Summer 2011
For real-time news on economic development, business and politics in the American South, go to www.RandleReport.com. For more information on the South's automotive industry, go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com.
ALABAMA
Hackleburg's, Ala. Wrangler plant, destroyed in April tornadoes, to be rebuilt
A Wrangler plant destroyed when a powerful tornado struck the city of Hackleburg, Ala. will be rebuilt, the company announced this summer. The plant will be bigger, with a greater capacity that could add 50 additional jobs, according to a statement from Wrangler's parent company, VF Corp.
Portfolio Recovery Associates adding 130 call center jobs in Birmingham, Ala.
Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc. plans to add 130 new call center jobs as it expands its Birmingham, Ala. operations. The specialized financial services company and consumer debt purchaser and collector has committed to a five-year, 17,000-square-foot lease in the area.
Steel Warehouse eyes $16 million, 60-job plant on ThyssenKrupp site
An Indiana company is considering opening a steel processing plant on the ThyssenKrupp AG property in Calvert, Ala., the potential first tenant in an industrial park of steel users that was part of ThyssenKrupp's vision for the complex. Steel Warehouse, based in South Bend, Ind., is considering a 60-job, $16 million facility that would process hot-rolled carbon steel from ThyssenKrupp Steel USA. A pickling line would remove corrosion from the steel, making it suitable for makers of heavy equipment.
Huntsville, Ala.-based Teledyne Brown Engineering gets $383M defense contract, will add 50 jobs
After its announcement about plans for outer space with Aerojet, Teledyne Brown is branching out to "marine space." The Huntsville-based company has been awarded a contract valued at $383 million for a replacement craft to transport Special Operations Forces on their missions. The work is projected to add about 50 jobs.
Wise Metals moving HQ to Shoals region of Alabama
Wise Metals announced in July it is relocating its headquarters from Baltimore to the Shoals region in Northwest Alabama. The headquarters will be located on the same campus with its largest subsidiary, Wise Alloys. Wise Metals is the second largest producer of aluminum can stock for the beverage and food industries. About 1,000 workers are housed at the Wise Alloys plant in the Shoals.
Golden Boy Foods to open peanut butter plant in Alabama
Canada-based Golden Boy Foods announced in the summer it will open a new peanut butter plant in Troy, Ala. The deal will bring 130 jobs to Troy.
Raytheon breaks ground on Huntsville missile plant
In the summer, Raytheon broke ground at Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal on a new $70 missile plant. The company will produce propulsion and other components for the Standard Missile 3 and SM-6 at the Raytheon Redstone Missile Integration Facility. The deal will create about 300 new jobs.
ARKANSAS
Nucor Steel planning $50 million expansion in Blytheville, Ark.
Nucor Steel Arkansas said it plans to spend close to $50 million expanding its Hickman plant in Blytheville, Ark., pending approval from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The steel manufacturer, with headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., hopes to receive ADEQ's approval to start the project by the end of the year, said Nucor's Controller Mark DiGirolamo. If the project is approved, construction would begin in 2012 and scheduled to be finished in the third quarter of 2012.
Florida manufacturer to open plant in Springdale
Dixie-Southern Arkansas is leasing a 50,000-square-foot facility in Springdale, Ark., that previously housed Shiloh Steel Fabricators. The Bradenton, Fla.-based company will operate a custom steel fabrication center at the location.
Mining company to spend $100M to expand Ark. plant, create 140 jobs
Saint-Gobain Corp., a bauxite mining company, announced this summer it plans to spend about $100 million to build a second manufacturing plant in Arkansas. The new plant is expected to add up to 140 additional jobs, company officials said.
FLORIDA
Tech firm Savtira will add 265 jobs, relocate some staff to downtown Tampa
A fast-expanding, Ybor City-based technology company says it will quadruple in size, with plans to hire at least 265 employees in the next 18 months and relocate its headquarters to downtown Tampa this year. In this struggling economy, it seems not all news is gloomy. "Savtira is experiencing explosive growth, making it necessary for us to headquarter in a location with enough space for our employees and equipment," said Timothy Roberts, CEO of Savtira Corp.
C Products Defense plans 100 jobs with move to Manatee County
In September, C Products Defense moved its manufacturing and distribution operations from Connecticut to Manatee County, Fla. The company plans to add 100 employees to its facility which uses robotic welding units to manufacture ammunition magazines for law enforcement, military and rifle manufacturers.
Convergys Corp. to bring 900 new jobs to Jacksonville
Convergys Corp. announced it will hire 900 customer service and sales positions at its call center in Jacksonville. Convergys, based in Cincinnati, is seeking candidates to support a client in the telecommunications industry.
Biotech company Rapid Pathogen Screening plans 164 new jobs in Sarasota County, Fla. headquarters expansion
Rapid Pathogen Screening Inc. (RPS), an emerging biotech company that makes rapid diagnostic tests for a variety of diseases and conditions, plans to add 164 employees over the next five years, according to the company’s CEO.
Biotech investment firm hiring 150 in Jupiter
ESI Florida, the U.S. affiliate of New Zealand-based Endeavour Capital, announced it is creating 150 jobs in Jupiter, Fla. The biotechnology investment firm plans to lease 27,000 square feet of office and lab space to help local biotech companies in their start ups.
AT&T to hire more than 60 in Jacksonville
AT&T Inc. is hiring more than 60 technicians in Jacksonville for the U-verse service. The jobs are part of the company’s statewide initiative to hire more than 400 technicians as the U-verse technology service becomes more widely available, the company said in a news release.
Humana is hiring another 300 in its St. Petersburg chronic care unit
Humana, one of the most prolific corporate job creators in the Tampa Bay area throughout the Great Recession, isn't slowing down. The Louisville-based insurer said Monday that it is adding 300 more jobs this fall at its Humana Cares unit in St. Petersburg.
Palm Beach Co., Fla. turbine farm gets OK
Palm Beach County commissioners gave final approval to a series of development rules that could allow a wind farm to rise on thousands of acres of sugar land near Belle Glade. The commission voted 6-0 in favor of changes to the county's land development regulations that would allow wind turbines to rise throughout the county.
Convergys hiring 500 for Lake Mary, Fla. center
Convergys, the hottest call center operation in the South right now, is expanding in the Orlando market. The company is adding 500 jobs.
Company hiring 50 in Sarasota, Fla.
Aso announced in the summer it will locate its Millennium Coating subsidiary in Sarasota County. The deal, which will create 50 new jobs, is the fourth expansion for the company in Sarasota.
JP Morgan Chase hiring 200 in Tampa Bay
The expansion of the financial services industry in the South after years of contraction is continuing as evidenced by JP Morgan Chase's announcement in July that it is adding 200 new jobs in Tampa Bay. The New York-based megabank gained over 200 bank branches in Florida after acquiring Washington Mutual in the wake of the 2008 bank crisis.
Plastics manufacturer expands in Sarasota, hiring 80
Octex, a customs plastics manufacturer, is adding 80 jobs at its plant in eastern Sarasota Co., Fla. The company makes products for the consumer, medical, aerospace and industrial sectors.
Healthcare company relocating HQ to Bay County, Fla.
Redpine Healthcare Technologies announced in mid-July it will relocate its corporate headquarters from Spokane, Wash. to Bay County-Panama City, Fla. The company is a software developer focused on the management of chiropractic offices. The deal is expected to result in 100 new jobs in the first year of operation.
Keystone Coal to build private port terminal in Jacksonville
Florida Gov. Rick Scott hailed Keystone Coal's decision to build a $150 million private port terminal in Jacksonville's Talleyrand area. The project, which is expected to create 200 new jobs, will serve as an export terminal for coal and scrap steel on bulk cargo ships.
Green energy company relocates from Canada to Sarasota, Fla.
5D Composite, based in Ontario, plans to relocate part of its manufacturing operation to Sarasota Co., Fla. The company makes composite materials for industrial and consumer markets. The deal will create 120 new jobs.
GEORGIA
Lowe's breaks ground on Rome distribution center
In September, N.C.-based retailer Lowe's broke ground in Rome, Ga. on a new regional distribution center. The $125 million project is expected to create 600 new jobs.
Drug company brings 156 bioscience jobs to Cobb Co., Ga.
Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corporation is beginning operations in Marietta, Ga. and plans to bring 156 jobs over five years, Cobb County officials said. Osmotica moved into the former Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. campus recently, opening its first research and development manufacturing facility in North America.
Augusta, Ga. company to add up to 100 jobs
Augusta, Ga.-based FPL Food, LLC will expand its beef processing operation in Richmond County and add up to 100 jobs. The company plans to invest up to $3 million in a new facility. FPL Food is the largest privately held beef processor in the Southeast, according to a company statement. Customers include food service, retail, military and export operations.
Manufacturer to expand corporate headquarters in Norcross, Ga.
Norcross, Ga.-based RockTenn will add 500 new jobs and invest $5 million to expand the company’s corporate headquarters. RockTenn, a leading integrated manufacturer of corrugated and consumer packaging and recycling solutions, recently purchased Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation.
Firth Rixson to add 100 jobs in Liberty County, Ga.
Firth Rixson Forgings, a subsidiary of U.K.-based Firth Rixson Limited, will expand its forged metal operation in Midway, Ga. as a result of increased business, Gov. Nathan Deal announced in the summer. The company said it anticipates creating 75 to 100 new jobs, which would bring its total to 304 employees when in full production mode.
Fulfillment center locating in Rock Spring, Ga.
A distribution/fulfillment center that is expected to house 40 workers is locating in Rock Spring, Ga. Findlay's Tall Timbers will operate the facility.
Marketing company adds 100 jobs in Atlanta, more on way for area
Naples, Fla.-based Proximus Mobility, a marketing company that provides localized digital content to consumers’ mobile phones, is moving its headquarters to Atlanta. The relocation will bring with it 100 jobs over the next three years.
500 new jobs for Brunswick, Ga.
GSI Commerce, which is part of the eBay online network, is opening a call center in Brunswick, Ga. The deal will create about 500 part-time and full-time jobs.
Chromalloy creating 125 jobs in Newnan, Ga.
Chromalloy, a turbine engine component repair company, is adding 125 jobs at its plant in Newnan, Ga. The 131,000-square-foot facility serves commercial aircraft engine operators and users of industrial gas turbine power systems.
WellStar Health System hiring 500 in Paulding Co., Ga.
WellStar Health System, one of Atlanta's largest medical providers, announced in July it will replace its Paulding County hospital with a new 112-bed, $125 million facility. The 226,000-square-foot hospital will be located in Hiram, Ga. and will create 300 new jobs. An adjoining medical office will house an additional 200 new jobs.
Tifton, Ga. to get 200 new jobs
A Spanish company is expected to create 200 new jobs in Tifton, Ga. after purchasing the former Tifton Extrusions plant. The company manufactures aluminum profiles for lifts, heat sinks, transportation and naval construction applications and a variety of other products.
Hyundai Construction moving HQ from Chicago to metro Atlanta
South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries is investing $10 million to move its Americas headquarters from Chicago to Norcross, Ga., a northern suburb of Atlanta. The deal will create 100 new jobs.
KENTUCKY
GE to add 38 jobs at Lexington, Ky. lamp plant
General Electric Co. will invest about $10 million at its GE Lighting Lexington Lamp Plant to produce a new line of energy-efficient lighting products, creating 38 jobs. GE Lighting, a Cleveland-based division of Louisville-based GE Appliances & Lighting, will begin installation soon of equipment to make energy-efficient spotlights and floodlights.
GE opens global data center at Appliance Park in Kentucky
General Electric's Appliances & Lighting Division unveiled a new, energy efficient brain inside its Appliance Park headquarters, a $48 million data center to support the business in 100 countries worldwide. Backed up by two diesel-powered generators, the computing powerhouse helps ensure GE’s commitment to revitalizing the historic manufacturing complex, officials said.
Denyo reinvesting in Danville, Ky. plant
In September, Denyo Manufacturing announced it is reinvesting $6.9 million to modernize its industrial electric generator plant in Danville, Ky. The investment will retain 101 workers.
Leading online retailer to invest nearly $7.7M in Northern Kentucky
Online retailing company, CSN Stores, will open a new distribution hub in Hebron, Ky. The new distribution center, representing an investment of nearly $7.7 million, will create up to 105 new jobs in the Northern Kentucky region.
Accent Marketing announces 2,000 new Kentucky jobs
Accent Marketing Services LLC plans to double its employment to about 2,000 jobs as part of an initiative announced with federal officials. Tim Searcy, CEO of Jeffersonville, Ind.-based Accent, said the company is joining with other companies across the country to create 100,000 contact-center jobs through the national jobs4america initiative.
CSX to build $15M intermodal terminal near Louisville airport
CSX Corp. plans to build a $15 million, 34-acre intermodal terminal in Louisville that will begin operations in early 2012. The privately funded terminal will provide daily train service connecting through the company’s Northwest Ohio Intermodal Terminal to markets across CSX Transportation’s 21,000-route-mile network.
Dynamic Fabrication expands in rural Kentucky
Dynamic Fabrication announced in July it is adding 22 new jobs at its steel fabrication facility in Beaver Dam, Ky. The company will invest about $1 million in the project.
Life sciences and innovation park breaks ground in downtown Louisville
The Nucleus Innovation Park Downtown broke ground in downtown Louisville in July. The new life sciences campus is backed by a joint effort by the city of Louisville and the University of Louisville. The park's first building will be eight stories and will encompass about 160,000 square feet.
Healthcare company CoventryCares creating 120 new jobs in Louisville
CoventryCares of Kentucky, a company recently selected as a service provider to Medicaid recipients in the state, will establish its headquarters in Louisville. The deal will create 120 new jobs.
Allconnect bringing 225 Jobs to Lexington, Ky.
Allconnect opened a new call center in Lexington in July. The consumer services firm is investing $7 million and creating 225 new jobs at the project at the Coldstream Research Campus.
LOUISIANA
Gameloft will develop software in New Orleans
Mobile and online video game developer Gameloft is expanding into New Orleans with the opening of a software development office in the Crescent City. The New York-based company creates games designed to be played on mobile devices including the iPhone, Android and other portable gadgets. Gameloft is expected to employ about 150 people in New Orleans.
Redevelopment to bring 450 jobs to Madison Parish, La.
Redevelopment at the Madison Parish Port St. John in northeast Louisiana is expected to add 450 jobs in five years, according to Louisiana Economic Development. St. John Enterprises Inc. plans to invest $32 million in cranes, machinery and other upgrades at a 100,000-square-foot facility on 56 acres at the Tallulah port.
DG Foods opens plant in rural Louisiana
In August, DG Foods celebrated the opening of its $10 million plant that reclaims part of a dormant paper mill in Bastrop, La. The poultry company will house 317 workers at the facility.
Ronpak to build packaging plant in Shreveport
In the summer quarter, New Jersey-based Ronpak announced it will build a manufacturing facility at the Port of Shreveport-Bossier. The $16.8 million investment will create 175 new jobs.
Schumacher expanding HQ in Lafayette, La.
The Schumacher Group is investing $19 million in its headquarters in Lafayette, La. The deal will add 600 new jobs. Schumacher was founded in 1994 in Opelousas, La. and contracts emergency room services to hospitals throughout the country. The company chose to stay in Lafayette after considering relocating to Houston, Dallas or Atlanta.
Cheniere Energy announces one of the largest single investments ever in the South
One of the largest capital investments in the history of economic development in the South and the largest in Louisiana was announced in July. Cheniere Energy CEO Charif Souki announced that the company will construct a $6.5 billion natural gas liquefaction facility at Cheniere's Sabine Pass terminal in Cameron Parish, La. The new facility will handle the shipment of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, from the company's international LNG terminal.
Entergy Louisiana to build $721 million natural gas unit
Entergy Louisiana announced in the summer it will build a new 550-megawatt natural gas unit at its Ninemile Point plant in Westwago, La. The project is expected to create 600 construction jobs.
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi legislators approve incentives for Calisolar's Columbus project
In September, Mississippi lawmakers approved more than $75 million in bonds for Calisolar, a California-based solar silicon manufacturer to build a 1-million-square-foot plant in Columbus, Miss. The plant will produce silicon metal to be used in the automotive, consumer electronics and solar panel industries. Over 900 jobs are expected to be created in the project.
Anda Distribution to set up in Olive Branch
Weston, Fla.-based Anda Distribution, a distributor of generic pharmaceuticals, is building a 234,660-square-foot distribution center in Olive Branch, Miss. The $23 million project will create 70 new jobs.
Enersteel to take over Dynasteel plant in Natchez
Enerfab, an equipment manufacturer, is taking over the former Dynasteel plant in Natchez, Miss. The new venture will be known as Enersteel and it will retain much of Dynasteel's existing workforce and the company will add 75 new jobs. The Natchez facility will specialize in fabricated steel plate products.
Gov. Barbour announces second GE manufacturing facility in rural Ellisville, Miss.
In the summer, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and GE Aviation CEO David Joyce announced the company will locate a second manufacturing plant in Ellisville where it will produce advanced composite components for aircraft engines and systems. The company will build a 300,000-square-foot plant at Howard Technology Park. The deal represents a $56 million investment and will create 250 new jobs.
Dennen Steel breaks ground on new plant in Iuka
Dennen Steel, a contract stamping manufacturer of steel products, broke ground on a new 50,000-square-foot plant at Yellow Creek Port in Iuka, Miss. in the summer. The $7.4 million project will create 50 new jobs.
Blue Mountain expands in Mississippi
Blue Mountain, a subsidiary of Oil-Dri, celebrated its $9 million expansion in Northeast Mississippi in July. The company added 41,000 square feet of space to its facility and added 20 workers.
NORTH CAROLINA
HCL plans to add 300 jobs in Cary, N.C.
Information technology services giant HCL Technologies plans to add about 300 employees at its Cary office by the end of March. Anand Pillai, senior vice president at the India-based company, said that those hiring plans are based on new contracts.
Xerox company ACS to hire 1,500 people in Raleigh area
In the summer, quarter, Affiliated Computer Services Inc. announced plans to hire 1,500 people for permanent and temporary call center jobs in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina.
The "pony" loves High Point, N.C.
In September, Ralph Lauren showed off its third distribution facility in High Point, a 343,000-square-foot building, to local business leaders. The facility is expected to house an additional 400 workers, bringing employment by the "pony" to over 1,200 in High Point.
Enviva to create 62 jobs in Garysburg, N.C.
Enviva LP, a manufacturer of processed biomass fuel, will build a new wood pellet manufacturing facility in Northampton County, N.C. The $60 million project is expected to create 62 new jobs.
Spirit Aerosystems adding 200 jobs at its N.C. Global TransPark facility
Spirit AeroSystems, one of the largest commercial airplane parts suppliers in the world, is expanding at the North Carolina Global TransPark. The company, which produces fuselages for the Airbus A350 at the plant, is moving production of Gulfstream G250 wings from Tulsa, Okla. to its TransPark assembly facility. The new work will add 200 jobs at the Kinston, N.C. plant.
BestSweet adding 37 jobs in Mooresville, N.C.
BestSweet, one of the nation's largest producers of throat lozenges, is adding 37 jobs at its facility Mooresville, N.C. The company will invest $6.4 million in the deal.
Solar module company opening plant in rural N.C.
Semprius, a Durham, N.C.-based solar module manufacturer, announced in July it is building a new plant in Vance Co., N.C. The company will invest $90 million in the project that is expected to create 256 new jobs.
S.C. candle maker expanding in N.C.
Charleston, S.C.-based MVP Group is planning to expand its Colonial Candles plant in Eklin, N.C. The $10.6 million project is expected to create 67 new jobs.
Honda Aircraft adding 100 hires in Greensboro, N.C.
With its current workforce at 600 at its aircraft production facility in Greensboro, 100 more hires at the plant that is located at the Piedmont Triad International Airport means Honda's experiment at building small airplanes is apparently a huge success. The company also expects to hire several hundred more in the next few years as it officially starts production of its light business jet.
Lord Corp. adding 117 jobs to Cary, N.C. HQ
Lord Corp., a manufacturer of adhesives and coatings, announced in the summer it plans to expand its Cary, N.C. headquarters. The deal will create 117 jobs over the next five years.
Time Warner Cable hiring 225 in N.C.
Time Warner cable is hiring "hundreds" of workers in Charlotte. The new jobs are coming from the building of a new data center to better handle video, data and voice traffic.
Sheetz distribution center to create 200 jobs in N.C.
Pennsylvania-based retailer Sheetz announced in July it will build or occupy a 200,000-square-foot building for use as a distribution center in N.C. The site has not been determined, but the company did say employment would reach 200.
Defense company moving to Harnett Co., N.C.
American Defense Systems, a manufacturer of defense and security products, announced in the summer it is moving its headquarters from New York to rural Harnett Co., N.C. The company, whose stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange, is relocating from Long Island to Lillington, N.C. to cut costs. The company's products include bullet-resistant armor. Ten employees will relocate from New York to Harnett Co.
Manufacturer expanding in Rowan Co., N.C.
Universal Forest Products, a manufacturer of wood and wood-alternative products for retail, construction and the manufactured housing industries, is expanding its facility in Rowan Co., N.C. The $2.6 million project will add 49 jobs.
Jetion Solar brings jobs to Charlotte
Jetion Solar, a recently formed subsidiary of Jetion Solar China, opened its first North American headquarters in Charlotte in the spring and in the summer the company said it would bring up to 36 jobs to the area by the end of the year. The company is also forming a manufacturing venture in Charlotte. The deals are the first for the company outside of China.
Bottler to open $45M N.C. plant
Niagara Bottling announced in the summer it plans to open a $45 million bottling plant in Mooresville, N.C. The deal will create 66 new jobs.
Compass Group USA to bring 200 jobs to Charlotte
Compass Group USA, a hospitality and support services firm, announced plans in the summer to bring 200 jobs to Charlotte. The average salaries of the jobs will top $50,000 a year.
OKLAHOMA
Virginia company plans Oklahoma wind farm
Virginia-based APEX Energy announced plans to build a 300-megawatt wind farm in Canadian Co., Okla. in the summer quarter. The electricity generated by the wind farm is expected to supply power to as many as 120,000 Oklahoma households.
AT&T hiring 100 for Tulsa call center
AT&T Oklahoma President Bryan Gonterman said the company is working to fill 100 jobs at its Tulsa call center. The service representatives will be responsible for sales and support for both AT&T business services and residential customers.
Word Industries announces expansion and new jobs in Oklahoma
Word Industries Fabrication, an Oklahoma-owned company, has opened a new metering division in Tulsa. The new facility will fabricate and assemble metering and piping systems for use in the oil and gas industry. The deal will result in 100 new jobs.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Innovative Composites announces new Orangeburg facility
In September, Toronto-based Innovative Composites International (ICI), a manufacturer of advanced materials, announced it will build a new facility in Orangeburg Co., S.C. The $9.3 million project, which will produce composite housing, is expected to create 300 new jobs.
Fast-growing S.C. company adding 500 jobs
Fort Mill, S.C.-based Red Ventures, one of the fastest growing companies in the Charlotte region, is adding 500 new jobs at the company's headquarters. After relocating to Fort Mill in 2009, the marketing company has been rapidly growing.
Kayak, canoe maker bringing 72 jobs to Greenville, S.C.
An Easley, S.C.-based kayak company is determined to continue heading upstream despite the turbulent economy. Confluence Watersports announced it will invest $13 million to expand into a 300,000-square-foot production and distribution center in Greenville, and create 72 jobs over the next five years.
Griffin Thermal Products growth, expansion to accelerate in Greenville County, S.C.
Griffin Thermal Products LLC, a maker of thermal transfer products for automotive and industrial sectors, will relocate its existing operations to a significantly larger facility in Piedmont in Greenville County. The multi-million dollar investment is expected to generate at least 50 new jobs, and possibly more, as the new facility becomes fully operational.
NEM USA announces new North American HQ in Greenville County
NEM USA, a leader in the field of heat recovery steam generators and industrial and utility boilers, will establish its new North American center of operations in Greenville County. The company expects to generate 40 new jobs in the deal.
5-Star USA announces global HQ in rural S.C.
5-STAR USA, a venture capital start-up investing in a manufacturing campus that will finance and manage vertically integrated businesses, is establishing its new global headquarters in Bennettsville, S.C. The company is based on a "Made in the USA" philosophy, providing capital and management to help build and sustain markets for businesses locating on the campus. The $25 million project may grow to over 1,000 jobs over the next five years.
Masonite expanding in rural S.C.
Masonite International, a manufacturer of doors, is investing $14 million in its Bamberg County operations. Masonite purchased the plant from Lifetime Doors last year. The deal will create 159 new jobs, tripling the plants current workforce.
Georgia firearms company opening plant in S.C.
Daniel Defense, an Ellebel, Ga.-based firearms manufacturer, announced in the summer it will build a new plant in South Carolina rather than expand its Georgia facility. The new plant is expected to house about 100 workers.
Scientific Research to hire 185 in North Charleston, S.C.
Defense contractor Scientific Research is adding to its swelling workforce of over 1,000 in North Charleston, S.C. The company is adding 135 jobs to fill back orders from the Space and Naval Warfare System Center Atlantic.
TENNESSEE
Amazon.com signs lease on 3rd Tennessee distribution site
Amazon has signed a short-term lease for an existing warehouse outside Nashville for its latest planned distribution center. G.C. Hixson, who heads the Joint Economic and Community Development Board in Wilson County, said the lease is for two to three years. Hixson said he believes Amazon plans to hire between 400 and 500 workers at the Wilson County site, where the company is leasing about 480,000 to 500,000 square feet.
Ranger Steel opens distribution facility on Presidents Island in Memphis
Steel plate distributor Ranger Steel has opened a Memphis distribution center at Kinder Morgan’s terminal on Presidents Island. The new center is the northern- and eastern-most distribution point for the Houston-based company that bills itself as the country’s largest independent, privately owned steel plate distributor.
Olin Chlor Alkali breaks ground on $160M facility in rural Tennessee
In the summer quarter, Olin Chlor Alkali broke ground on its state-of-the-art membrane cell manufacturing facility in Charleston, Tenn. The $160 million plant will produce chlorine, caustic soda, potassium hydroxide and other products.
Occidental adding 85 jobs in small town Tennessee
Occidental Chemical announced in late July it will build a chemical plant adjacent to DuPont's Johnsonville, Tenn., titanium dioxide plant in rural Humphreys County. The project will create 85 new jobs and 300 construction jobs. For more information on rural development in the South, go to www.SmallTownSouth.com.
Verizon to hire 300 in Franklin, Tenn.
Verizon Wireless announced in the summer it will add 300 jobs at its $54 million consolidation project in Cool Springs, which is located just south of Nashville. The expansion lifts Verizon's employment total above 1,300 in Franklin.
Company relocates from Seattle to Williamson Co, Tenn.
Avure Technologies, a manufacturer of specialty materials for industrial and commercial applications, is relocating its headquarters to Franklin, Tenn. It plans to employ 30 once it opens.
Kruger investing $300M in Memphis
Tissue and paper towel manufacturer Kruger Inc. announced in the summer it is investing $300 million in its Memphis plant. The Ontario-based company will hire 100 new workers, bringing employment at the facility to 394.
Convergys adding 375 jobs in Clarksville, Tenn.
Call center operator Convergys announced in the summer it will add 375 jobs at its Clarksville, Tenn. facility. The company currently employs 685 in Clarksville.
TEXAS
Florida company to create 500 jobs — in Texas
A recent announcement from a Florida-based call center to create 500 jobs at a pair of Texas locations has added another wrinkle to competition between the governors of each state. C3/CustomerContactChannel announced this month that it will add 2,000 jobs at locations in Arizona, Idaho, Utah and Texas. The Plantation, Fla.-based company outsources call services for health insurance companies and other industries.
J.P. Morgan Chase adding 700 to Texas workforce
J.P. Morgan Chase announced in September it will add 700 people to its mortgage servicing center in Lewisville, Tex. The new hires will work with delinquent mortgages and the goal is to help the borrowers to stay in their homes if possible.
Scentsy opening distribution center in Coppell
Idaho-based home fragrance company Scentsy has planned for a 150,000-square-foot distribution center in Coppell, Tex. The project is expected to create 190 new jobs.
Office Depot locating inside sales organization in Austin
Office Depot is creating an inside sales organization that will be dedicated to managing the accounts of small and medium-sized business customers in Austin, Tex. The project will create 203 new jobs and represents a multi-million dollar capital investment.
Alcon moving 100 jobs to Fort Worth in consolidation
Alcon Labs is moving about 100 positions from Atlanta to Fort Worth as the company consolidates its eye-care headquarters operations. The move follows the acquisition of Alcon by Switzerland-based Novartis in April. As part of the merger, Alcon became the Novartis eye-care division, incorporating the company's Ciba Vision and Novartis Ophthalmics units.
Durcon consolidating U.S. operations in Taylor, Tex. adding 65 new jobs
Durcon Inc., the Taylor, Tex.-based maker of work surfaces for laboratories, is moving all its U.S. operations to Taylor, which will result in an expansion of its Central Texas facilities and 65 new jobs. Durcon's consolidation involves closing a plant in Canton, Mich., the company said. The move will include an additional capital investment in Durcon's Central Texas facilities.
In-N-Out Burger seeks abatement for a Texas distribution center
Just after opening its first In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Fort Worth, the California-based chain is seeking a tax abatement to locate its regional distribution center in the city at CentrePort Business Park near Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Under the abatement, In-N-Out would invest $21 million and create 100 jobs by December 2018, with half created by the end of 2013.
Affiliated Computer Services to hire 260 in Houston, San Antonio
Affiliated Computer Services Inc. said it needed to increase its call center workforce in both Houston and San Antonio to service local clients. The Dallas-based company, part of Xerox Corp., wants to fill 100 permanent and temporary positions in Houston for call center agents and supervisors, and about 160 positions in San Antonio. The move is part of a nationwide hiring plan to add 3,000 jobs.
Schlumberger looking for Bexar Co., Tex. site
Fresh off the revelation that Halliburton Co. is looking to build a “supersite” in the San Antonio area, a county official disclosed another heavy-hitter in oil services wants a piece of the action. Schlumberger, the world’s largest oil-field services company with offices in Houston, Paris and The Hague, Netherlands, is proposing to establish a site in south Bexar County, said David Marquez, executive director of Bexar County’s economic development department.
EA expanding in Austin with 300 new jobs
Electronic Arts announced in the summer it will expand its Austin, Tex. operations by bringing a branch of its famed EA Sports division to the Texas capital city. The video game industry currently employs about 4,000 people in Texas, with about 750 being employed by EA after the 300 employee expansion. EA has relocated several hundred employees to Austin from California.
M&G Group to create 250 jobs in Corpus Christi
In July, Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced that M&G Group, an international PET resin manufacturer, has chosen to locate its third North American plant in Corpus Christi. The expansion is expected to create at least 250 direct jobs at the facility.
400-employee call center set for Rio Grande Valley
Maximus Inc. announced it will open a new call center in Edinburg, Tex., near the Texas-Mexico border. The company currently operates three other call centers in Texas and employs more than 2,200 people in the state. The new center will house 400 workers.
Ericsson more than doubles Richardson, Tex. office
Preparing for a huge expansion, the telecom firm Ericsson has doubled the size of its office space in Richardson. The company has long been a fixture in Dallas’ Telecom Corridor. The expansion paves the way for Ericsson to possibly double its current workforce in Richardson that currently stands at 1,100.
VIRGINIA
Alliant Techsystems relocating to Northern Virginia
Minnesota-based Alliant Techsystems announced in September it will relocate its corporate headquarters to Arlington, Va. The defense contractor will expand upon its current employment base of 50 workers at its northern Virginia offices. The company employs about 2,700 people in Minnesota and around 3,500 in the mid-Atlantic region, where it operates facilities in Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia.
FreightCar America to add 200 more jobs to downtown Roanoke, Va. factory
Roanoke's FreightCar America Inc. is adding a second production line to build rail cars for Norfolk Southern Corp. As the rail car industry began rebounding earlier this year, FreightCar restarted its factory in downtown Roanoke and brought in 225 workers. The company recently announced plans to hire about 200 people, which will bring its work force to about 425 by late fall.
100 new jobs for Botetourt County
TREAD Corp., a manufacturer of bulk handling equipment servicing the explosives industry, is investing $5 million to expand its operations in Botetourt County. The project will create 100 new jobs.
Sale of Henrico Co., Va. plant saves some local brands, creates 90 new jobs
The Richmond area won't lose production of Chapstick and several other well-known consumer health products under a deal announced this summer. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. said it has agreed to sell its plant in eastern Henrico County to Fareva, a European-based contract manufacturing company that plans to continue operating the factory and invest $42 million.
IT company expects to add 140 jobs in Richmond area
NTS, a Chesterfield Co., Va.-based information technology company, is planning to expand its staff to about 270. The company provides IT services to the healthcare industry.
ABB expands in rural Virginia
ABB Inc., a transformer manufacturer, plans to invest $4.6 million to expand and retool its plant in Halifax Co., Va. The deal will secure the 140 jobs at the plant and add 15 jobs.
Emerson Ecologics to open new facility in Richmond
Emerson Ecologics, a provider of products and services to the integrative healthcare community, will invest up to $1 million to open a distribution facility in Chesterfield Co., Va. The deal will create 60 new jobs.
ITT Exelis to establish HQ in Fairfax
ITT Defense and Information Solutions, an operating segment of ITT Corp., is investing $5 million to establish a new corporate headquarters in Fairfax County. ITT's Defense and Information Solutions segment already has a strong presence in Virginia with its headquarters in McLean, its Information Solutions division based in Herndon and its Geospatial Systems division based in Roanoke. Following completion of its spinoff from ITT Corp., the existing Defense and Information Solutions division will be renamed and rebranded as ITT Exelis. The new headquarters will create 100 new jobs.
Another data center slated for Northern Virginia
Sabey Data Center Properties, the largest privately-owned data center owner, announced in the summer it is building a 490,000-square-foot data center in Ashburn, Va. The Seattle-based company operates more than 3 million square feet of data center space nationwide.
Gov. McDonnell announces MeadWestvaco to invest $285 million in Covington plant
In the summer quarter, Richmond-based MeadWestvaco Corp. announced that it will invest $285 million to construct a new biomass boiler and upgrade power infrastructure at its massive mill in rural Covington, Va. The project will allow the plant to become self-sufficient in energy production and significantly reduces operating and maintenance costs. The plant is the world's largest solid bleached sulfate mill.
WEST VIRGINIA
Dominion moving forward with $500M gas processing plant in Marshall Co., W.Va.
Dominion, the energy conglomerate, announced in the summer it is proceeding with the construction of a $500 million natural gas processing plant in Marshall County, W.Va. Contracts have been awarded for more than 90 percent of the project's first phase, which should be in service by December 2012. The project will create 50 jobs when completed next year.
Caiman Energy to invest $500M in Marshall County processing plant
Caiman Energy will invest $500 million to increase the capacity of its Fort Beeler cryogenic gas processing plant. The plant currently processes about 120 million cubic feet of gas per day. The expansion will increase total gas processing to 520 million cubic feet per day by next summer.
Chemical firm to invest $1.7M to expand
Momentive Performance Materials announced plans in the summer to invest $1.7 million to expand capacity at its Sistersville plant to produce amino silanes. Silanes are used to help materials bond to surfaces.
Mining project to create 250 jobs
Ground was broken in August at the Roaring Creek coal mine near Ellamore, W.Va. Roaring Creek Coal is a division of United Coal Co. The company is investing $150 million in the project that will create 250 new jobs.
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