fla.

Misfits Gaming Group is investing more than $1.35 million to relocate its corporate headquarters to Boca Raton. The e-sports and gaming leader in the information technology industry will create 30 new jobs with average salaries of $95,500.

 

New distillery headed for Lexington, Ky.

Fresh Bourbon Distilling plans to construct a new distillery and create about 25 jobs in Lexington. The company will construct a 34,000-square-foot distillery near Lexington’s Distillery District to produce the company’s new line of bourbons and other whiskeys, as well as host tours and guided tastings.

 

Food distribution facility coming to Hammond, La.

Scariano Wholesale Foods plans a $10 million expansion of its distribution facility near Hammond, La. The family owned company specializes in the delivery of protein products, including pork, beef, poultry, seafood and more.

 

Manufacturer expands Kentucky plant

Logan Corporation, a dump truck bed manufacturer, will expand its plant in Salyersville, Ky. The company plans to invest $1.2 million.

 

Houston company to build segment of NASA Space Station

NASA has selected Houston-based Axiom Space to build a privately funded platform that will attach to the International Space Station. Axiom is partnering with Boeing and other contractors on the project that could cost $2 billion and create approximately 1,000 jobs.

 

ePac Flexible Packaging to open plant in Henrico County, Va.

ePac Flexible Packaging is spending $6.5 million to open a production site in Henrico County, creating 35 jobs. ePac makes digitally printed flexible packaging for bakery products, frozen foods and beauty products to name a few.

Aetna filling 380 new jobs in Highpoint, N.C.

Health insurer Aetna is solidifying its status as one of High Point’s largest employers through an ongoing expansion that will create at least 380 jobs by the end of the year. Hiring has been steady as the company has expanded its footprint to encompass 142,000 square feet.

 

Small town in South Carolina may get $1.5 billion plant and 1,000 jobs

The small town of Lane in Williamsburg County, S.C., may soon have a new CETS Waste-to-Energy recycling plant. It is expected to cost $1.5 billion, and the initial construction would employ more than 1,000 people. Following a visit from CETS, the Mayor of Lane says they are planning for the largest thing to ever come to their town, and something they expect will give the town a much needed economic boost.

 

New industry for Walterboro, S.C.

Wayne Brothers Companies of Davidson, N.C., will open a facility in Walterboro, S.C., creating 75 jobs. The concrete construction company will locate a new regional operations center in Walterboro, as part of a long-term plan to support growing businesses in South Carolina and Georgia. Wayne Brothers will invest $7 million and create 75 jobs.

 

U.S. Space and Rocket Center hiring in Huntsville, Ala.

Between now and May, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center says it will hire 400 to 500 people for full-time and part-time jobs currently available.

 

AI company opens U.S. headquarters in Fairfax County, Va.

Based in Belgium, Omina Technologies, a company focused on artificial intelligence, has opened its first U.S. headquarters in Tysons. “The decision to expand our presence into Washington’s high-tech corridor was a logical step in our business growth strategy,” said Brian Alexander, Omina Technologies’ CEO North America. Omina Technologies also has an office in Miami.

 

Dallas-Fort Worth led the nation's MSAs in job creation in 2019

The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area led the nation in job creation among the U.S.'s MSAs in calendar year 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. New, relocating and expanding businesses created 127,600 jobs in DFW in 2019, besting New York and Los Angeles, both of which created nearly 100,000 jobs. Job growth in DFW was 3.4 percent in 2019. That total ranked third nationally, behind Raleigh, N.C. (3.7 percent) and Austin (3.5 percent) in markets of 1 million or more people. 

 

Forbes cites Opportunity Alabama

In the winter quarter, Forbes magazine cited the Birmingham-based nonprofit, Opportunity Alabama, as the best opportunity zone community organization for rural communities. Forbes recognized 10 opportunity zone community organizations that show how OZ policy can be used as an economic tool.

 

Louisiana ports suffer in age of trade wars

Louisiana's biggest ports saw falling shipments of steel, petrochemicals and other commodities in the second half of 2019. Cargo volumes at the Port of New Orleans fell 25 percent in the last six months of last year and the much larger Port of South Louisiana saw a 15 percent drop in total cargo.

 

Seaboard's hog slaughtering plant in Oklahoma to add jobs

Guymon, Okla.'s Seaboard hog processing plant is undergoing a $100 million expansion. The 1,500-employee plant will add 200 jobs.

 

Spirit Airlines to bring 345 jobs to Tennessee

Spirit Airlines is locating an operations control center to Williamson County, Tenn. About 240 jobs will be relocations from Florida and the company will add 100 local hires. The project calls for an $11 million investment.

 

Korean battery maker begins hiring of 2,000 in Georgia

SK Battery, a South Korean maker of lithium batteries, has started hiring for its new plant in Jackson County, Ga. The company is expected to hire 2,000 workers.

 

Amazon expanding footprint in Texas

Amazon has announced it will locate a 1 million-square-foot warehouse in Irving, Texas, near DFW International Airport. The e-commerce giant will hire 1,000 for the warehouse that was built in 2018 on a speculative basis. The space is being retrofitted for about $53 million and could be completed by August. Amazon is also expanding in Far East Dallas with a lease to occupy the Eastpoint Distribution Center next to Union Pacific Railway’s intermodal yard. The building was occupied by Shippers Warehouse, which vacated the property last summer.

 

Blue Ridge Optics expanding in Virginia

Blue Ridge Optics — a producer of high tech optic lenses used in aerospace engineering, medicine and surveillance — plans to expand its business and create additional jobs. The company will invest $695,000 in new equipment and upgrades at its facility in Bedford, Va., which will lead to the creation of 10 new positions.

 

Missouiri’s medical marijuana facilities to fill thousands of jobs

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has approved 60 medical marijuana cultivation sites and 192 dispensary locations. According to the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association, they predict the industry will create 4,000 jobs and generate an economic impact of $500 million on the state's economy.

 

Autozone readies for downtown Memphis expansion

A building permit was just filed for AutoZone’s previously announced $145 million downtown digital expansion project. In addition to work at AutoZone’s headquarters, the expansion will also include two other buildings in Memphis, Tenn. In total, the project is expected to create 130 jobs.

 

Technology company hiring in South Florida

Accelirate, an automation and robotics firm, is expanding its headquarters in Sunrise, Fla. The company is adding about 120 jobs.

 

New corps headquarters slated for Fort Knox, Ky.

The Department of the Army has selected Fort Knox, Ky. to be the home of the headquarters of the Fifth Corps. The new headquarters will support U.S. forces and operations in Europe. The move will bring 635 soldiers to Fort Knox.

 

Cabinet maker to open plant in South Carolina

Prodigy Cabinetry, a maker of European-styled wooden cabinets, is investing $2.5 million in a new plant in Greenville, S.C. The plant will house 80 workers.

 

GEICO adding jobs in Georgia

Insurance provider GEICO is adding jobs at its Macon campus. The company is hiring 500 workers.

 

Manufacturer to expand in St. Tammany Parish, La.

Allpax Products, a maker of food and pharmaceutical equipment, is expanding its facilities in St. Tammany Parish, La. The company is investing $7 million to add 80,000 square feet of space.

 

Malaysian manufacturer to open plant in South Carolina

Scientex Packaging Film, a manufacturer of stretch film, is investing $43 million in a new plant in Lancaster County, S.C. The company, which exports to over 60 countries, is hiring 69 in the deal.

 

Manufacturer to expand in Nashville

Genesco, a manufacturer of footwear, accessories and apparel, is investing $31 million to expand in Nashville. The company is adding 60 jobs.

 

Tool manufacturer to locate another distribution center in North Mississippi

Milwaukee Tool is opening its third distribution center in Olive Branch, Miss. The $8.7 million project will create 100 jobs.

 

Continental to invest $100 million in Texas

Michigan-based Continental, an automotive parts manufacturer, is investing $100 million in a new plant in New Braunfels, Texas. The project will retain 400 jobs and create 130 more. The company will make radar sensors for the automotive industry at the new facility.

 

Georgia sets another export record

Even though its exports to China were down 21 percent, Georgia set a new record of $41.2 billion in exports in calendar year 2019. Georgia's imports from China as a result of the tariffs dropped by 17 percent to $19.8 billion.

 

Corpus Christi port gets $100 million

The Port of Corpus Christi, the largest single site for crude oil exports, had $100 million set aside in President Trump's 2021 budget for improvements at the port. It is the third consecutive year that the Port of Corpus Christi has been included in the President's proposed budget.

 

Verizon to invest $285 million in new Texas project

Verizon announced in the winter quarter it will invest $285 million in a new project in Las Colinas, Texas. The expansion will cover 2.3 million square feet of high-rise office buildings. The campus will have parking for 3,600 spaces, meaning the job count for the project would be in the thousands.

 

Company relocates to Charlotte

Glatfelter, a manufacturer of engineered products is relocating its headquarters from York, Pa. to Charlotte. Of the 70 employees at its Pennsylvania headquarters, about 50 or 60 are expected to relocate to Charlotte.

 

Port of Mobile to receive hundreds of millions to dredge channel

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has allocated $274.3 million to deepen the Port of Mobile for fiscal year 2020. The funding is the federal government's full share to widen and deepen the navigation channel.

 

Truck manufacturer breaks ground on Alabama expansion

Navistar broke ground on an expansion of its plant in Huntsville in the winter quarter. The company assembles commercial trucks and buses. The deal is expected to result in 145 new jobs, doubling the plant’s current workforce.

 

Sherwin-Williams to keep HQ in Cleveland, Ohio

Sherwin-Williams will keep its headquarters in Cleveland, where it has been for more than 100 years. The company had done site searches to relocate its headquarters to either Atlanta, Dallas or Charlotte. Sherwin-Williams employs about 3,000 at its headquarters in Cleveland.

 

Atlanta airport $82 billion in economic impact

Hartsfield-Jackson International, the world's busiest airport, had an economic impact of $82 billion in 2019. More than 63,000, including concession workers, customer service agents, flight attendants, pilots and contractors are employed at the facility.

 

Port of Savannah expanding

The Port of Savannah is set to expand by more than 145 acres, executive director Grill Lynch announced in February. The container terminal space expansion is the largest in more than 20 years.

 

Logistics company adding jobs in Arkansas

Priority1, a third-party logistics services company, is adding 100 jobs in Little Rock. The company is also adding 100 more jobs nationwide.

 

Bakery undergoes multi-million expansion in rural Virginia

Empire Bakery, which makes cakes and desserts for stores like Kroger, is expanding in Franklin County, Va. The company is hiring dozens of new employees and investing $10 million in its bakery in Rocky Mount, Va.

 

Healthcare manufacturer expanding in Asheville, N.C.

Nypro, a maker of precision plastic products for the healthcare industry, is investing $18.5 million to expand operations in Asheville, N.C. The expansion in new technology and equipment will result in adding 68 new positions to a workforce that is currently 325.

 

Truck manufacturer to expand in rural Virginia

Custom Truck One Source, a manufacturer of specialized truck and heavy equipment, is investing $2.6 million to expand its operations in Bedford County, Va. The project will create 61 jobs.

 

Machining company expands in South Carolina

National Machining & Fabrication, a fabricator, retrofitter and welding company, is investing $4.2 million in its plant in York County, S.C. The project will create 40 new jobs. 

 

Intermodal firm moving HQ to Collierville, Tenn.

IMC, the largest intermodal firm in the Memphis area, is relocating its headquarters from Memphis to nearby Collierville, Tenn. The company is planning to build a 75,000-square-foot headquarters at Collierville's Schilling Farms. Over 150 workers will relocate to the new facility and the company will add 18 more.

 

Big expansion for Conagra in Jackson, Tenn.

Conagra Brands will invest $106 million to expand its food plant in Jackson, Tenn. The company is adding Tennessee Pride sausage and Sandwich Brothers of Wisconsin to the foods made at the Jackson Pinnacle Foods plant. The project will create 400 new jobs.

 

Florida-based pet products giant is setting up big call center in Texas

Florida-based Chewy Inc., is adding to its North Texas facilities in Richardson. The company is hiring 700 for the call center to handle customer service and order calls.

 

Bedding manufacturer expanding in Mississippi

Innocor, a bedding manufacturer, is investing $4.1 million to add a second line to its plant in Baldwyn, Miss. The project will create 90 jobs.

 

Waste handling equipment manufacturer adding jobs in Kentucky

Wastequip, a manufacturer of waste handling equipment, will locate a new $7.28 million distribution center in Mount Sterling, Ky. The deal will create 100 full-time jobs.

 

Newell Brands expanding in Tennessee

Atlanta-based Newell Brands, a consumer goods company, is investing $11 million to expand its campus in Shelbyville, Tenn. The company plans to add 115 workers. Newell Brands is a leading manufacturer and distributor of consumer goods including appliances and cookware, writing products, home fragrance and more.

 

Auto supplier to create more than 300 jobs in Tennessee

Adient, a manufacturer of automotive seating, is investing $23.5 million in its facility in Lexington, Tenn. The Michigan-based company will create 330 jobs in the deal.

 

South Carolina town puts moratorium on growth

Lake Wylie, S.C., a lakefront suburb of Charlotte, N.C., has seen its population triple since 2000 to 12,000. It has seen its schools fill up and the water system sometimes fails under increased demand. Commutes to and from Charlotte, which is 27 miles away, can take up to 90 minutes. Now the town wants to stop its growth.The York County Council has put a 16-month moratorium on commercial and residential rezoning requests and has ended any new apartment complexes.

 

Mack Trucks to open new Virginia facility

Mack Trucks will assemble a new line of medium-duty trucks in Roanoke County, Va. The company, a Volvo subsidiary, announced in the winter it will invest $13 million to open the new plant. The deal will create 250 jobs.

 

Manufacturer to set up new plant in coastal South Carolina

GreenCore Materials, a manufacturer of composite materials used to strengthen plastic, announced it was opening a new plant in Georgetown, S.C. The $10 million plant will house 74 workers.

 

Cybersecurity firm adding dozens of jobs in Virginia

Expel Inc., a Herndon, Va-based cybersecurity firm, is launching a $1.4 million expansion. The company is hiring an additional 164 workers.

 

Spain-based olive oil manufacturer to invest in its first U.S. operation

Acesur, an international olive oil manufacturer, will place its first U.S. production operation in Suffolk, Va. The new facility will process olive oil from products imported from Argentina, Australia and Spain. The $11 million plant will house 29 workers.

 

Steel supplier to invest $25 million in Kentucky

Tokai Carbon GE, a manufacturer of electrodes for the steel industry, is investing $25 million to upgrade its plant in Fulton County, Ky. The Japanese company is adding new equipment at the plant.

 

Georgia-Pacific to make $145 million investment in South Carolina

Georgia-Pacific is investing $145 million in its Dixie brand plant in Darlington, S.C. The investment is in upgrades to its paper plate and bowl manufacturing operations at the plant. 

 

Amazon to locate new fulfillment center in Memphis

Amazon is establishing a new fulfillment center in Memphis to ship books, electronics and other goods. The 855,000-square-foot facility will house 1,000 workers.

latest magazine issue
randle report
auto corridor
footer

Southern Business & Development
8086 Westchester Place
Montgomery AL 36117


205.871.1220