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Editor's Note: All new, relocated and expanded automotive-related
announcements have been moved to the Southern Auto Corridor
News section (you can also go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com),
which is now a regular feature in Southern Business &
Development.
QUIZ
The U.S. led all countries in foreign direct investment
in 2003, topping second place China and third place India.
Which region of the U.S. leads all other regions? Match these
2002 foreign direct investment totals with the correct U.S.
regions (East, Midwest, South and West). (a) $412 billion;
(b) $193 billion; (c) $201 billion; (d) $266 billion.
(Scroll down for answer)
Alabama
Louisiana-Pacific Eyes Alabama for New Plant
Officials with Louisiana-Pacific announced in mid-May they
were evaluating sites in South Alabama for an oriented strand
board (OSB) mill plant that would house about 200 workers.
The company is expected to move production of OSB from Wisconsin
to Alabama.
Alabama Lands Defense Company
EADS, the second-largest aerospace and defense company in
the world, is relocating its North American headquarters from
Washington, D.C. to Mobile, Ala. The company is also relocating
a support center from Virginia to Mobile. EADS is moving the
support center to the Mobile Regional Airport.
Melton Truck Lines Chooses Birmingham Hub
Melton Truck Lines has chosen Birmingham as its hub for the
southeastern United States after considering Atlanta, Memphis
and Charlotte. Melton is one of the nation's largest truck
carriers, with 700 tractors. The Tulsa, Okla.-based company
is investing $2.5 million to build a terminal, maintenance
building and driver recruitment training center over the next
five years in the Daniel Payne Industrial Park in North Birmingham.
Arkansas
Fort Smith Lands Large Facility
Graphic Packaging Corp. announced it is building a 300,000-square-foot
facility in Fort Smith. The Georgia-based packaging company
is adding 135 workers to its existing work force of 165.
UniFirst Announces Reopening of Cave City Plant
UniFirst Corporation will reopen its previously closed 65,000-square-foot
manufacturing facility in Cave City. A former shirt manufacturing
operation, the plant was shut down in 2002 due to deteriorating
cost competitiveness in the domestic garment business. The
company has kept the plant shuttered since and now will return
it to activity as a non-garment textile production facility.
Plant operations are expected to start-up shortly and the
company says it will immediately begin 125 recruiting workers.
Pinnacle Foods Expanding in Fayetteville
Pinnacle Foods Corporation, a major employer in Fayetteville
since 1955, has announced second expansion in two years. The
company, which produces Hungry Man® and Swanson® frozen
food, will make an $8 million investment and add 150 jobs
to the payroll, bringing Pinnacle's total workforce in Fayetteville
to more than 900. An additional five to 10 professional positions
will also be added as a direct result of the expansion.
American Railcar to Expand in Paragould
American Railcar Industries Inc., based in St. Charles, Mo.,
announced plans for expansion of its Paragould railcar manufacturing
plant, hiring up to 270 new employees within the next year.
The expansion will be a third production line in a stand-alone,
105,000-square-foot production facility.
Atkins Prepared Foods Inc. to Open in Atkins
Twin Rivers Foods, a Fayetteville, Ark.-based further processor
of poultry items will purchase the former Dean Specialty Foods
facility in Atkins to house Atkins Prepared Foods Inc. The
company will hire up to 450 people to process poultry, pork
and beef food products.
District of Columbia
Homeland Security Gobbles Up D.C. Office Space
The Department of Homeland Security has negotiated more than
400,000 square feet of office leases in at least six D.C.-area
buildings. Homeland Security signed two leases totaling 82,000
square feet on Capital Hill, a 40,000-square-foot and 65,000-square-foot
lease on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Office
of Inspector General, and a 100,000-square-foot lease at Two
Ballston Plaza.
Florida
Fidelity Expands in Riverside
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. has purchased a 5.9-acre
parcel of land adjacent to its Riverside site for $12 million
to expand its headquarters and develop a residential/hospitality
project. The expansion includes a 280,000-square-foot office
building to accommodate 1,000 employees relocating to Jacksonville.
Call Center Expands in Orlando
Adelphia Communications plans to open a call center in Orlando
that could employ 450 workers. The Colorado-based company
will open a 50,000-square-foot center that will house its
national sales center. The company also considered Arizona,
but chose Orlando because of the area's workforce.
Verizon Opens Call Center in Lakeland
Verizon Wireless is opening a new call center at its Lakeland
offices. The company renovated a 17,000-square-foot office
space to house 250 new workers.
T-Shirt Distributor Relocates to Gadsden County
T-Formation has purchased four acres in Gadsden County to
build a 45,000-square-foot facility. The company will create
85 jobs with the new plant that will open in fall 2004. The
company is relocating from Tallahassee because it couldn't
find a suitable location with easy access to Interstate 10.
Fibertech Chooses Polk County
Fibertech, a fiberglass insulation manufacturer, has chosen
Polk County for its production facility. The deal is expected
to create 400 new jobs in the Central Florida market.
Office Depot to Build New HQ in South Florida
Office Depot is investing $100 million in a 600,000-square-foot
facility that will serve as the company's corporate headquarters.
The company acquired 23 acres of land, which served as the
former IBM Campus in Boca Raton, for $11.6 million.
Georgia
Airship Manufacturer Lands in Columbus
Techsphere Systems International is building two manufacturing
plants in Columbus, Ga. The company makes airships that will
be sold to the defense industry as well as other industries.
The privately held company will invest $20 million in the
deal and create 250 new jobs.
SouthTrust Expands in Midtown Atlanta
As part of the trend toward Atlanta bank growth, SouthTrust
Corp., a Birmingham, Ala.-based bank, has moved into new office
space at Atlantic Station in Midtown Atlanta. SouthTrust has
moved three of its four primary divisions to Atlanta to date,
employing about 1,500 in the area.
Del Monte Picks Atlanta over Birmingham
Del Monte Foods has signed a deal for a 780,000-square-foot,
build-to-suit warehouse that will be built near Atlanta. The
canned fruit maker is consolidating distribution facilities
that currently operate in Jacksonville and Birmingham.
Apparel Company Expands in Eatonton
New Jersey-based apparel company Haband is investing $2.1
million to expanding its distribution center in Eatonton and
will retain its call center in Athens. The company will add
125 new jobs. Haband plans to move its important traffic to
the Port of Savannah. The company will receive a $350,000
OneGeorgia Grant.
Company Expands in Northeast Georgia
GEM Industries announced recently it will construct a new
facility in Toccoa, Ga. The deal represents an expansion of
existing facilities in Stephens County. The company will add
25,000 square feet of manufacturing space and add 20 employees.
Kansas
Koch Industries Locates in Wichita
Koch Industries, Inc., a privately held diverse group of
global companies, is locating its corporate management in
Wichita. Koch deals in natural gas, gas liquids, chemicals,
plastics and fibers, minerals and other products. The move
will bring 200 executives to the city with salaries of at
least $100,000 each. Koch last year purchased Invista, formerly
known as DuPont Textile and Interiors, from DuPont for $4.4
billion.
Owens Corning Invests $8.8M in Kansas City
Owens Corning plans to invest $8.8 million to re-engineer
and rebuild a mothball fiberglass installation production
line in Kansas City, Kan. Owens Corning currently operates
four production lines in the plant. The line under construction
was shut down in 1999. The expansion adds 46 new high-wage
union jobs to the region. The company will see a 50 percent,
10-year tax abatement on the new equipment.
Cessna Builds Plant in Independence
Cessna Aircraft Co. is building $13 million worth of new
facilities and will add 500 workers to its plant in Independence
to build its Citation Mustang. Local governments passed an
incentive package that includes assistance with workforce
training and plant construction costs.
Bayer Expands in Shawnee
Bayer HealthCare LLC's Animal Health Division is investing
$14 million in a 232,000 square-foot warehouse and distribution
center at the company's 52-acre site in Shawnee. The facility
will house 75 employees. Twenty-seven will relocate from a
leased warehouse in Kansas City, Kan. The new center is Bayer's
second big capital investment in Shawnee in the past two years.
Bayer's investment in the Shawnee campus now exceeds $120
million.
T-Mobile Expands in Lexana
T-Mobile USA Inc. is investing $22 million to build a service
center in Lexana that will add 110 employees. The Bellevue,
Wash.-based wireless carrier will move from its 50,000 square-foot
building into a new 77,000 square-foot building. Construction
is expected to be complete before the end of the year.
Kentucky
Snowplow Manufacturer Selects Shepherdsville
Shepherdsville, Ky. has won the favor of Snowbear Ltd., a
Canadian snowplow company and utility trailer maker. The company
recently opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant there.
Snowbear invested $2.2 million in the 103,000-square-foot
former Ziniz Inc. plant and its 10-acre site. The plant will
employ 200 people.
Internet Shoe Merchant Expands in Kentucky
Zappos.com, a San Francisco-based online shoe merchant, is
expanding its 120,000 square-foot distribution center in Shepherdsville
by 40,000 square feet. The company will add 200 jobs in the
next two years.
Citicorp Expands Call Center in Louisville
Citicorp Credit Services, Inc. is investing more than $35.8
million to expand its call center operations in Louisville.
The company will build a 170,000 square-foot office building
that will be completed by the end of the year. The expansion
will create 1,620 jobs by the end of 2005. The new facility
will be part of a larger, $100 million business park.
Briggs & Stratton Expands in Murray
Briggs & Stratton, a small engine manufacturer, is investing
$6.2 million to expand its operations in Murray. The company
will hire an additional 100 workers and hopes to develop three
types of small engines that will meet new clean-air regulations
at the facility. The expansion will allow B&S to product
3.8 million engines in 2004.
Louisiana
Dow Chemical Unit Expands in St. Charles
UCAR Emulsion Systems, the Cary-based business unit of Dow
Chemical Company, is investing $100 million over the next
three years to build a new manufacturing plant in St. Charles
and to make improvements to the company's existing production
facilities in Alsip, Ill. and Sarnia, Ontario. The company
plans to shut down manufacturing sites near Tucker, Ga. and
Garland, Texas when it opens its new facility in 2006. More
than 30 new jobs will be added. The company produces latex
used in paint and other products in the construction and textile
markets.
Call Center to Employ 1,300 in Shreveport
The U.S. Support Company announced in the spring quarter
it is locating a new inbound customer service center facility
in Shreveport. The company will create 750 jobs in the first
year and a total of 1,300 by the end of the second year of
operations. U.S. Support represents a variety of Fortune 500
companies and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale.
ExxonMobil Expands in Baton Route
ExxonMobil Chemical is building a 500,000 square-foot warehouse
in north Baton Rouge to store and distribute polymers manufactured
at its local plant. The $13 million facility will employ 26
workers when it opens its doors in the third quarter of 2004.
Maryland
Mill Corp. Moving to Maryland
Retail Giant Mills Corp. is relocating its corporate headquarters
from Rosslyn, Va. to a mixed-used development under construction
in Chevy Chase. Mills Corp. It will occupy a 200,000 square-foot
building owned by Chevy Chase Land Co. by the second quarter
of 2006 at the same time the company's Rosslyn lease expires.
Coca-Cola Relocating Regional HQ to Columbia
Coca-Cola Enterprises is moving its mid-Atlantic regional
headquarters to a new location in Columbia. The soda maker
searched for locations in Northern Virginia, Prince George's,
Anne Arundel and Howard counties before selecting Columbia.
The Atlanta-based company will lease about 30,000 square feet
of space in a Class A office building in Howard County and
will move 150 employees from its existing Columbia location
by August.
Tractor Supply Company to Locate Distribution Center in
Hagerstown
Tractor Supply Company (TSC), a leading retailer of farm
and ranch supply products and services, announced today that
the company is expanding its operations in Hagerstown with
the construction of a new 482,000 square foot distribution
center in the Crossroads Corporate Center business park in
Washington County. The new distribution center is expected
to create 180 new full-time positions by December 2006.
Chesapeake Spice Company Announces New Facility, Expansion
Chesapeake Spice Company, LLC, a national manufacturer and
leading importer of spices, will construct a $6 million facility
in Belcamp, Md. The 100,000 square foot building in the Riverside
Business Park will house the company's new headquarters. Chesapeake
Spice Company is expected to employ more than 100 individuals
at the state-of-the-art facility in Harford County.
Mississippi
Defense Company Picks Lowndes County
Talley Defense Systems is investing $4 million in a manufacturing
facility that will employ 50 people. The Mississippi plant
will produce and assemble rocket launchers for customers including
the U.S. Army, U.S. Marines and U.S. Special Operations and
foreign allies. The plant is being built on a 640-acre site
and should be completed within the next 12 months. The company
signed a 40-year lease on the land.
FedEx Builds New Distribution Hub in Olive Branch
FedEx Ground is investing $1.8 billion to build nine hubs
over the next six years. The Pennsylvania-based company has
chosen a site in Olive Branch for one of the planned distribution
hubs. FedEx will build the 330,000-square-foot facility on
93 acres and employ 385 full- and part-time personnel.
Northrop Grumman Building Drone Plant in Pascagoula
A new drone helicopter fabrication facility is being built
by Northrop Grumman. The 30,000-square-foot facility will
covert standard production helicopters into pilot less drones
to be used by the military. The deal is expected to create
50 new jobs.
Missouri
Biomedical Systems Expands in St. Louis
Biomedical Systems Inc. is building a 45,000 square-foot
building adjacent to its current headquarters in Maryland
Heights. The estimated cost of the facility is $12 million.
Biomedical Systems supplies monitoring equipment, including
electrocardiogram services.
Pharma Company Expands in St. Louis
Centocor, Inc., a Horsham, Pa.-based subsidiary of Johnson
& Johnson, is acquiring Wyeth Pharmaceuticals' St. Louis
biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility for an undisclosed
amount. The facility will allow Centocor to increase material
production for products currently in its pipeline. The company
develops treatments for cancer and immune-related inflammatory
disorders, such as arthritis.
North Carolina
Newell Rubbermaid Moving Jobs to NC from Ohio
Atlanta based Newell Rubbermaid is moving 100 jobs to the
Charlotte area from Ohio. The move comes as the company is
relocating a food container division from Ohio. Newell Rubbermaid
relocated its headquarters from Illinois to Atlanta last year.
Textile Company Expands in Winston-Salem
Bakaert Textiles USA is planning a two-phase expansion of
its Union Cross facility in Winston-Salem. The expansion will
add 10,000 square feet to nearly double the size of its plant
and could add up to 60 employees with salaries ranging from
$11 to $14 an hour.
Citicorp Expands Near Greensboro
Citicorp Credit Services Inc. has chosen a site in Guilford
County, N.C., where it will expand its call center operations.
The company will bring approximately 900 jobs to the area
resulting in an investment of $35 million.
Semiconductor Company Expands in Cary
International Rectifier Corp., an El Segundo, Calif.-based
semiconductor manufacturer, plans to open a new design center
in Cary. The company hopes to hire up to 30 people during
the next year.
Tortilla Chip Maker Expands in Lincolnton
Garcia Co. has purchased a 60,650 square-foot spec building
in Lincoln County for its new East Coast production center.
The tortilla chip maker is investing $9 million in the project
that will create 75 jobs.
Verizon Expands in Wilmington
Verizon Wireless plans to build a 150,000-square-foot call
center in Wilmington. The company is investing $29 million
in the project that will bring 1,200 jobs to the region. Verizon
is receiving about $8.5 million in city and state incentives
for new job creation.
Lowe's Expands in Mooresville
Lowe's Companies is expanding its corporate offices in Mooresville.
The home improvement retailer is adding 136,000 square feet
to its 400,000-square-foot facility. The company will consolidate
employees from two nearby leased offices and will hire 600
new workers. Construction is scheduled for completion by September
2005.
Unilin Décor Expands in Thomasville
Belgium-based Unilin Décor plans to expand its U.S.
operations in Thomasville. The company already has a distribution
center there. The $80 million expansion will add an additional
330 jobs to the region. The company will receive an incentive
package worth nearly $12 million from the state, the county
and the city.
Time Warner Cable Expands in Charlotte
Time Warner Cable is expanding its operations in Charlotte
to the tune of $36 million. The company will construct a building
adjacent to its existing offices and will add 350 jobs. The
state helped lure the investment by agreeing to incentives
worth up to $4.2 million over the next 10 years.
Premier Inc. Relocates to Charlotte
Premier, Inc., a provider of purchasing and analytical services
for the healthcare industry, is closing its office in Oak
Brook, Ill. The company will move 270 jobs to Charlotte over
the next two years.
Gaston Gains 140 Textile Jobs
Two new textile-related companies plan to hire up to 140
employees as operations begin in Gaston County, N.C. Arrow
Industries of Anaheim, Calif. has bought a facility in Ranlo
for its East Coast plant, which will have 100 employees. Arrow
will operate its Arrow Home Fashions division from a closed
textile mill, making comforters, sheets and decorative pillows.
In Gastonia, Talon International has leased a 59,000 square-foot
building in Redwood Business Park for a 40-employee apparel-trim
and zipper plant.
Oklahoma
New Distribution Center Announced in Ardmore
Dot Foods has purchased a vacant 120,000-square-foot warehouse
in Ardmore, Okla. The company also purchased an adjoining
tract of land from the Ardmore Development Authority and plans
to add 50,000 square feet of freezer and cooler space. The
deal is expected to create 150 new jobs.
Battery Company Expands in Grove
Horizon Batteries LLC plans to open a battery facility in
Grove that will employ 200 workers. The facility will eventually
have manufacturing operations and could produce 1,500 batteries
per day.
Hawk Corp. to Hire 300 Workers for Oklahoma Plant
Cleveland-based Hawk Corp. will hire 300 workers for a new
plant at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. The 240,000 square-foot
facility will take over production of engine friction components.
Completion is scheduled for 2005.
Imation Opens in Weatherford
Imation, a maker of high-tech tape products, recently opened
a $50 million facility in Weatherford, Ok. The 40,000-square-foot
facility houses 105 workers.
South Carolina
Sprinkler Manufacturer Relocates to Pickens
The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. is relocating its manufacturing
and product development operations from Westchester County,
N.Y. to Pickens, S.C. The company expects to create some 350
new jobs at the facility, including product design and production
engineers, professionals in such areas as purchasing, human
resources and management information systems, and assemblers,
machinists, maintenance technicians and administrative personnel.
IBS Snares Former Porsche Site
Transportation Company IBS Logistics is taking over the former
Porsche Cars of North America distribution center at Charleston
International Airport. The company is subleasing the property
under a five-year deal with the German automaker. The move
allows the Secaucus, N.J.-based company to consolidate its
Charleston operations.
Toolmaker Relocates from Massachusetts
Atlas Capco Compressors is relocating from Holyoke, Mass.
to Rock Hill. The company will move into an 186,000 square-foot
business park by the end of the year. It will assume about
70,000 square feet of space and share the rest with Chicago
Pneumatic. Both companies are subsidiaries of Atlas Capco
AB, a Swedish construction, automotive and mining equipment
maker that reported $6.2 billion in sales last year.
Tyco Healthcare Expands in Greenwood
Tyco Healthcare is investing $20 million in its facilities
in rural Greenwood, S.C. Tyco manufactures an array of products
for the health care industry. The company will create 150
new jobs over the next several years.
GE Energy to Expand & Diversify Greenville Facility
General Electric Energy, one of GE's 11 major business units,
announced that it will invest an additional $120 million and
create up to 350 new jobs at the facility in Greenville. The
need for more employees is being driven by the creation of
a new technology team and the addition of a new business operation.
Greenville has been selected as the headquarters for the new
Global Gas Turbine Technology team. As an engineering "Center
of Excellence," the Global Gas Turbine Technology team
will provide design-engineering support for developing new
growth platforms in power generation and services. To support
this activity, the Technology team will add 100 engineers
this year.
Tennessee
AIMS Expands Near Memphis
AIMS Logistics, a freight audit, payment and information
service provider that caters to Fortune 500-type companies,
plans to invest $2.5 million in a 20,000 square-foot expansion
at its Colliersville headquarters and has future plans to
add another 20,000 square feet to nearly triple the size of
its facility.
Electrolux Adds 700 Jobs
Electrolux Home Products announced plans this spring to add
700 jobs at its manufacturing plant in Springfield, Tenn.
The company makes kitchen ranges at the plant.
Heavy Machinery Manufacturer Locates in Chattanooga
TAG Enterprises is developing 21 acres in the Enterprise
South Industrial Park in Chattanooga. The company bought the
land for $630,000 and will begin construction on its corporate
headquarters later this year. TAG will add 150 employees to
its staff of 25. The company manufactures attachments for
heavy machinery.
Starbucks Opens Distribution Center in La Vergne
Starbucks Coffee Co. is investing $3.2 million to open a
distribution center in La Vergne. The 125,000-square-foot
facility will provide gift-wrapping and shipping services
for more than 700 Starbucks locations. The facility will employ
75 people.
BNSF Expands in Memphis
Forth Worth-based Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co.
is undergoing a major expansion in Memphis. The railroad will
invest at least $40 million and create at least 150 jobs in
the initial four-year phase of the development.
Texas
USAA to Add More Than 500 Jobs in San Antonio
Insurance and financial-services company USAA recently announced
that it is beefing up its workforce by adding more than 500
jobs in San Antonio, ranging from member-services representatives
to management positions.
Healthcare Outsourcer Selects D-FW Region
Healthcare Management Solutions L.L.C. (HMS), an Irvine,
Calif.-based healthcare outsourcing company, is expanding
into the Dallas-Forth Worth area. The company signed an eight-year
lease for 20,400 square feet at Highpoint Oaks near State
Highway 121 in Lewisville. HMS will hire 250 people over the
next six to 12 months.
Aerospace Company Consolidates Dallas Operations
Vought Aircraft Industries Inc., a commercial and military
aircraft parts manufacturer, is consolidating its Dallas operations.
The company is planning to hire 3,000 workers at its Dallas
headquarters. Vought plans to close its Nashville facility,
dismissing 1,000 workers.
Wal-Mart Builds Distribution Center in Baytown
Wal-Mart is building a 2 million-square-foot distribution
center - more than 50 acres under one roof - at the Cedar
Crossings Business Park just outside Baytown, Chambers County.
The facility is located near the Port of Houston and will
be one of the largest import centers in the country. The center
will employ up to 450 workers when it opens in the summer
of 2005.
Citibank Builds Facility in Roanoke
Citibank is building a $200 million electronic data processing
center in Roanoke, Texas. The building will be 242,820 square
feet. The company could add as many as 100 jobs.
Sears Call Center Beefing Up
More than 100 jobs will be added to the Sears Roebuck &
Co. call center in Round Rock, mostly in the national customer
relations group. The new jobs come on the heels of a $32 billion
acquisition of Sears' credit card businesses by Citigroup
Inc.
Virginia
Motion Control Firm Expands in Radford
Kollmorgen Corp. plans to invest $2.85 million in a new customer
support center to provide support for its high-performance
motion control systems. The company will hire 71 employees,
adding to the 700 it already employs in the region.
Cost Plus Doubles Size of Distribution Center
Cost Plus Inc., a home furnishing retailer, plans to expand
its 500,000-square-foot distribution center in Isle of Wight,
doubling its current size. The expansion will add 190 jobs.
The project includes the purchase of its leased facility and
will cost $24 million.
Nanotech Company Expands in Danville
Luna Innovations is investing $6.4 million in a nanomanufacturing
facility in Danville. The company will create 54 new jobs.
Luna will use nanotechnology for new military and commercial
applications.
West Virginia
Toyota Expanding West Virginia Plant
Toyota West Virginia is expanding its gear and transmission
plant in Buffalo, W.V. Toyota will invest $80 million in the
deal and increase its employment at the plant from 950 workers
to 1,000. The Japanese automaker will add 185,000 square feet
to its existing facility.
QUIZ ANSWER
The correct answers are: South (a) $412 billion; Midwest
(b) $193 billion; East (c) $201 billion; West (d) $266 billion.
The $412 billion invested in the South represents nearly 40
percent of the total investments made in the U.S. by foreign-owned
corporations.
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