October 2020

Hitachi ABB Power Grids to invest $6.2 million in Bland County, Va.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids, a leader in power and energy technologies, will invest $6.2 million to upgrade equipment and increase manufacturing capacity at its Bland County operation. This project will create 40 new jobs.

 

Porsche expanding North American HQ in Georgia

Porsche Cars North America has announced a new multi-million dollar investment in its North American headquarters in Georgia. Located at the northeast corner of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the new 33-acre development adds to the company’s existing 27-acre headquarters.

 

Outdoor furniture maker relocating from California to Texas

O.W. Lee will relocate its corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations from California to Kendall County, Texas. The family-owned outdoor furniture and fire pit business has purchased a 44-acre property located in Comfort, Texas. The project is expected to create approximately 200 jobs and $24 million in total capital investment.

 

BP money to fund oyster habitat on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Fifteen million dollars in funding for oyster cultivation and wildlife restoration is headed to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, more than a decade after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill damaged fisheries and habitats and ravaged the state’s seafood economy. The money will fund habitat management over thousands of acres at the Wolf River and Hancock County coastal preserves. Ten million dollars will be used to restore and create hundreds of acres of oyster beds, and another half million will go to an oyster gardening project.

 

Air filtration manufacturer to expand in Beaufort County, N.C.

Pamlico Air, an air filtration manufacturing company, will expand its North Carolina operations with a new facility in Beaufort County, creating 39 jobs. The company will invest $1.4 million.

 

Lexington, Ky., pharmaceutical company to generate 78 new jobs

A $19 million investment is expected to create up to 78 full-time jobs in Lexington. Summit Biosciences, a Lexington-based pharmaceutical company, is expanding its operation at the University of Kentucky Coldstream Research Campus. The company focuses on nasal spray medicines.

 

N95 mask manufacturer opens new operations In Middle Tennessee

An N95 mask manufacturer is opening up shop in Lebanon and creating 220 jobs. Moldex is expanding to meet the surge in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company plans to retrofit an existing building in Lebanon, which will be its first manufacturing facility in Tennessee. Moldex also intends to build an additional distribution center on the 21-acre site. The project represents an investment of over $25 million and the creation of more than 200 new jobs in Wilson County.

 

Plumbing and electric firm bringing jobs to Marion County, S.C.

Rivers Plumbing and Electric, an engineering and design, prefab, construction and post-construction firm, announced plans to establish operations in Marion County. The $9.1 million investment will create 150 new jobs.

 

Homeland Vinyl to expand in Surgoinsville, Tenn.

Homeland Vinyl officials announced that the manufacturer will invest $2.2 million and create 55 jobs in Surgoinsville. As part of the expansion, Homeland Vinyl will add 38,000 square feet to its operations in Hawkins County. Homeland Vinyl makes a variety of vinyl products, including fencing, rail and deck products.

 

Chapin International to locate production in Mount Vernon, Ky.

Chapin International, a manufacturer of metal compressed air sprayers, plans to locate a production operation in Mount Vernon in Rockcastle County with a nearly $5.5 million investment creating up to 100 full-time jobs in the coming years.

 

Pipe maker expanding Alabama plant with $15 million upgrade

A Mobile, Ala., pipe manufacturer that will produce pipe for the Keystone XL pipeline has announced a $15 million expansion. Berg Steel Pipe Corp sealed a deal in 2007 to build a $75 million plant north of downtown Mobile on the edge of the Plateau community. Local and state officials greeted the project with enthusiasm — and an incentive package valued at $6.6 million — in part because the plant brought new life and jobs to 86 acres of a former International Paper Co. site.

 

Adranos locates solid rocket motor R&D campus In McHenry, Miss.

Solid rocket fuel innovator Adranos is locating its rocket motor research and development operations in McHenry. The company will make a $525,000 corporate investment and plans to create 20 jobs in Stone County. Adranos will be located at the 640-acre, seven-building complex formerly occupied by General Dynamics, which is in close proximity to Stennis Space Center.

 

Lowe’s Distribution Center in Mills River, N.C., means 50 new jobs

A 10-acre site in Mills River will be the future site of a Lowe’s Distribution Center. The $10 million investment will lead to 50 new hires.

 

Mission Forest Products investing $160 million in Corinth, Miss.

Mission Forest Products, a subsidiary of Timberland Investment Resources, is building a sawmill in Corinth that will bring 130 jobs by 2022. The project is a $160 million corporate investment.

 

Human resources firm bringing 1,000 jobs to North Carolina

Human resources firm Randstad North America is looking to hire more than 1,000 people in North Carolina. Of those, 900 will be available in Durham and 120 in the Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point).

 

Electronics manufacturer expands in Virginia, creates 50 jobs

A Texas-based electronics manufacturer announced an additional product line at a facility in Virginia that is expected to create dozens of new jobs. Virtex officials said the new operations in Waynesboro, Va., will lead to 50 new manufacturing hires.

 

Kroger relocates division HQ to Richmond, Va.

Kroger Mid-Atlantic will relocate its division office from Roanoke to Richmond, Va. The move involves more than 70 jobs, a combination of relocations and new hires.

 

Tactical Medical Solutions expanding in Anderson, S.C.

Tactical Medical Solutions plans to expand operations in Anderson County and create 21 new jobs.

The company has supplied emergency response supplies to support federal agencies, law enforcement and medical personnel.

 

Equipment company creating jobs in Charleston County, S.C.

An outdoor power equipment company announced plans to expand operations to Charleston County. Daye North America will invest $1.8 million and will initially create 16 new jobs in the Lowcountry.

 

Chart Industries eyes Richburg, S.C., for operations complex

Chart Industries, a manufacturer of engineered cryogenic equipment, will invest $7 million to establish operations in Richburg. The company plans to create 50 jobs over the next five years in Chester County. The new operation, which is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2021, will serve as a repair, service and leasing facility for all the company’s products.

 

New Huntington Ingalls Unmanned Systems Center means 250 jobs for Hampton, Va.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) will create more than 250 new jobs by establishing an Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence in Hampton. HII is the nation’s largest military shipbuilding company. The company’s new unmanned systems facility in Hampton will support national security.

 

Danish company selects Alabama for first U.S. plant

Denmark-based Mountain Top Industries, which specializes in aluminum roll covers for pickup trucks, plans to open a 73,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Montgomery. The company will invest $13.3 million to open the facility, which will support 90 full-time jobs.

 

Smile Direct Club adding 600 jobs, staying put in Tennessee

Smile Direct Club is investing $34 million and bringing 600 new jobs to Middle Tennessee. The new facility will be located in Columbia, Tenn., and is part of a major expansion to make teeth straightening products. This news comes after the company decided to pull the plug on a Texas operations facility and keep all of their offices in Tennessee.

 

Chemours bringing 78 new jobs to Wayne County, Ga.

Gov. Brian Kemp officially welcomed Chemours Titanium Technologies Minerals Operations to Georgia as the company announced it would expand its footprint in the state to Jesup. Chemours has invested $86 million in the Wayne County project, which will create 78 jobs in the community.

 

Gulf Island In Houma, La. adding 150 shipyard jobs

Gulf Island Works is looking to hire 150 workers, expanding its workforce at the Houma shipyard by more than 10 percent. The Houma yard is working with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development on a package of incentives as part of its plan to hire 135 welders, pipe and structural fitters, as well as 15 more in administrative support services.

 

Driverge Vehicle Innovations expands South Carolina production campus

Driverge Vehicle Innovations, an industry leader in commercial wheelchair transportation and accessible taxis, plans to expand operations in North Charleston. The company’s $350,000 investment is projected to create 13 new jobs.

 

Packaging company selects Hickory, N.C., for hub

MaxPax, a contract packaging company, will invest $9.55 million to locate its production center in Hickory. The project is expected to create 300 new jobs over five years.

 

Bang Energy plans manufacturing campus in Lithia Springs, Ga.

Energy and sports beverage company Bang Energy will invest $145 million to open its first Southeastern manufacturing and distribution facility in Lithia Springs. The project is expected to create 600 new jobs in Douglas County.

 

BR Metal Products expands in Livingston, Tenn.

BR Metal Products, an aluminum permanent mold foundry, will expand its manufacturing facility in Livingston. The $182,500 investment is expected to create 32 jobs in Overton County.

 

Loss Prevention Services will relocate HQ to Natchez, Miss., hire 200 new jobs

Loss Prevention Services, an auto portfolio servicing company for financial lenders (think repossession and remarketing), will invest $2.97 million to locate its corporate headquarters in Natchez. The new 45,000-square-foot facility will be able to accommodate the 300 existing local employees, with plans to fill 200 additional new jobs by summer 2022.

 

Furniture manufacturer to expand in Marion County, S.C.

Maxwood Furniture, which specializes in the design and production of solid wood bedroom furniture, will invest $5.8 million and create 30 new jobs as it opens a second facility in Marion.

 

New solar project planned for Florence County, S.C.

Renewable energy producer NARENCO is investing $20 million in new solar operations in Florence County. The first phase of the project located in the Timmonsville/Sardis area is expected to be operational next year.

 

Connecticut company relocating to North Charleston, S.C.

An artisanal glassware, tableware and home decor brand is relocating its headquarters and distribution center from Stamford, Conn., to North Charleston, making an investment of more than $1.9 million and creating an anticipated 51 jobs. The new location will serve as the company’s headquarters, which will include corporate offices, a distribution center, a design studio and a factory outlet store.

 

Papa John’s selects Georgia for new global HQ

Pizza delivery company Papa John’s plans to move its global headquarters to Atlanta from from its hometown of Louisville, Ky., adding 200 jobs as it expands and rides a huge surge in business, thanks to the coronavirus. The company’s IT and logistics departments will remain in Louisville. Company president and CEO Rob Lynch said that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in Papa John’s have the best year in its history.

 

Ariat International bringing distribution center and jobs to Fort Worth

Ariat International will establish a 1-million-square-foot distribution hub and corporate office that will serve as its western U.S. regional headquarters in Fort Worth. The new facility will create 75 jobs and $40 million in capital investment. Ariat designs and manufactures equestrian footwear and apparel, including English and Western riding boots.

 

Pharmaceutical supplier begins $10 million plant expansion in North Carolina

Metrics Contract Services, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has begun the $10 million expansion project at its Greenville novel oral solid dosage manufacturing plant.

 

Keeneland and Kentucky Downs announce plans for new racing facilities

Keeneland and its new partnership with the majority owners of Kentucky Downs announced a new plan for a Standardbred racing facility in Corbin as well as a sister facility in Williamsburg, Ky.

 

High Point, N.C., lands $305 million data center

DC Blox, an information infrastructure technology company, is bringing a new $305 million data center to Guilford County. The datacenter will be situated on a 14-acre vacant lot in the Piedmont Centre business park. Many details regarding the project are being kept close the vest right now, however, High Point Economic Development Corp President Loren Hill called this a “major project.”

Warehouse could bring jobs to I-85 corridor in North Carolina

A Pennsylvania-based investment firm is moving forward with plans to develop a 300,000-square-foot speculative warehouse space near the Gaston and Cleveland County line. County officials said the space, which could cost $15 million to build, could create more than 150 new jobs in Kings Mountain when it goes online in 2021.

 

Tiktok deal will bring 25,000 jobs to Texas if approved

If TikTok makes a move to Texas with its headquarters, Austin could very well come out on top, though North Texas may be a contender. President Trump touted a tentative deal between TikTok’s parent company and U.S. companies Oracle and Walmart, saying that the partnership could bring 25,000 jobs to Texas if the companies can prove there will be “zero security risk.” TikTok is a viral Chinese video-sharing social networking service owned by Chinese company ByteDance. It is used to create short music, lip-sync, dance, comedy and talent videos of 3 to 15 seconds, and short looping videos of 3 to 60 seconds

 

Amazon continues hiring to keep up with strong consumer demand

Amazon is on track to employ more than 1 million employees by the fourth quarter after recently announcing 100,000 new fulfillment jobs in the U.S. and Canada. Amazon will pay its new fulfillment workers at least $15 an hour with a $1,000 signing bonus in some areas. This follows the company’s announcement that it is adding 33,000 corporate and tech employees with an average salary of $150,000. Amazon is likely to announce even more job creations by the end of the year to keep up with expectations for strong holiday demand. Specifically, Amazon announced: 4,000 jobs in metro Atlanta; 2,500 jobs in Nashville; 1,000 jobs in the Louisville area.

 

Gun manufacturer pulls out of East Tennessee

A gun manufacturer that had pledged to invest $22.5 million and hire 350 in East Tennessee is pulling out of the region and returning the land it received as an economic incentive. Though it never built its planned headquarters in Maryville, SCCY Firearms (pronounced “sky”) will close its leased manufacturing facility in Maryville by the end of October and move all operations back to Daytona Beach, Fla.

 

Facebook to expand data center in Newton County, Ga., add 100 jobs

Facebook will expand its Newton County data center, hire more workers and boost its total investment at the facility by $250 million. The social media giant plans an additional 100 jobs at the facility, increasing the total workforce to 200. It will construct three new buildings, boosting the center’s size to 2.5 million square feet and increasing the company’s investment at the site from $750 million to $1 billion.

 

Gulf Ship to add over 200 jobs in Gulfport, Miss.

A shipbuilder in Gulfport will soon create more than 200 new jobs to accommodate a new contract. Gulf Ship is a 38-acre shipyard used for the construction and maintenance of tugboats and platform supply vessels.

 

Clickfold Plastics expands in Indian Land, S.C.

ClickFold Plastics, a custom plastics manufacturer, will invest $1.5 million to establish an expanded operations center, including 15,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Indian Land. The company plans to create 21 jobs in Lancaster County.

 

DMA Holdings eyes Nichols, S.C., for new hub

DMA Holdings, a supplier to the North American automotive and heavy-duty parts aftermarket, announced plans to expand operations in Marion County with the opening of a new manufacturing and distribution center. The company plans to invest more than $3.9 million and will create 25 new jobs. The company’s brands include SenSen Shocks and Struts and TekMaster Brake Wear Sensors.

Chewy surpasses job projection in Rowan, N.C., adding 200 more workers

When online pet product retailer Chewy announced its arrival in Rowan County in 2019, it projected the company’s fulfillment center would create 1,200 jobs by 2025. Since beginning operations on April 6, Chewy has already surpassed that mark. “We’re expecting to hire another 200 or more positions through the end of the year,” said Gregg Walsh, a VP with the company.

 

Amazon opens fulfillment center, adding 500 jobs in Polk County, Fla.

Amazon just opened its newest operation, a fulfillment center in Auburndale, Fla., where 500 jobs starting at $15 an hour are up for grabs.

 

Aerospace supply relocating HQ from Southern California to North Texas

Aviation supply chain company Incora is moving its global headquarters from southern California to Fort Worth. Incora (previously known as Wesco Aircraft Hardware Corp.) already has two offices in Fort Worth, and is planning a $6 million capital investment at the new facility that could have up to 239 workers.

 

Atmore, Ala., getting $87 million peanut shelling facility

Coastal Alabama Growers is planning to build a peanut shelling facility in Atmore. The new $87 million facility will be built on 60 acres of land and will bring 100 or more jobs to the area.

 

Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, S.C., campus gets $62 billion boost

A recent $62 billion contract to build 90 F-16 fighter jets is a win for Lockheed Martin’s campus in Greenville, which only had a handful of planes left in its order book after losing a bid in 2018 to build a next-generation trainer jet for the U.S. Air Force. The order — 66 jets for Taiwan’s military and 24 for the Royal Moroccan Air Force — will be built over a 10-year period.

 

Over 600 jobs coming to Brunswick, Ga.

Radial is hiring over 600 customer care workers for its facility in Brunswick. Radial is an e-commerce company that provides order management and fulfillment for companies such as GameStop and Shoe Carnival. Fifty to 70 percent of the employees that are hired will work remotely.

 

Chemical company to hire 94 for new facility in Taylors, S.C.

Global chemical company Sixin North America will make a $5 million investment with the construction of a new facility in Greenville County. Sixin, which is headquartered in China, is a global manufacturer of defoamer technologies used across many industrial applications.

 

New distillery coming to Bullitt County, Ky.

Clermont Distilling Co. plans to construct a new distillery and create 22 high-paying jobs in Bullitt County. The project is part of a $13.4 million, Phase I investment.

 

Dadeville Pole building new facility in Tallapoosa County, Ala.

Dadeville Pole Co. plans to construct a new facility to manufacture and distribute power poles in Tallapoosa County. The company will make a $5 million investment and will initially create 12 jobs to operate the mill and dry kilns.

 

Draken International selects Kinston, N.C., for operations complex

Texas-based Draken International, an aerospace company owning the world’s largest commercial fleet of privately-owned tactical aircraft, is making its home at the North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston, N.C. Draken plans to help prepare pilots at nearby Seymour Johnson Air Force Base by acting as the enemy force during training missions and war games.

 

SCI to add 115 jobs in Jefferson Parish, La.

Houston-based Service Corporation International (SCI) announced it will be adding 115 new finance jobs to its Jefferson Parish offices by 2023.

 

Lineage Logistics expands in North Charleston, S.C.

Lineage Logistics, a provider of temperature-controlled logistics, plans to invest $34 million to expand operations in North Charleston. The project includes 36 new jobs. 

 

The Shyft Group opens manufacturing facility in Jupiter, Fla.

The Shyft Group, a leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly and upfitting, plans to open a new 35,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Jupiter. The expansion is expected to immediately create 40 new positions in Palm Beach County.

 

New business bringing 500 jobs to Marshall, Texas

Channel Control Merchants, owner of Dirt Cheap, will bring 500 new jobs to town and approximately $2 million of capital investment in its new operation opening soon in Marshall. Dirt Cheap is the largest retailer of customer returns and marked out-of-stock merchandise in the United States. The company plans to begin hiring employees immediately.

 

USGA eyes Pinehurst, N.C., for research and testing campus

The United States Golf Association plans to create a multi-building research and testing campus in the Village of Pinehurst. The association will invest up to $36 million in the campus, which will employ a 50-person workforce.

 

Toy maker hiring in Decatur, Ga.

Step2, which makes plastic toys, playhouses and swing sets, announced its acquisition of manufacturing, distribution and shipping assets in Decatur, Ga. Citing high consumer demand, the company said it plans to add approximately 150 to 175 employees to its Decatur roster.

 

Fibertex upgrades North Carolina plant

Danish-based Fibertex Personal Care Group, which specializes in non-woven hygiene products, will add a print line at its production plant in Asheboro, N.C. In addition, two production lines will be added in Malaysia, with both lines expected to be running in the second half of 2021. The company will invest more than $39 million in the upgrades.

 

Carolina Forest Area gets $100 million hospital

Conway Medical Center (CMC) plans to build a $100 million hospital in the Carolina Forest area in Horry County, S.C. The new hospital will create more than 250 new jobs, according to CMC.

 

Answering service adding 100 new jobs in Gwinnett County, Ga.

Answering service company Moneypenny is expanding its footprint in Gwinnett County with new offices in unincorporated Duluth. The expansion includes 100 jobs and $860,000 in capital investment by the company. Moneypenny provides VoiceNation and Ninja Number, which are 24-hour answering services.

 

Colorado automotive manufacturer to locate plant in Alabama

Wheel Pros, a maker of aftermarket wheels, performance tires and accessories, is locating a plant in Auburn, Ala. The project will create 300 jobs.

 

Amazon to hire 6,500 in Dallas-Fort Worth area

Amazon announced in September it is hiring 100,000 jobs in Canada and the U.S. Over 6,000 of those jobs will be in North Texas.

 

Pool manufacturer to establish operations in South Carolina

Leisure Pools and Spas North America, maker of in-ground pools, is opening a plant in Marion County, S.C. The $6.1 million project will create 200 jobs.

 

Manufacturer to relocate plant from California to Louisiana

Westfield Fluid Controls is relocating a manufacturing plant from San Fernando, Calif., to Lafayette, La. The $5.1 million deal will create 67 jobs. Westfield is a provider of hydraulic and fluid control components for aerospace and defense.

 

Global air travel down to next to nothing

In August, global air travel was down 85 percent compared to the same month last year. The International Air Transport Association said that carriers will lose $84 billion this year, the worst year ever for the industry. Air traffic at Europe's 500 airports is down 94 percent compared to last year.

 

COVID reveals weakness in U.S. manufacturing

The coronavirus is almost eight months old and the U.S. is still suffering from delays and shortages in test kit components, PPE and pharmaceuticals. With a reliance on foreign producers of these elements and materials, U.S. companies just cannot purchase enough of these items. Thirty years of globalization and decades of offshoring U.S. companies has put American in this position.

 

Italian manufacturer to locate plant in North Carolina

FITT USA, a maker of thermoplastic fluid transfer systems, is opening a new facility in Mooresville, N.C. The $25 million facility will house 114 workers.

 

Timber mill in Mississippi expanding

Vicksburg Forest Products, a manufacturer of Southern yellow pine, is investing $40 million to expand its timber mill in Vicksburg, Miss. The deal will create 60 jobs.

 

Wisconsin company to create 300 jobs in Texas

FNA Group, a manufacturer of pressure washers, pumps and other outdoor power equipment, is establishing a plant in Mesquite, Texas. The deal is expected to create 300 jobs.

 

Automotive software firm adding jobs in Virginia

Torc Robotics, a Blacksburg, Va.-based self-driving vehicle systems software developer, is expanding. The $8.5 million project will create 350 jobs.

 

Charleston, S.C., harbor project on schedule and funded

The Charleston Harbor deepening project is on schedule and on time to achieve a depth of 52 feet by 2022. Once completed, Charleston will have the deepest harbor on the East Coast. The cost of the project is $558 million.

 

General Atomics adding jobs in Northeast Mississippi

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is expanding its plant in Lee County, Miss. The supplier to the Department of Defense will invest $39 million to increase capacity at its facility. The deal will create 125 new jobs.

 

Military vehicle manufacturer adding jobs in Mississippi

Navistar Defense is expanding its plant in West Point, Miss. The company is investing $8 million and adding 500 new jobs.

 

Company moving headquarters from Seattle to Johnson City, Tenn.

LabConnect, a firm that performs clinical trials for new drugs, is relocating its operations from Seattle to Johnson City, Tenn. The company is adding space and 200 jobs.

 

Transformer manufacturer to move into Missouri

WEG Transformers, a maker of electric motors and transformers, is establishing a plant in Washington, Mo. The $16 million deal will create 64 jobs.

 

Dallas leads all U.S. markets in employees returning to the office

Tens of millions are still working from home, but those in Dallas are leading the country in returning to their offices amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With 36 percent of employees going back to the office, Dallas leads the nation. The nationwide average as of September was 23 percent according to a report by Kastle Systems.

 

South Carolina agribusiness center to create over 1,500 jobs

The $314 million Agriculture Technology Campus in Hampton County, S.C., will build massive greenhouses to grow all kinds of pesticide-free fruits and vegetables. The center is a joint venture among several agribusinesses in South Carolina. The 1,000-acre facility will create 1,547 jobs.

 

Snack maker to open plant in Kentucky

Wilde Brands, a producer of snack chips made from poultry, is adding a facility in Winchester, Ky. The $9 million deal will create 50 jobs.

 

Holiday Hiring

Macy’s is hiring 5,300 seasonal employees at its fulfillment center in Portland, Tenn.

Kohl’s is looking to hire 90,000 seasonal workers to its department-store and e-commerce fulfillment center locations.

Radial, an e-commerce company, is looking to hire 3,000 workers for its fulfillment center in Richwood in Northern Kentucky.

The United Parcel Service (UPS) is hiring more than 100,000 seasonal employees across the U.S. to support the anticipated increase in packages for the holiday season.

Walmart announced it will hire more than 20,000 temporary workers, primarily for its eCommerce fulfillment centers, this holiday season.

The Fresh Market is looking to fill 1,500 seasonal positions at its stores across the nation.