January 2021

Rejoining the Paris Agreement to boost automotive industry

Former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, more commonly called the Paris Climate Accord. President Biden has now rejoined the Climate Accord and it will be a boost to the automotive industry, specifically electric vehicles.

 

Lars Carlstrom, founder of Britishvolt, a U.K. manufacturer of lithium ion batteries, said to Southern Business & Development and SouthernAutoCorridor.com about the effect of the U.S. rejoining the Paris accord will have on the automotive industry: “Now that the US is returning to the Paris Climate agreement, the future of the automotive industry has received a huge boost. The U.S. has the second-highest consumption of vehicles in the world per 1,000 people and re-signing the Paris Climate agreement is only going to increase the demand for electric vehicles, gigafactories and boost the production of batteries,” Carlstrom said.

 

Sources predict job gains in 2021 will set record

Several sources are predicting that calendar year 2021 will be the biggest job generating year since records began in 1939. The data firm, IHS Market, predicted in January that non-farm payrolls will increase by 6.7 million this year. Oxford Economics estimates that 5.8 million jobs will be created in the U.S. in 2021, and the University of Michigan reported 5.3 million. All totals would surpass the current record of 4.3 million jobs created in 1946 at the end of World War II.

 

Huntsville, Ala., preferred choice for new Space Command

In January, the Air Force announced that Huntsville, Ala., (home of the Redstone Arsenal, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command) is the preferred choice for the headquarters of the new Space Command. The decision, which isn't official, was made based on a variety of factors, including room to grow. The headquarters is expected to create thousands of jobs.

 

Nearly 500,000 clean energy jobs lost in 2020

The virus has done a number on all kinds of industries and clean energy was no exception. According to the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the pandemic snuffed out 429,000 clean energy jobs. It was the first year that the U.S. renewable energy industry lost jobs.

 

Automotive EV deals keep popping up in the South

Hitachi Automotive, a well-known Kentucky employer, has announced its Automotive Electric Motor Systems America division will establish a new plant in Berea, Ky. The facility will make motors for electric vehicles, many of which will be made in Kentucky. The deal is expected to create 200 jobs in Berea, locate in the Eastern part of the state in the mountains of Appalachia.

 

South Carolina ports are dealing

The Port of Charleston, which is a major vehicle export facility because of the BMW plant in South Carolina, capped its 2020 year with its strongest December in history. Vehicle volumes were up almost 30 percent from last year. The port handled 135,000 vehicles and 1.2 million containers units in the 2020 fiscal year.

 

Job postings drop more than 10 percent at the end of 2020

Remember when more than 7 million jobs were available in the U.S. prior to the pandemic, and just about 130,000 were being filled each month? Well, that 7 million is now 6 million jobs available in the U.S. as postings fell 10.6 percent in December 2020 compared to December 2019.

 

Oracle to relocate HQ from Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas

In the winter quarter, tech giant Oracle announced it was relocating its world headquarters from California to Austin, Texas. Oracle already has a major presence in Austin. The relocation follows a slew of others moving from California to Texas. Elon Musk has relocated to Austin and is building a major vehicle and battery factory there. Nearly 700,000 Californians have moved to Texas in the last 10 years.

 

Peloton to add 1,600 employees in Plano, Texas

Fitness equipment company Peloton announced a large expansion of its facilities in Plano, Texas. The New York-based company will hire up to 1,600 workers in Plano.

 

Mercedes to build electric SUVs at Alabama plant starting in 2022

In the winter quarter, Mercedes-Benz officials announced the German automaker will begin assembly of electric SUVs in 2022. Mercedes announced it will launch six electric versions of its vehicles in 2022, including the EQE SUV and EQS SUV to be assembled at its Vance, Ala., plant. Batteries made in Bibb County, Ala., will be used on those electric SUVs.

 

Virginia-North Carolina offshore wind project to create 600 jobs

The Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind project that is being built on 122,405 acres in the Atlantic Ocean off the shores of Virginia and North Carolina will create about 600 jobs. According to Connecticut-based Avangrid Renewables, the project will generate $2 billion in economic impact over a 10-year period.

 

Tier 1 auto parts supplier expanding in Elizabethtown, Ky.

Mexican automotive parts supplier Metalsa is expanding its truck vehicle frame plant in Elizabethtown, Ky. The plant is the largest for the company in the U.S. with over 1,800 workers. The new expansion will add 300 jobs.

 

Amazon to build Arkansas fulfillment center

In the winter quarter, Amazon announced it will build a new fulfillment center in North Little Rock, Ark. The deal will create 500 jobs. It will be North Little Rock’s second Amazon facility. (A distribution center opened in the city in 2018.)

 

Mississippi lumber mill to create over 100 jobs

A new sawmill is coming to Winona, Miss. The 150-job deal by Biewer Lumber will generate an investment of $130 million.

 

Mars Petcare invests in Arkansas facility again

Mars Petcare is once again expanding its Fort Smith, Ark., facilities. The company has already invested $420 million in its plant there. This latest expansion calls for an investment of $145 million and 120 new full-time jobs.

 

Boat manufacturer to build new plant in South Georgia

Correct Craft announced in the winter it is opening a new boat plant in Valdosta, Ga. The $1.7 million deal will create 90 jobs.

 

Bamboo manufacturer to open Alabama plant

Resource Fiber, a maker of commercial bamboo products like laminated timbers, is opening a plant in Lamar County, Ala. The project will create more than 100 jobs.

 

Turkey processor adding gobs of jobs in Arkansas

Butterball announced in January it is expanding two turkey plants in Northwest Arkansas, creating 360 new jobs. The company is investing over $8 million in its plants in Ozark and Huntsville, Ark.

 

Distribution center expands in Georgia

Bluestem Brands, an e-commerce retail brand, is investing in its distribution center in Putnam County, Ga. The project will create 130 jobs.

 

Flooring manufacturer expands in rural Virginia

Mohawk Industries, a well-known flooring manufacturer, is spending over $22 million on its facilities in Carroll County, Va. About 35 jobs are expected to be created.

 

Italian company expands in Asheville, N.C.

Italy-based System Logistics, a material handling solutions provider, is investing in its operations in Asheville, N.C. The $3 million deal will create 47 jobs.

 

Dole opens frozen fruit plant in Georgia

In the winter quarter, Dole Packaged Foods opened a new frozen fruit facility just south of Atlanta in McDonough, Ga. The project will house 100 workers.

 

Tyson expands Texas bacon plant

Arkansas-based Tyson Foods is expanding its bacon plant in Vernon, Texas. The $25 million project will add 32 jobs to the 800 that are currently housed at the plant.

 

Dallas-Fort Worth led country in industrial building in 2020, but office leasing down dramatically

According to Cushman & Wakefield, Dallas-Fort Worth led all other markets in industrial building in 2020. Almost 27 million square feet of industrial space was under construction in the D-FW metro at the end of last year. Chicago was second with 20.7 million square feet of construction. The office real estate sector in Dallas-Fort Worth did not fare as well. A large decline in office space occupancy in the fourth quarter of 2020 saw net leasing drop nearly 4 million square feet in 2020 in D-FW.

 

Kentucky-based manufacturer picks North Carolina for new operation

Bardstown, Ky.-based American Fuji Seal, a maker of packaging, is investing $52 million in a new plant in Hickory, N.C. The deal will create over 100 jobs.

 

Defense contractor adding jobs in Oklahoma

North Star Scientific is establishing an aerospace manufacturing facility in Oklahoma City. The company plans to hire 40 in the deal.

 

Manufacturer landing in Fort Smith, Ark.

Jonesboro, Ark.-based Hytrol Conveyor has chosen Fort Smith, Ark., for a new manufacturing plant. The facility will house 250 workers.

 

Auto parts manufacturer to locate facility in West Virginia

Speedway Motors, a maker of auto parts, is opening a new distribution center in Kearneysville, W.Va. The deal will create 25 jobs.

 

California gene therapy manufacturer picks Durham County, N.C.

Adverum Biotechnologies, a gene therapy manufacturer, is investing $82 million in a facility in Durham County, N.C. The company plans to hire 200 workers.

 

Amazon to invest $2 billion in affordable housing at three U.S. cities

Amazon is investing $2 billion in affordable housing at its three U.S. headquarter operations in Nashville, Seattle and Arlington, Va.

 

Tennessee sees largest one-way moves in the nation

According to U-Haul's annual report of one-way moves, Tennessee saw the largest net gain in new residents in 2020. Tennessee saw a 12 percent jump in new arrivals, topping Texas and Florida. According to the report, Knoxville saw a 23 percent increase in new one-way arrivals.

 

Briggs & Stratton expands in Alabama

Briggs & Stratton is investing nearly $10 million in its plant in Auburn, Ala. The Widsconsin-based maker of gasoline engines and other products is adding 35 workers to its large plant in Auburn.

 

German company that serves the auto industry locates Alabama plant

Heiche Surface Technologies, a German manufacturer of advanced metal coatings used in the automotive industry, is setting up a new facility in Jasper, Ala. The company will occupy a speculative building in the Jasper Industrial Park. The deal will create 73 jobs.

 

Tesla to locate solar energy division in Palm Beach County

The electric vehicle company Tesla is opening a new solar energy division in Palm Beach County. The company will hire 130 in the deal.

 

Ball to open new plant in Kentucky

Ball Corporation, the world’s largest maker of recyclable aluminum beverage containers, is opening a new plant in Bowling Green, Ky. The facility will house 200 workers.

 

Costco opens new operations center in Oklahoma City

Costco has opened a back-office operations center in Oklahoma City. The project is expected to result in 1,500 new jobs.

 

Record lows in U.S. population growth

In the winter quarter, the Census Bureau released estimates that from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020, the nation's population grew by just .35 percent. The figure represents the lowest annual population growth since records began in 1900. Census also estimated that population growth in the decade of 2010 to 2020 was the lowest of any decade in the nation's history.

 

Westinghouse to locate new plant in Clarendon County, S.C.

Westinghouse Electric, which provides a variety of products and services to nuclear plants, is locating a new plant in Clarendon County, S.C. The $24 million facility, which will expand the company's welding and machining capacity, will house 44 workers.

 

Louisiana lands first Amazon facility

Louisiana's first Amazon fulfillment center is being built in Lafayette Parish. Amazon will create 500 direct jobs with an annual payroll of about $16 million in the $100 million project.

 

Blackstone to open new Miami office

Blackstone, a global investment firm, is opening a technology office in downtown Miami. The project calls for 200 tech jobs, but investment professionals may also be added in 2022.

 

Nestlé USA to invest $100 million in Arkansas

Nestlé USA is investing $100 million in an expansion of its food processing facility in Jonesboro, Ark. The company is adding a Hot Pockets sandwich line that will call for 100 new employees.

 

Carvana opens distribution center in Arkansas

E-commerce car sales company Carvana has opened a $40 million vehicle inspection and distribution center in West Memphis, Ark. The project will create 400 jobs.

 

Record 12,200 stores close in U.S. in 2020

According to commercial real estate firm CoStar Group, a record 12,200 stores of all sizes closed in calendar year 2020. The closures emptied 159 million square feet of retail space.

 

Kimberly-Clark expands in Northeast Mississippi

Kimberly-Clark, a manufacturer of brands such as Huggies, Kleenex and Cottonelle, is investing $140 million to increase capacity at its plant in Corinth, Miss. The deal will create 33 jobs.

 

Craft supply company to create 300 jobs in Mississippi

IG Design Group Americas, a party and craft supply company, is investing $57 million to expand its operations in Marshall County, Miss. The company will hire 300 in the deal.

 

Danish manufacturer expands in Tallahassee

Danfoss Turbocor, a manufacturer of magnetic technologies, is adding a 90,000-square-foot facility at its site in Tallahassee, Fla. The project is expected to create 200 new jobs.

 

Nestlé Purina investing $550 million in Georgia

Nestlé Purina PetCare is investing big in its pet food factory in Hartwell, Ga. The $550 million investment will add 130 jobs.

 

Epic Games to take over mall; turn it into global HQ in Cary. N.C.

Epic Games, the North Carolina company known for its popular Fortnite game, announced in the winter it is converting the Cary Towne Center mall into it new campus. No word yet on how many jobs will be created by moving into the nearly 1-million-square-foot facility.

 

Big lumber deal in Alabama

Jasper Lumber Company has formed a new partnership with Canada-based Tolko Industries that will result in a $45 million expansion of its sawmill in Walker County, Ala. The deal will result in 60 new jobs.

 

Furniture manufacturing, once thought lost, continues on in the South

North Carolina-based Ison Furniture is opening a new factory in a vacant facility in Axton, Va. The company makes upholstered furniture and other furnishings. The $3.5 million deal will create nearly 200 jobs. Also, Ison supplier Dogwood Global will occupy a vacant building on the same property to produce wood tables and custom furniture frames that will be upholstered by Ison.

 

Self-driving firm adding jobs in Southwest Virginia

Torc Robotics, a Virginia-based company, is expanding in Blacksburg, Va., at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. The company that develops self-driving systems, is expected to create 350 jobs.

 

Canadian manufacturer creating jobs in rural Tennessee

Direct Coil, a manufacturer of industrial heating and cooling, is opening its first plant outside of Canada in Lincoln County, Tenn. The deal will create 75 jobs.

 

Germany-based distribution giant to create lots of jobs in Virginia

Bonn, Germany-based DHL Supply Chain is expected to invest $72 million to locate a major distribution center in Stafford County, Va. The center will serve the Mid-Atlantic region. The deal will create 577 jobs.

 

Florida-based Jabil to open plant in Western N.C.

St. Petersburg-based Jabil Healthcare announced in the winter it will build a plant in East Flat Rock, N.C. The healthcare components maker will invest $38 million and hire 150 in the deal.

 

Volkswagen building battery lab in Chattanooga

German automaker VW broke ground on a new battery engineering lab at its assembly plant site in Chattanooga, Tenn., in the winter quarter. VW has commenced construction on large facilities at its plant in Chattanooga, including a 564,000-square-foot electric vehicle line and a 198,000-square-foot battery pack manufacturing facility. The $22 million battery lab will test vehicle batteries made on site.

 

Amazon goes big in San Antonio

Amazon, the most active company in economic development history in the South, is planning two new fulfillment centers in San Antonio as well as a new local delivery station. The three projects will create 1,500 jobs.

 

Mortgage lender to add 500 jobs in Charlotte

Intercontinental Capital Group, a mortgage lender for single-family homes, is adding 500 jobs in Charlotte. The project represents an investment of over $5 million.

 

Call center deal in North Tennessee

CBE Group announced a large call center deal in Clarksville, Tenn. The company will hire 500 and invest $1.2 million.

 

Biotech firm to relocate from California to Nashville

Revance Therapeutics is relocating its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Nashville. The company will invest $10 million and hire 150 in the move.

 

Electric vehicle startup picks Charlotte for HQ

U.K. electric vehicle startup Arrival has chosen Charlotte for its North American headquarters. The London company that will develop lightweight commercial vehicles, is investing $3 million and hiring 150 as it starts up.

 

Another big sawmill captured by Mississippi

Idaho Forest Group (IFG) announced in the winter it will build a new $120 million sawmill in Lumberton, Miss. The project is one of a series of new sawmills opening in the Magnolia State. The deal will create 135 jobs.

 

Huge steel deal in South Alabama

Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal SA and Japan-based Nippon Steel are investing $775 million to expand their joint venture plant in Calvert, Ala., just North of Mobile. The plant, first started and occupied by ThyssenKrupp, was initially a $4 billion investment. The joint venture will build an electric arc furnace that will be producing steel by 2023. The new furnace will be able to produce a capacity of 1.5 million metric tons of steel each year.

 

Vials of vaccines needed; operation opens in Auburn, Ala.

SiO2 Materials Science Manufacturing has quickly opened a new facility in Auburn, Ala. The plant will produce vials for the Moderna vaccine. The $163 million facility to increase vial capacity is part of a federal government project.

 

Boeing to expand MRO operations in JAX

Chicago-based Boeing announced this winter that it will expand its maintenance, repair and overhaul operations at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Fla. Boeing has a 25-year lease agreement with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority at the former Air Force base. The deal calls for 400 new jobs.

 

Nice deal in Kansas City

Melaleuca, an online wellness shopping club, is investing $36 million in its Kansas City facility. The company is building a 500,000-square-foot facility and will hire 200 in the deal.

 

ByoPlanet expanding in Athens, Ga.

ByoPlanet International is investing its plant in Athens, Ga., that makes electrostatic sprays. The $7 million deal will create 250 jobs. ByoPlanet’s technology used in its disinfectant systems is based on research originally conducted at the University of Georgia. As the world continues to fight COVID-19, demand for the disinfectant systems has grown beyond North America.

 

Electric auto battery companies continue to make deals in the South

Some lithium-ion battery makers like SK, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Nissan have already spent billions to set up their fuel for the cars they build. However, smaller companies are joining the electric battery fray, including Amperex Technology Kentucky. That company is setting up shop in Glasgow, Ky., in what is a $8.5 million deal. That deal will create 350 jobs.

 

GE opens new line in Louisville

GE Appliances (not a Haier company) has operated its massive Appliance Park in Louisville. Ky., for years. The Chinese company just recently opened a new $80 million dishwasher line that house 280 workers.

 

Columbus, Ga., lands nice deal

Path-Tec, a provider of healthcare logistics services, is investing $5 million to expand its operations in Columbus, Ga. The project will create 350 jobs.   

 

One thousand jobs announced in Texas

TaskUs, a New Braunfels-based tech company, announced in the winter quarter it will open a new location on the U.S.-Mexican border in Rio Grande Valley, Texas. The company offers multiple tech solutions such as AI and CX. The deal is expected to result in 1,000 jobs.

 

Northeast Mississippi flexes, lands another furniture deal

To meet an increase in consumer demand, upholstered furniture manufacturer Fusion Furniture, which is owned by Pontotoc-based Southern Motion, is expanding in New Albany, Miss. The roughly $2 million project is expected to create 125 jobs.

 

Amazon creating 200 more jobs in Hampton Roads, Va.

Amazon will open two additional delivery stations in Hampton Roads in 2021, creating more than 200 full- and part-time jobs. The ecommerce giant announced in March it would build two operations facilities in Hampton Roads (in Suffolk and Chesapeake), creating an expected 1,500 jobs.

 

Amazon planning another delivery facility near Memphis fulfillment center

Preliminary work has begun for Amazon’s third delivery station in Memphis, this one adjacent to the online retail giant’s newly constructed fulfillment center in the Frayser / Raleigh area of the city.

 

Amazon investing in Birmingham, Ala.

More than 1,000 jobs are coming to a new Amazon distribution center to be built at the old Century Plaza mall in Birmingham. Site work and demolition are already underway, and the facility should up and running by the end of next summer. In addition, Amazon Logistics will open two new delivery stations in Birmingham. The project will include a 112,000-square-foot delivery station in Bessemer, creating 80 full-time jobs and representing a capital investment of approximately $25 million.

 

Up to 140 new Amazon jobs coming to Richardson, Texas

Richardson City Council has approved a zoning permit for an Amazon distribution and fulfillment center. It will provide 120-140 full-time jobs, and is estimated to cost $45 million.

 

Amazon to open third Mississippi center, bringing 1,000 jobs

Amazon is opening a third facility in Mississippi for sorting and processing customer orders. The new fulfillment center in Canton will be the first to feature Amazon’s robotics technology. It will create more than 1,000 full-time jobs

 

Franklin Pallet expanding in Kentucky

By eliminating waste, Simpson County’s Franklin Pallet is creating a new business model and adding jobs at its plant in Franklin, Ky. The company has invested about $3 million in a 12,000-square-foot plant expansion and equipment that will turn its scrap wood into a marketable product -- wood pellets for the growing pellet stove market.

 

AeroDynamic Aviation builds new shop in Georgia

AeroDynamic Aviation is moving from leased space in Rincon, Ga., to its own building in Springfield, Ga., quadrupling its size and eventually adding more than 30 new employees. The company makes sheet metal parts, primarily interior parts for a regional luxury aircraft manufacturer.

 

DDS Glass Doors completes Kentucky expansion

Freezer and cooler door manufacturer DDS Glass Doors is relocating to a larger facility in Elkton, Ky., a $1.6 million expansion expected to create 50 full-time jobs in the years ahead.

 

Texas county hiring 174 jailers

Bowie County will take control of its correctional system in February from LaSalle Corrections, the private company running the jails. The county now needs to hire 174 jailers to man the facilities.

 

Durham-based Adwerx plans hiring

Adwerx, which sells custom automated advertising services, will ramp up hiring in the new year thanks to a strong 79 percent growth in Q3 and Q4 despite the economic volatility. The company also announced plans to move to a flexible work arrangement for employees moving forward, so they can be based anywhere within the United States.

 

Tech company announces move to Nashville

A Silicon Valley tech company announced its move to middle Tennessee, and now its CEO is predicting he won’t be alone. Yoshi CEO Bryan Frist said he’ll begin his company’s transition from Silicon Valley to Nashville. The Yoshi app allows users to have gas, auto maintenance and car washes delivered to them, and the company’s move will deliver 100 jobs to the mid-state.

 

Amazon plans Amarillo warehouse

Amazon Services has filed an application for a tax abatement for a facility in Amarillo, Texas, estimated to cost about $100 million. Amazon will make $70 million in improvements that will include a warehouse and $30 million worth of equipment to go into that building. The facility will be a 1,000,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center.

 

RMC Events adding 100 jobs in Richmond, Va.

RMC Events announced plans to hire 100 full and part-time employees in the first part of 2021. The company, based in Richmond, provides event staffing and support services to colleges and universities, sporting and entertainment venues, fairs and festivals across Central Virginia.

 

Pure Shenandoah establishing in Elkton, Va.

Pure Shenandoah will invest nearly $3.3 million to establish an industrial hemp fiber processing and cannabidiol oil extraction facility in the historic Casey Jones building in Elkton. The company will create 24 new jobs and has committed to purchasing 100 percent of its industrial hemp from Virginia growers.

 

New manufacturing facility creating 75 jobs in Lincoln County, Tenn.

Direct Coil, which specializes in industrial heating and cooling, plans to invest $14.4 million and create 75 jobs in Fayetteville, Tenn. This will be the company’s first facility outside of its headquarters in Canada.

 

Arkansas furniture maker expands to North Carolina

An Arkansas manufacturer of furniture and home furnishings is planning a $15 million expansion to central North Carolina. Riverside Furniture will invest $5.4 million in a new distribution hub in Caswell County that is expected to create 50 jobs.

 

Center for Manufacturing Advancement coming to Danville, Va.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research has broken ground on a new Center for Manufacturing Advancement in Danville. The 51,250-square-foot CMA will offer a platform for manufacturing companies establishing or expanding their presence in Southern Virginia. It’s a $25.5 million project being funded by the Commonwealth and the Danville Regional Foundation.

 

Japan-based Taica Cubic Printing expands Clark County, Ky., manufacturing plant

Japan-based Taica Cubic Printing, which provides printing and paint application for automotive suppliers, plans to expand its manufacturing plant in Clark County. The $4.4 million investment is expected to create 20 new jobs.

 

CN, Alabama Export Railroad and Ray-Mont Logistics partner on Alabama logistics hub

CN, a Canadian transportation company, is collaborating with Alabama Export Railroad and Ray-Mont Logistics to launch the first phase of a high-tech logistics park in Mobile, Ala. The $16 million project is expected to create up to 50 jobs.

 

Huntsville lands $20 million Buffalo Rock plant

Buffalo Rock Company has agreed to build a $20 million facility in west Huntsville, Ala., that will provide at least 130 jobs. Buffalo Rock, based in Birmingham, is the largest single family-owned Pepsi bottler in the country.

 

Missouri company announces expansion

PlayPower has announced plans to expand its facility in Monett, Mo., which represents a $2 million investment and is expected to create 82 new jobs. Monett is the manufacturing home for many of PlayPower’s premier brands including Little Tikes Commercial playground equipment.

 

Home Depot hiring 700 at new Metro Atlanta distribution center

A new Home Depot distribution center is now open in Henry County and the Atlanta-based company is hiring 700 positions. The 657,600-square-foot center in Locust Grove is part of Home Depot’s $1.2 billion investment in its distribution and delivery services.

 

Louisiana Pepper Exchange expands New Orleans manufacturing center

Louisiana Pepper Exchange, a trading company based in New Orleans that provides pepper mash to the hot sauce industry, has received financing from Jefferson Capital Partners (JCP), which will allow Louisiana Pepper Exchange to make a significant investment into its facility and bring on essential new personnel. This is the third Opportunity Zone (OZ) operating company investment for JCP.

 

Ocean Insight expands Orlando HQ

Optical sensor manufacturer Ocean Insight is expanding at Central Florida Research Park in Orlando, Fla. The company will invest $4 million in its new facility with plans to create 100 new jobs.

 

Mexico-based Envases Group plans facility in Texas

Envases Group, a Mexico-based producer of packaging solutions, plans to open its first aluminum can production center in Waco, Texas. The $100 million project is expected to create 120 new jobs.

 

Low Impact Technologies locates manufacturing plant in Fletcher, N.C.

A manufacturer of renewable energy equipment, Low Impact Technologies (LIT), will be locating its first manufacturing facility in Henderson County, N.C. The company is expected to create 60 new jobs and invest $5 million in an existing 30,000-square-foot building in Fletcher. LIT designs and produces equipment to reprocess, recycle, and distill water for a variety of industries, as well as to provide potable water in developing nations.

 

Durham lands another gene therapy project

Taysha Gene Therapies will open a manufacturing facility in Durham after landing an incentive worth more than $5 million from North Carolina. The Taysha facility is expected to create 200 jobs over the next two years.

 

Allied Air Enterprises investing $35 million in South Carolina expansion

Allied Air Enterprises will invest more than $35.7 million to expand its operations in Orangeburg County, S.C. The expansion project will create 20 new jobs. Allied Air Enterprises manufactures HVAC products.

 

Santander bringing 875 jobs to Florida

Santander Consumer USA will invest approximately $22 million to upgrade and convert existing retail space to a customer contact operations in Pasco County, Fla. The financial services company will create 875 new jobs over the next five years.

 

Span Tech expands manufacturing facility in Barren County, Ky.

Span Tech, which designs and produces plastic chain conveyor systems for manufacturers, plans to expand in Barren County. The company will invest $13.2 million and create 40 full-time jobs over the next 10 years.

 

Joint venture Iwis-Daido locates manufacturing in Murray, Ky.

Iwis-Daido, a new joint venture between Iwis Engine Systems and Daido Corp. of America, will invest $2.7 million and produce automotive engine chains in Murray, Ky. The project is expected to create 37 jobs.

 

SteelFab plans Alabama expansion

A fabricator of structural steel, SteelFab, plans to expand its facility with a $23.6 million project in Roanoke, Ala. The project will create 32 jobs.

 

Belk expands South Carolina distribution hub

Belk, the nation’s largest private department store chain, will invest $2.5 million to make improvements to its distribution center in Richland County, S.C. The facility supports Belk’s network of 300 stores in 15 states.

 

Peabody Engineering & Supply expands in Liberty, S.C.

Peabody Engineering & Supply, a manufacturer of industrial polyethylene storage tanks, plans to establish operations in Liberty, S.C. The $5.6 million investment will create 35 new jobs in Pickens County.

 

Window maker bringing 100 jobs to Emanuel County, Ga.

Wincore Window Company, a manufacturer of vinyl windows and fiberglass doors, is expanding its Swainsboro operations, which will create an additional 100 jobs in Emanuel County.

 

Port Everglades gets $120 million upgrade

As people begin receiving the first round of the COVID-19 vaccines in South Florida, the cruise industry is preparing to welcome travelers once again. One of South Florida’s busy ports -- Port Everglades -- is getting a $120 million makeover.

 

New diaper plant coming to Waco, Texas

Hello Bello, the Los Angeles-based diaper company started by actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, is investing $31 million and creating 110 jobs in Waco. The company will make “premium diapers and other related childcare products” at the former Domtar facility there.

 

Agritech company announces Kentucky expansion

EnviroFlight recently announced the company’s plans to add 40 jobs in Maysville, Ky., with a $20 million expansion. EnviroFlight produces black soldier fly larvae which is used as a protein source for animal feeds.

 

Peabody Engineering to open in Pickens County, S.C.

Peabody Engineering & Supply announced plans to establish operations in Pickens County. The $5.6 million investment is expected to create 35 new jobs over the next five years. Peabody Engineering produces storage tanks and various other plastic products that service a wide range of industrial markets.

 

Tata Consultancy Services expands in Austin, Texas

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global IT consulting organization, will hire an additional 130 new employees and invest more than $100 million in Austin, adding to the plans to hire 1,000 new employees across Texas. TCS is part of the Tata Group, India’s largest multinational business group.

 

Northern Ireland-based tech company opens hub in Buckhead

Kainos, a tech company, will invest $1.2 million in opening a North American sales and IT hub in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. The project is expected to bring 137 jobs to Fulton County.

 

Canada-based auto components maker expands Tennessee factory

Windsor Mold, parent company of Canada-based Tenneplas, will invest $3.5 million in a 37,500-square-foot expansion of its operations complex in Giles County, Tenn. The company plans to create 40 jobs.

 

Mitsubishi Chemical eyes Geismar, La., plant

Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. (MCC) is studying the feasibility of building a $1 billion methyl methacrylate manufacturing complex in Geismar. A final investment decision by MCC on the greenfield project is expected by mid-2022.

 

Protective Life relocates core site to Covington, Ky.

Birmingham, Ala.-based Protective Life Corporation is relocating its core site to Covington, Ky. The insurance company will invest $17.1 million with plans to create roughly 100 jobs there.

 

EHealth Technologies plans Virginia center

EHealth Technologies, a provider of medical record services, will invest $375,000 to establish a new customer support center in Scott County, Va. The project will create 160 new jobs.

 

Silent Falcon UAS Technologies locates HQ in Warren County, Va.

Silent Falcon UAS Technologies, an unmanned aircraft systems manufacturer, will invest $6 million to locate its new East Coast headquarters for research, development and manufacturing in Warren County, Va. The company plans to create 249 jobs.

 

Highland Pellets expanding in Pine Bluff, Ark.

Highland Pellets has reached a $135 million capital partnership with Orion Energy Partners LP to fund the expansion and upgrade of its wood pellet facility in Pine Bluff. Completed in 2017, the plant currently has more than 90 full-time employees.

 

Harrah’s to become Caesars New Orleans

Harrah’s New Orleans is set to undergo a $325 million renovation that will turn the building into a casino-hotel renamed Caesars New Orleans. The project will create 600 construction jobs in addition to the 500 full-time jobs the company has already pledged to create.

 

French tech company locates hub in Marshall County, Miss.

France-based communications software and technology company Quadient is locating its North American distribution operations in Marshall County, Miss. The project represents an $11 million investment.

 

Tech company expanding in Salisbury, N.C.

Integro Technologies, an industrial automation company, will create 30 new jobs in Rowan County with a $2.67 million investment.

 

Amazon opening delivery station in Waynesboro, Ga.

Amazon confirmed that it has leased a former Kmart building in Waynesboro to operate as a last-mile delivery station slated to open sometime in 2021. Job numbers will be announced later.

 

Construction starts on Lancaster, Texas, shipping hub

A New Jersey-based logistics firm, DSV International, has broken ground on a huge shipping hub in Lancaster. The project will cost more than $65 million.

 

Auto parts retailer locates distribution hub in Jax

1A Auto, an online-only aftermarket auto parts retailer, will locate its Southeast U.S. distribution operations in Jacksonville, Fla. The Massachusetts-based company plans to create 30 new jobs initially, and hopes to grow to 100 jobs within the first couple of years.

 

Firearms manufacturer brings 60 new jobs to North Carolina

Sturm, Ruger & Company will grow its North Carolina workforce with an expansion at its Rockingham County production facility. The manufacturer of firearms plans to add roughly 60 jobs and invest $10 million at its site in Mayodan.

 

Walmart distribution center adding 1,000 jobs in South Carolina

Walmart is opening a new distribution center in South Carolina that officials say will create about 1,000 full-time jobs. The center will be located on the Ridgeville Industrial Campus in Dorchester County and is part of a $220 million investment in the state.

 

Henrico County, Va., endorses GreenCity development

Henrico County officials are endorsing a developer’s vision for GreenCity, a $2.3 billion private, mixed-use “ecodistrict” development that would promote economic development and environmental sustainability, and will include a 17,000-seat arena for concerts, sporting events and other entertainment.

 

Grayson Natural Farms expands in Virginia

Grayson Natural Farms, a producer of the Landcrafted Food organic meat snacks, will invest $1.5 million to expand its operation in Independence, Va. The expansion will create 40 new jobs.

 

IT Supply Solutions expands Kentucky operations

IT Supply Solutions, a company that refurbishes and remarkets computer equipment to businesses and school systems, plans a $1.9 million expansion at its complex in Kenton County, Ky. The project is expected to create 15 full-time jobs.

 

Cognate Bioservices to add 500 employees in Memphis

A bioscience company with facilities in Memphis is looking to create 561 new jobs in the area. The EDGE awarded Cognate Bioservices a 15-year jobs PILOT to create those jobs and triple its current Memphis employee base. As part of this first phase, Cognate is also investing more than $212 million to renovate its current and new properties.

 

Nine new solar projects bringing jobs to Virginia

Dominion Energy Virginia announced the addition of nine new solar projects throughout Virginia. This is their largest project yet, and will support about 750 jobs. “This is the first of much more renewable energy to come. We’re focused on adding significant renewable energy resources such as solar and offshore wind over the next 15 years while ensuring that we keep customer reliability high and raise affordable,” said spokesperson Samantha Moore.

 

Dynamic Aviation to expand with 207 jobs in Rockingham County, Va.

Dynamic Aviation will invest $47.9 million to expand its operation in Rockingham County, creating 207 new jobs. The company, which is among Rockingham’s top employers, is a provider of special-mission aviation solutions for government and commercial organizations worldwide.

 

Fibervisions expands Georgia plant

A sharp increase in demand for hygiene products such as face masks and baby wipes is prompting FiberVisions to invest $48 million to expand its polyolefin fiber manufacturing operations in Newton County. Once renovations are complete, FiberVisions will be hiring for 21 positions in advanced manufacturing.

 

Shenandoah Valley Organic expands in Virginia

Shenandoah Valley Organic, a family-owned organic chicken company, will establish a second facility in Harrisonburg, Va. The project will create 110 new jobs.

 

Forty-one manufacturing jobs coming to Horry County, S.C.

Office cubicle and furniture maker Skutchi Designs will be hiring 41 new jobs at a new Horry County facility. Skutchi will invest $3.5 million.

 

Tracker Boats to double footprint in Missouri

Bass Pro Shops and White River Marine Group are expanding their Tracker Boats plant in Bolivar, Mo., doubling the square footage and adding 300 manufacturing jobs.

 

Clorox bringing 158 new jobs to North Carolina

The Clorox Company is going to create 158 new jobs in Durham, N.C., in its vitamins and supplements division. The company will invest $7.5 million to bring the division’s headquarters to Durham and expand existing operations in the city.

 

Commercial Filter relocating to Piperton, Tenn.

Commercial Filter, a manufacturer of air filters currently located in Memphis, will invest $8.9 million to expand its operations by building a new facility in Piperton, Tenn. The company plans to create 30 jobs in Fayette County.

 

Carver Maritime plans expansion at North Charleston port

Carver Maritime, an industrial port known for its shipping and warehousing storage operations, plans to invest more than $27.8 million to expand its existing operations in North Charleston, S.C. The project is expected to create 50 jobs.

 

Maritime tech company relocates from Netherlands to West Palm Beach, Fla.

V2Techs, a maritime technology company competing in the electric ships market, is relocating from the Netherlands to West Palm Beach. It will employ up to 30 people by 2022.

 

New manufacturing training center “will change Southwest Missouri”

Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) broke ground recently on the first project of its kind in southwest Missouri. The new Center for Advanced Manufacturing, to be built on the Springfield campus, is a $40 million project -- the largest capital project in the history of OTC.

 

Apiject Systems plans vaccine gigafactory in RTP

ApiJect Systems, a medical technology company, has been approved by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation for a $590 million loan to construct a 1 million-square-foot facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C. The gigafactory will enable the U.S. to more quickly package high volumes of injectable medicines and vaccines in the event of a national emergency, beginning with COVID-19.

 

North Carolina is fighting cancer and creating jobs

North Carolina has allocated a Job Development Investment Grant to a company that is developing a blood test that can screen for more than 50 cancers simultaneously. The California-based healthcare company, GRAIL, is building a $100 million laboratory that will employ nearly 400 people in Raleigh-Durham.

 

Oklahoma aerospace company announces 80 new jobs

Broken Arrow-based aerospace company CymSTAR will hire 80-plus new employees over the next three years with engineering salaries of $60,000 to more than $100,000 per year. “CymSTAR offers engineers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge simulation technologies as we focus on upgrading and building training systems in support of our armed forces,” said Dan Marticello, CymSTAR president and CEO.

 

ID.me to hire 1,000 in Northern Virginia

Digital identity management company ID.me says it will hire more than 1,000 new employees in Northern Virginia by the end of 2021. The fast-growing McLean, Va.-based company provides identity authentication technology to both government and business customers.

 

August Bioservices investing $64 million in Tennessee expansion

August Bioservices plans to create 180 jobs and invest $64 million in Davidson County. Headquartered in Nashville, the company provides drug discovery, development and manufacturing.

 

Sasol wraps up $12.8 billion project in Lake Charles, La.

After several years of construction and weathering two hurricanes, South Africa-based energy and chemical company Sasol has completed its $12.8 billion petrochemical complex in Lake Charles. The unit achieved “beneficial” operations on November 15, about two months after initially projected as the region had two hurricanes make landfall this year. It can produce up to 420,000 tons of polyethylene each year using technology developed by Exxon Mobil. The raw material is used in manufacturing plastic bags, shrink wrap and stretchy film, in addition to paper cup or carton coatings and squeezable plastic bottles.

 

MasterBrand Cabinets locates complex in Jackson, Ga.

MasterBrand Cabinets will open a Southeastern U.S. manufacturing and distribution hub near Jackson, Ga. The project is expected to create nearly 400 jobs in Butts County.

 

Medline upgrades Georgia plant to manufacture face masks

Medline plans to manufacture face masks in North America for the first time at its modified plant in Lithia Springs, Ga. Currently, it produces personal care products there and will continue to do so after the upcoming expansion. The plant employs 420 team members and will add 40 more employees to work on the new face mask lines.

 

HVAC supplier bringing 40 jobs to Hall County, Ga.

A supplier of HVAC ducts will open a $700,000 manufacturing facility and sales office in Hall County. Dongwon Tech Corporation will also bring 40 jobs to Gainesville.

 

Progressive Pipe Fabricators opens Alabama facility

Progressive Pipe Fabricators recently celebrated the grand opening of its new production facility in Trinity, Ala. The 82,000-square-foot facility in Lawrence County will make sprinklers and sprinkler pipe.

 

Restaurant supply facility bringing 100 new jobs to East Tennessee

KaTom Restaurant Supply in Sevier County has opened its latest expansion. The new 50,000-square-foot warehouse will hire 100 new jobs.

 

Klöckner Pentaplast to expand Virginia operations with $68 million investment

Germany-Based Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a global leader in recycled products and packaging, will invest a total of $68 million to expand its facilities in Louisa County and Wythe County. The projects are expected to create 54 jobs.

 

Michelin planning $175 million investment in South Carolina

Michelin North America is planning to invest up to $175 million in equipment and machinery in Spartanburg and Greenville counties. Headquartered in Greenville, the tire maker is seeking to update its 25-year tax break agreements with both counties, which date back to 1996. Michelin says it is committed to investing $75 million in its Spartanburg County facilities and $100 million in its Greenville County facilities.

 

Santa Cruz Nutritionals expanding Sumter, S.C., operations

Santa Cruz Nutritionals, a manufacturer of food supplements, is investing $84 million in an expansion of its Sumter County operations, which is also expected to create 164 jobs.

 

Georgia-Pacific cuts ribbon on Bowling Green, Ky., facility

Georgia-Pacific recently opened its $100 million expansion in Bowling Green, a project that created 70-plus full-time jobs. The 80,000-square-foot expansion of its plant in the South Central Kentucky Industrial Park increases production capacity for Dixie plates and bowls.

 

Stanley Engineered Fastening plans expansion and 49 new jobs in Kentucky

One of Hopkinsville’s oldest industrial companies will create 49 jobs paying an average of $34 an hour after it completes a $6 million expansion. Stanley Engineered Fastening is a division of Stanley Black and Decker. It produces fasteners and other components used in assembly for several industries, including automotive and general manufacturing.

 

VIP Luxury Seating restarting in New Albany, Miss., creating 100 jobs

VIP Cinema Seating started in New Albany in 2012 with 30 employees and grew to employ more than 500 workers. The company was then sold to a private equity group, which subsequently filed for bankruptcy in February. The original founders, along with two additional investors, purchased the majority of the assets to rebuild the company and bring jobs back online. This project will create 100 new jobs and is a $180,000 corporate investment.

 

Insurance broker expands Chattanooga HQ

Reliance Partners, a company that provides insurance brokerage and advisory services, will invest $1.3 million to expand its headquarters and operations complex in Chattanooga, Tenn. The investment will create more than 100 new jobs in Hamilton County.

 

Japanese tech company bringing jobs to Austin, Texas

Japan-based tech company CKD Corporation will establish its first U.S. production site in Austin. The company will invest $13 million in the production site and will create up to 70 new jobs. The Austin facility will make fluid control components for the semiconductor industry.

 

Salmon company bringing 200 jobs to Southwest Virginia

Pure Salmon, along with Tazewell, Russell and Buchanan Counties issued a joint press release announcing one of the largest private investments ever in the area -- the world’s largest vertically integrated indoor aquaculture facility.  Located in Southwest Virginia, the facility will employ over 200 whose individual median wage will equal or exceed the total median family income of families in all of the three counties.

 

Logistics company opens new Georgia campus, bringing 200 jobs

A Chicago-based logistics company has opened a new facility in Austell, Ga., that brings about 200 jobs to Cobb County. OSM’s new 95,000-square-foot facility is the company’s second major expansion this year. The building is an $800 thousand investment.

 

Wolf and Flow X-Ray relocates to Rocky Mount, N.C.

Wolf and Flow X-Ray, a medical imaging manufacturer, will create 68 new jobs in Rocky Mount, N.C. The company will invest more than $4.5 million to relocate their headquarters and manufacturing operations to Edgecombe County.

 

Medical manufacturer to create hundreds of jobs in Lincoln County, N.C.

Taiji Medical Supplies will invest more than $12.2 million in Lincolnton, N.C., to convert a vacant building for the production of N95 respirators. The project will create 79 new jobs.

 

Georgia boating company announces expansion, new advanced factory

A marine and power sports equipment company is planning a $22 million expansion at its Georgia headquarters. Outdoor Network, a dealer and distributor of equipment and parts that operates e-commerce sites Boats.net, Partzilla.com, and Firedog.com, will expand a distribution center and build a new advanced manufacturing facility in Albany, Ga. The company expects to add 40 new jobs at the manufacturing facility and 52 positions at the distribution hub.

 

Germany-Based startup plans electric flying taxi hub in Orlando

The first hub location for a high-speed, electric air mobility network in America will be launched by Germany-based Lilium in Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla. According to Positively Osceola, the aviation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing jet aircraft, Tavistock Development Company, announced the country’s first urban and regional air mobility network as well as Lilium’s first U.S. network location. The project will create more than 100 high-wage jobs.

 

Golden Boy Foods plans $13 million expansion in Troy, Ala.

Golden Boy Foods is expanding its peanut butter production in Troy as part of a $13 million project that will create 67 full-time jobs. Troy’s Industrial Development Board is investing $12.5 million to purchase land and erect the building.

 

Virginia Voters approve casino referendum

Virginia will move forward with the development of four casinos across its state, and one of them will border North Carolina. Voters in the city of Danville, Va., just north of the Piedmont Triad, passed the casino referendum in November. Caesar’s will move forward with the casino, 300-room hotel, and entertainment venue. The project will bring more than 1,200 jobs to the region.

 

Manufacturer to bring 100 jobs to Washington County, Va.

A guardrail manufacturing company, SPIG Industry, is expected to bring more 113 jobs to Washington County. SPIG will invest $7.9 million to build three large production plants and a welding shop, as well as a new rail spur line to serve the facility.

 

Setterstix eyes manufacturing complex in South Carolina

Setterstix Corporation, a paper stick manufacturer, will invest more than $11.7 million to establish a manufacturing center in Fountain Inn, S.C. The company plans to create 80 jobs in Laurens County.

 

FedEx hiring 1,200 for new Southern Dallas hub

FedEx is hiring 1,200 workers for its new shipping hub in southern Dallas County. The shipping giant leased 778,000 square feet of warehouse space earlier this year for the FedEx Ground package handling center.

 

Ardagh Group expands manufacturing at Olive Branch, Miss., factory

Ardagh Group, a supplier of metal and glass packaging, is expanding operations at its beverage can manufacturing facility in Olive Branch. The expansion is part of a multi-year $1.8 billion investment plan by Ardagh, and includes the addition of 80 new jobs at the plant.

 

Turkish auto supplier plans HQ in Georgia

Teklas, a manufacturer of electric vehicle parts based in Turkey, will invest $6.5 million to open its first North American facility and headquarters in Calhoun, Ga. The project is expected to create 120 jobs in Gordon County.

 

White Claw to invest $400 million, create 300 jobs in Richland County, S.C.

Mark Anthony Brewing, which makes White Claw Hard Seltzer, plans to build a $400 million facility in Richland County, one the largest economic investments in Richland County history that state officials say will create 300 new jobs.

 

Simmons Pet Foods announces Arkansas expansion

Simmons Pet Foods announced plans to expand its canned pet food operation in Siloam Springs, Ark. The first phase is set to come online in July 2021 and will create up to 100 new jobs.

 

Grön Fuels announces potential $9.2 billion renewable fuel complex in Louisiana

Grön Fuels is studying the feasibility of a renewable fuel complex at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. With expansions and associated projects, the complex could involve up to $9.2 billion of total investment over several phases. A final investment decision is expected in 2021. The complex would create an estimated 1,025 new direct jobs.

 

American Wood Fibers building plant in North Carolina

American Wood Fibers, a specialty forest products supplier, has selected Laurinburg for a new manufacturing site. The company plans to create 51 jobs in Scotland County, and will invest $19.5 million to produce wood pellets.

 

Auto supplier Mobis bringing 120 jobs to Birmingham area

Auto supplier Mobis Alabama announced it is expanding into the Birmingham metro area with a $15.8 million new facility that is expected to support 120 jobs. The company, a subsidiary of Hyundai Mobis, announced plans to open its second Alabama facility at the Jefferson County Metropolitan Industrial Park in McCalla. Mobis currently operates a facility in Montgomery County that supplies the Hyundai plant in Montgomery and Kia plant in West Point, Ga.

 

FNS Group building hub in Clarksville, Tenn.

South Korea-based transportation and logistics provider, FNS Group, will invest $33.4 million to build a warehouse and distribution center on a greenfield site in Clarksville. Pantos USA, a subsidiary of FNS Group, currently has 18 employees in Clarksville and will be expanding its footprint in the area while creating an additional 62 jobs.

 

HANDLE expands in Jefferson County, Ky.

Healthcare Asset Network, doing business as HANDLE Global, which develops, sells and implements technology in support of the healthcare equipment supply chain, is expanding in Jefferson County, Ky. The company will invest $7.8 million and hire 80 associates across its distribution and headquarters network.