Summer 2006

QUIZ

Pick the state that posted many more deals than it typically turns in any a given quarter. Those project announcements can be found in this, the summer quarter's (June 22 to September 22, 2006) Relocations and Expansions section.

(a) Alabama (b) Texas (c) Tennessee (d) Mississippi

(Scroll down for answer)

ALABAMA

Nucor Building New Alabama Plant

Charlotte-based Nucor announced in the summer it is investing $150 million in a new steel galvanizing plant in Decatur, Ala. The new facility is being built next to Nucor's existing steel factory in Decatur, which houses over 600 workers.

International Paper Investing $54 Million in Alabama

Also in the summer, Memphis-based IP reported it is investing $54 million in its Courtland, Ala. mill. The expansion will increase the mill's capacity to produce uncoated sheeting. The deal represents the creation of 24 new jobs.

Biodiesel Plant Being Built in Castleberry

W&B Trading Co., announced in the summer it is building a $10 million biodiesel refinery on 60 acres in south Alabama. The company will initially employ 25 workers at the plant.

Robinson Steel Opening in Opelika

Indiana-based Robinson Steel is creating up to 20 new jobs at a new 60,000-square-foot plant in Opelika, Ala. The Alabama facility represents the ninth satellite operation for the contract manufacturer.

ARKANSAS

Experian Opening Customer Care Center

Experian Consumer Direct announced in late August it will open a customer care center in Van Buren, Ark. The center is expected to employ several hundred workers. Experian offers consumers instant access to their credit reports.

Call Center Opening in Arkansas

ACCENT Marketing Services announced recently that the company has selected Hot Springs, Ark., for a new 450-employee inbound contact center. The company will provide services for a large telecommunications company.

Arkansas Railcar Building New Factory in Marmaduke

St. Charles-Mo.-based American Railcar Industries announced this summer it will build a new railcar manufacturing plant next to its tank manufacturing facility in Marmaduke, Ark. The new plant will be capable of producing tank, hopper and intermodal railcars.

FLORIDA

Darden Restaurants Building New HQ in Orlando

Darden, which operates thousands of Red Lobster, Olive Garden and other restaurant brands, announced in late summer it is building a new $122 million headquarters in Orlando. The company's new headquarters will enable it to add hundreds of new jobs after the project is completed in late 2009.

Pensacola Wins Wayne-Dalton Expansion

Wayne-Dalton, a manufacturer of garage doors, is undergoing a $37 million expansion at its plant in Pensacola. The deal will result in 150 new jobs at the plant, which currently houses about 350 workers. Pensacola competed with a Wayne-Dalton facility in Ohio to win the expansion.

Cabinet Maker Adding 100 New Jobs in Rockledge

Designers Choice Cabinetry is expanding its facility, which is located between Melbourne and Titusville in Rockledge, Fla. The company is adding about 100 new jobs and 35,000 square feet at its plant that produces european-style kitchen cabinets. Other sites on the East Coast and in Mississippi competed for the project.

Boat Builder Adding Workers in Orlando

In the fall quarter, Regal Marine will complete its latest expansion at its boat building works in Central Florida. The company is adding 135,000 square feet and 200 new jobs. The expansion will enable Regal to build a larger line of cabin cruisers.

Frontier Call Center to Hire 500 in DeLand

Frontier, an operator of call centers and a division of Citizens Communications, has landed a large operation in DeLand, Fla. The company is consolidating up to three call centers in the deal. Frontier operates other large customer service centers in Arizona, New York and Minnesota.

Continental Hiring in Orlando

Continental Airlines is adding 100 workers to its Orlando-based maintenance facility. The deal brings employment at the facility to more than 550.

Pershing, LLC Locates Business Unit to Seminole County

In the summer, Pershing LLC, a BNY Securities Group Company, selected Seminole County, Fla., as the new home for one of its operating groups. The new 67,000-square-foot office in Lake Mary will house 414 employees by the end of 2008. Pershing will invest $8.7 million in capital to ready the new Orlando-area office.

Fidelity Investments Picks JAX

Massachusetts-based Fidelity Investments announced in early summer that it is locating a new customer contact center in Jacksonville. The deal is expected to create about 1,200 jobs within four years. Fidelity is the largest mutual fund company in the U.S.

GEORGIA

New Jersey Company Expanding in Georgia

New Jersey-based GAF Materials is expanding its Cumming, Ga. factory that produces products for the roofing industry. GAF officials reported that they will double the Georgia plant's capacity.

Airline Announces 2,500 Hires in Georgia

Orlando-based AirTran, which currently employs more than 5,000 workers in Georgia, plans to add 500 workers a year for the next five years. The air carrier's expansion is the largest airline company announcement in years in the South. AirTran also announced it will add about 85 new Boeing 737s to its fleet over the next five years.

TeamStaff Relocates HQ to Atlanta

Healthcare staffer TeamStaff Inc., announced in the summer it has relocated its corporate headquarters from Somerset, N.J. to Atlanta. The company earned about $50 million in gross revenues last year.

Georgia Ports Announce New Jobs

In the summer, the Georgia Ports Authority approved an $82.6 million capital improvement plan that includes 19 new cranes. Ports in Georgia are expected to see container growth of 20 percent or more next year. The capital investment will result in 54 new jobs.

KANSAS

German Web Hosting Company Picks Lenexa

1&1 Internet, Inc., a subsidiary of Europe-base United Internet, announced in late August it is opening a data center in Lenexa, Kan. The company is moving into an existing 55,000-square-foot facility at College Crossing Business Park, located in the Kansas City metro. The data center project is one of many that have located in the South of late. About $42 million is being invested by 1&1 and 15 workers will be hired.

BNSF to Create New Logistics Park in Gardner

BNSF Railway is moving ahead with plans to build a new intermodal facility and logistics park near Gardner, Kan., a suburb of Kansas City. The investment in the park is predicted to reach $1 billion and create up to 7,500 jobs over 20 years. The park will be located on 1,000 acres near Gardner.

Pacific Sunwear Announces New Distribution Center in Olathe

California-based Pacific Sunwear announced in the summer it is building a new 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Olathe, Kan. The deal will create 150 new jobs in the Kansas City metro.

American Eagle Outfitters Expands Center

Retailer American Eagle Outfitters broke ground on a $55 million, 540,000-square-foot addition to its distribution center in Ottawa, Kan. The deal more than doubles the company's distribution presence in the Kansas City area.

KENTUCKY

UPS Investing $1B in Louisville Hub

Atlanta-based United Parcel Service is once again expanding its package sorting hub in Louisville, Ky. UPS is adding 1.1 million square feet to its 5.1-million-square-foot facility, which is located at the Louisville airport. The expansion is expected to result in 5,000 new full-time and part-time workers that will bring employment at the hub in about four years to over 12,500. UPS currently employs more than 22,000 workers in Kentucky. Much of the growth at the UPS hub is being attributed to strong growth in international shipments. The company has purchased 20 Airbus A380s to accommodate the rise in international shipments.

Food Processor Locating Plant

In the summer quarter, Sister Schubert's Homemade Rolls announced it will locate a facility in Hart County, Ky. The 92,000-square-foot plant will house about 300 workers and the deal represents a $35 million investment.

Trailer Maker Expanding

Fleetwood Travel Trailers announced this summer that it is adding 48,000 square feet to its plant in Taylor County. The project represents a $3.5 million investment and will create about 150 new jobs.

Aircraft Parts Maker Adding Workers

A manufacturer of carbon heatsinks used in aircraft braking systems is expanding in Boone County. A-Carb LLC is more than doubling the size of its current plant, adding about 110,000 square feet and about 100 new employees.

Nu-Tech Building Systems to Produce 200 Jobs in Simpson County

In the summer quarter, Nu-Tech Building Systems chose an existing 180,000-square-foot building in Simpson County, Ky. that was formerly used by Tyco Electronics. Nu-Tech manufactures modular building and insulation panels used in the construction industry. The deal will result in 206 new jobs.

LOUISIANA

Big Call Center Announced in Lafayette, La.

NuComm International, a privately-held, Ontario-based provider of customer relationship and contact service center services with over 4,000 employees in North America, has chosen a former retail center in Lafayette, La., for a 1,000-employee call center. The new center is being placed in space vacated by Service Merchandise at a retail mall in Lafayette.

$150M Facility Announced in Port Allen

Criterion Catalysts & Technologies announced in the summer quarter that it will locate a new hydroprocessing catalyst manufacturing plant in Port Allen, La. In addition, the company purchased an alumina facility from Southern Ionics that is located in Port Allen. Criterion plans to invest about $150 million in the deal and approximately 60 new jobs will be created.

Italian Construction Company Investing $6 Million in Kenner

M2-USA, a division of Italy-based ABSI, has established a plant near the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans. The company makes commercial and residential concrete construction systems that are hurricane, earthquake and fire-resistant. The new 78,000-square-foot plant is expected to house about 100 workers.

$5 Billion Deal Announced in Louisiana

On June 15, officials with Synfuel, Inc. announced a major new coal gasification plant in Ascension Parish, La. The new $5 billion-plus facility will use lignite mined from north Louisiana to produce gasoline, ethanol, synthetic gas, electricity, steam and methanol. Construction of the proposed project will begin when the appropriate regulatory permits are obtained. The deal, which will take at least four years to complete, is expected to create about 900 new jobs in Ascension and another 300 jobs at four mining operations in north Louisiana.

MARYLAND

Publisher Building in Hagerstown

Phoenix Color Corp., is building a new 50,000-square-foot facility in Washington County, Md. The company announced in late summer it will invest about $5 million in the deal and create about 50 new workers. Phoenix manufactures books on high-end publishing equipment.

Incentives Approved for Nuclear Power Plant Expansion

Calvert County, Md., officials have approved tax credits for Baltimore-based Constellation Energy Group's plan to build a third reactor at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant. A third reactor at the plant is expected to create about 3,200 construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs in Maryland.

Johns Hopkins Adding 600 Jobs

The center for engineering, research and development at Johns Hopkins University is expanding into a 243,000-square-foot facility in Howard County, Md. The deal is expected to result in 600 new jobs. The division of Johns Hopkins, called the Applied Physics Lab (APL), currently employs over 3,500 people in Maryland. Among other things, APL has performed work for the Department of Defense since 1942.

Company Expands in Washington County

Packaging Services of Maryland has announced plans to expand its operations in Washington County, Md. The project calls for the construction of almost 60,000 square feet of space near Williamsport. About 25 new jobs will be created in the $6 million deal.

MISSISSIPPI

Semiconductor Deal Announced in Starkville

SemiSouth Laboratories announced in late August that it has opened a new facility at the Thad Cochran Technology Park in Starkville, Miss. The operation will produce silicon carbide components. The company makes microchips that are used in defense systems and in other high-end applications. The new chips are reported to be able to run systems 10-times faster than traditional semiconductors. Involved in the same deal is II-VI, Inc., a supplier of wafers to SemiSouth. Together, the two companies expect to create about 300 jobs in five years.

Aurora Breaks Ground Near Columbus, Miss.

In the summer quarter, Aurora Flight Services broke ground on its new plant at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The company announced it is investing $6 million in the facility that will produce unmanned aviation vehicles. About 25 new jobs will be created in the deal.

American Eurocopter Expanding

American Europcopter, an EADS North American subsidiary, is expanding its facility at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The plant, located near Columbus, Miss., is undergoing a $30 million expansion, which will result in 150 new jobs. American Eurocopter will produce the UH-145 multi-mission helicopter at the facility. Fifty jobs are being created in the deal.

SOPREMA Breaks Ground in Gulfport

SOPREMA, a 98-year-old French roofiing and waterproofing materials manufacturer, broke ground in the summer on a new plant in Harrison County, Miss. The company's products are used by building contractors all over the world, but the Gulfport facility will focus on manufacturing materials used to rebuild structures on the Gulf Coast.

Rolls-Royce Investing $42 Million in Mississippi

In the summer 2006 quarter, Rolls-Royce broke ground on a new jet engine testing facility at the John C. Stennis Space Center, located in south Mississippi. The new facility will test jet engine systems that are being developed for use in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A380. The deal represents an investment of $42 million at the Stennis center.

Cargill Announces New Facility in Byhalia

In the summer quarter, Cargill Animal Nutrition broke ground on its new facility in Byhalia, Miss. Cargill is investing about $17.5 million in the new pet food processing operation, which will produce items for the Purina Pet Food line. The deal is expected to create 35 new jobs.

ACCO Brands Expanding, Consolidating in Booneville

Officials with ACCO Brands Corp., which employs more than 500 workers in Booneville, Miss., announced in the summer they will add 330 new jobs at the facilities there. ACCO manufactures and produces office products. The company is investing $55 million, primarily in a new distribution facility. ACCO produces office product brands such as Day-Timer and Swingline. Manufacturing facilities in Illinois and Mexico will be closed and consolidated to Mississippi.

Company Announces in Jackson

Wisconsin-based ABC Supply, the largest wholesale distributor of roofing and siding materials in the U.S., opened a new facility in Jackson in the summer quarter and also purchased a facility in Purvis, Miss. The company is responding to the demand for building products in Mississippi and Louisiana as those states continue to recover from the hurricanes of last year.

MISSOURI

FedEx Expanding in Kansas City

FedEx Ground is adding 119 new jobs in Kansas City. The Memphis-based company's ground package delivery division is taking advantage of a recently approved Enhanced Enterprise Zone (EEZ) designation for the new facility.

CNH America Creating 172 Jobs in Missouri

CNH America (Case New Holland), announced in late July it is investing about $8 million and hiring 172 workers as it expands its manufacturing operations to Cameron, Mo. CNH makes farm tractors and other heavy machinery.

Music Retailer Building 700,000-Square-Foot Center in KC

Musician's Friend, the world's largest direct marketer of music gear, announced in the summer it is building a 702,000-square-foot distribution center in Kansas City, Mo. The new project has a build-out capacity of 1 million square feet and will house about 520 workers.

Cargill Investing $180M in Kansas City

Cargill is investing about $180 million to expand its soybean processing plant in Kansas City. About 125 new jobs are expected to be created within three years.

Envelope Maker Expanding in Kirksville

Commercial Envelope Manufacturing Co. is investing in its Kirksville, Mo., operation just seven months after opening a plant in the city. The $6.7 million expansion will include 61 new jobs.

Maritz, Kelly Services Hiring 200

Maritz Inc., one of Missouri's largest private employers, has teamed up with Kelly Services to hire 200 customer service reps to man a new call center in St. Louis. The call center is an inbound facility handling points-based reward programs.

NORTH CAROLINA

Fayetteville Lands DuPont

Industry giant DuPont announced in late August it is building a $50 million resin plant in Fayetteville, N.C., that will produce polyvinyl fluoride, a material used in solar cells, specifically photovoltaic panels that generate electricity from the sun. DuPont officials stated that the company is reducing its reliance on oil-based profit centers and plans to invest heavily in alternative power sources. The solar power industry has grown by more than 30 percent in the last three years.

Kidde Expanding in Wilson County

Kidde Aerospace and Defense, makers of aircraft and vehicle fire protection and suppression systems, will expand its facility in Wilson County, creating 131 new jobs and investing $3.4 million. The expansion will include the addition of a production line to manufacture fire extinguishers for military vehicles.

Nanotech Operation Creating over 200 Jobs

High Performance Coatings, a Utah-based company that uses nanotechnology to produce coatings for a variety of industries, will open a facility in Whitsett, N.C., located in Guilford County. The company expects to create 214 jobs and invest $3.5 million during the next three years. Nanotech is used by the company to produce surface treatment materials for the aerospace, medical, automotive and diesel truck industries.

Bosch Tool Expands in North Carolina

Robert Bosch Tool is expanding its plant in Lincolnton, N.C. The company is adding a new 50 employee, $3 million line that will produce insert bits.

Target Building Distribution Center near Charlotte

Minneapolis-based retailer Target Corp. announced in the summer it will locate a $90 million, 580-employee distribution center in Newton, N.C., located in Catawba County near Charlotte. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2009.

Garage Door Manufacturer Picks Davie County

Amarr Co., a maker of garage doors, announced in the summer it will open a new plant in Davie County, creating 143 new jobs and investing $10.5 million in the next three years. The new plant will double as a metalworking and assembly operation.

Robotics Company Expanding in Durham

Parata Systems, a manufacturer of robotic dispensing systems for pharmacies, is investing $15 million at its headquarters in Durham, N.C. The deal is expected to result in 130 new jobs.

Data Processing Center Announced in Martin County, N.C.

Quintiles Transnational Corp., a pharmaceutical services provider with over 1,000 employees at Research Triangle Park, announced in the summer it is locating a data processing center in rural Williamston, N.C. The deal is expected to create 60 new jobs.

Volvo Expanding Plant in Asheville, N.C.

Volvo Construction Equipment announced in June it is investing $30 million to expand its manufacturing and assembly plant in Asheville, N.C. The expansion will add 264 new workers at the plant, which will add production of excavator and equipment cabs. The company is a subsidiary of the Sweden-based Volvo Group.

Semiconductor Company Opening R&D Center

Oregon-based TriQuint Semiconductor is investing almost $2 million and hiring 25 workers at a new design, research and development center in High Point, N.C. The company is a supplier of wireless handset radio frequency modules and components.

Kayak, Canoe Maker Hiring 244

Legacy Paddlesports announced in the summer it is opening a facility in Guilford County, N.C. The company is relocating a plant from Rhode Island to North Carolina. The new facility will produce plastic and high-end composite kayaks and canoes. The $2 million investment will create 244 new jobs.

Pool Company Opening in Edgecombe County

Blue Hawaiian Fiberglass Pools is opening a manufacturing facility in Edgecombe County, N.C. The florida-based company will produce one-piece fiberglass pools and spas at the new plant, which is expected to house about 70 workers.

Company Adding Jobs in Statesville

BSI-Balance Systems is investing $1.2 million to expand its Statesville operation. The company, which manufactures window balances for residential and commercial windows, is adding about 50 workers in Statesville.

Furniture Maker Relocates from Michigan

Baker Furniture, a subsidiary of Baker Knapp & Tubbs, is investing $12 million in Hickory, N.C., as it relocates its headquarters and distribution facility from Grand Rapids, Mich. The deal is expected to result in 70 new jobs. Baker already operates five other furniture distribution centers in N.C.

OKLAHOMA

Capital One Picks Tulsa for Loan Operation

In the summer quarter, Capital One announced that it is setting up a new loan servicing operation in Tulsa. The facility will serve Capital One Auto Finance, a division of Virginia-based Capital One Financial Corp.

PepsiCo to Invest $180M in Oklahoma

Officials with New York-based PepsiCo announced a new $180 million manufacturing and distribution facility in Pryor, Okla., at the massive MidAmerica Industrial Park. When completed, the plant, which will produce and ship Gatorade and Propel products, will house about 280 workers. PepsiCo is building the 1.5 million-square-foot facility on 165 acres at MidAmerica, a 9,000-acre industrial park located near Tulsa. The plant will serve eight states in the U.S.

SOUTH CAROLINA

GTS Energy Investing in South Carolina

Atlanta-based GTS Energy announced in June it will locate a new manufacturing facility in Orangeburg County, S.C. The company makes heating systems for a variety of industries, namely those producing wood products, oil and gas and chemicals. The deal represents a $3.5 million investment and will result in 100 new jobs.

IPI Frabrication Opening in Chester County

Officials with Industrial Piping, Inc., announced in the summer quarter they are relocating their fabrication division to a refurbished building in Chester County, S.C. The 77,000-square-foot facility, located in Richburg, will house about 60 workers. About $4 million was invested in the project.

Mobile Technology Company Announces New Lancaster Facility

Hand Held Products, an image-based data collections solutions firm, announced a new production facility in Lancaster County, S.C. The company will add 140 new jobs initially and up to 190 over a five-year period. Hand Held Products is a privately held company that uses image-based data specifically for mobile, in-premise and transaction processing solutions.

TENNESSEE

Oreck Picks Tennessee

New Orleans-based Oreck Corp., is setting up its second U.S. manufacturing operation in a 310,000-square-foot facility in Cookeville, Tenn. The vacuum cleaner manufacturer purchased the former TRW Vehicle Safety Systems plant in Cookeville. The deal is expected to create about 100 new jobs.

International Paper Completes Relocation

International Paper finished the move of its global headquarters from Stamford, Conn., to Memphis in the summer 2006 quarter. The relocation boosts IP's employment in Memphis to over 3,000 workers.

Homesteader Announces Plant Expansion in Claiborne County

Homesteader Inc., a manufacturer of cargo trailers, announced in the summer it is expanding its operations in Claiborne County, Tenn., creating 200 new jobs. The expansion is the seventh since the plant began production in 1986.

Wilson Sporting Goods Adding 100 Jobs

Wilson Sporting Goods is consolidating its distribution facilities in Middle Tennessee by leasing 300,000 square feet of space at the Rockdale Distribution Center. The deal will result in 100 new jobs.

TEXAS

Plant going up in Lubbock

Oregon-based Standard Bag broke ground in mid-August on a new $7 million plant in Lubbock, Tex. The company is building a 50,000-square-foot facility at a new business park in Lubbock. Standard makes multi-lined industrial bags for Kraft Foods, Azteca and Land O' Lakes among other food processors. About 100 new jobs will be created with more than 200 expected within three to five years.

CUNA Mutual Breaks Ground in Fort Worth

In the summer quarter, CUNA Mutual Group broke ground on its new 108,000-square-foot customer operations center in Fort Worth. The $12 million facility is expected to bring 500 jobs to Fort Worth by year-end.

Insurer Breaks Ground in Amarillo

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas broke ground on its new customer service center in Amarillo, Tex., in July. When completed, the new facility will house about 500 workers.

Lowe's Picks San Antonio for Data Center

Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe's is the latest company to announce a data center in the South. The retailer is investing $60 million in the construction of a new data center in San Antonio that is expected to house about 25 workers.

Conagra Foods Building $75M Plant in Fort Worth

Conagra Foods has begun construction on a new $75 million distribution and food processing facility in Fort Worth's Railhead Industrial Park. The plant will be Conagra's third in Fort Worth. This latest deal is expected to create 420 new jobs.

Kohl's Picks Corsicana for Call Center

Wisconsin-based retailer Kohl's opened a 250-job call center in Corsicana, Tex. this summer. Corsicana is located between Dallas and Waco.

Accenture Selects San Antonio

New York-based consulting company Accenture LLP, is looking at a build-to-suit project in San Antonio to bring in a business-process outsourcing operation to the Alamo City. Accenture will provide payroll processing, human resources and recruiting services at the new San Antonio facility. About 350 new jobs are expected to be created.

Manufacturer Relocates from San Diego to Austin Area

Accurate Elastomer Products is moving its operations from San Diego to Elgin, Tex., which is located about 20 miles east of Austin in Bastrop County. The company makes rubber parts that are used in a variety of industries including the automotive and appliance sectors. The company is expected to hire about 50 workers in the move.

Fireman's Fund Sets up Service Center in Dallas

Fireman's Fund Insurance announced in the summer it will locate a national service call center in Dallas. The facility will mean about 80 new jobs.

VIRGINIA

AVID Medical Expanding in James City County

AVID Medical is undergoing an $8 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in James City County, Va. The company manufactures custom procedure-ready trays for the healthcare industry and will expand by doubling its existing 90,000-square-foot plant. The company reported the deal will result in 303 new jobs.

ABB Expanding Two Facilities in Virginia

ABB, a provider of power and automation products, systems, solutions and services announced in the summer it is expanding its facilities in Halifax County, Va., and Bland County, Va. The Halifax operation produces liquid-cooled transformers for utility, industrial and government users. Halifax successfully competed with Mexico, Columbia and China to win the project. The Connecticut-based company will add 157 new jobs in the two deals, which represent a total investment of over $28 million.

Millwork Company Investing $23M in Rocky Mount, Va.

MW Manufacturers, a producer and distributor of window and door products for the residential construction industry, is adding 175 workers at its Rocky Mount, Va. plant. The company, which is investing $23 million in the deal, already employs about 1,400 workers in Rocky Mount.

Jennmar Investing $6 Million

Jennmar Corp., a maker of roof and standing support products for the mining and tunneling industry, announced in the summer it is investing $6 million to build a new facility in rural Tazewell County, Va. The new plant will produce corrugated metal products and other steel-related roof control products. About 70 new jobs are being created in the project.

Northrop Grumman Building $54M Complex near Richmond

Northrop Grumman Corp., has contracted with a real estate investment trust to develop a 200,000-square-foot, $54 million office complex in Chesterfield, Va. The new project will also be the home of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. Northrop Grumman will house about 600 employees at the facility when it is completed in the summer of 2007.

WEST VIRGINIA

IPS USA Announces First U.S. Operations

IPS USA Corp., a provider of assessment, consultation, design and project management services to a variety of industry sectors announced in the summer it is setting up shop in Charleston, W.V. The deal is the first for the company in the U.S. IPS will employ 10 engineers and architects and make a $3 million investment. IPS' customers include Toyota, GlaxoSmithKline, Corus Aluminum and Volkswagen, among others.

Magnum Coal Sets up New HQ

Magnum Coal, which employs about 1,700 in West Virginia, announced in the summer it has established its corporate headquarters in Charleston, W.V. The deal is expected to create about 50 new jobs.

QUIZ ANSWER

The answer is (d) Mississippi. We haven't reported eight big deals in one quarter coming out of Mississippi since we started this magazine in 1992.