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Winter 2004-2005
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 ). All bio industry-related announcements have been moved to the BioIndustrySouth section ( www.BioIndustrySouth.com ). Both are now regular feature sections in Southern Business & Development.
QUIZ
Local residents call this place in the South "Vendorville." Where is "Vendorville?" (a) Greenville, S.C. (b) McMinnville, Tenn. (c) Shepherdsville, Ky. (d) Bentonville, Ark.
(Scroll down for answer)
ALABAMA
Indiana Company Announces Foundry in Cullman
An Indiana-based iron company, North Vernon Industry Corp., of North Vernon, Ind., announced in the winter quarter it is building a 350,000-square-foot foundry in Cullman, Ala. The new company will be named Cullman Casting Corp. The new foundry will melt down iron shavings and borings generated by processes at manufacturing plants to pour into molds to produce heavy parts for industrial applications, including counter weights for construction equipment and parts for off-road vehicles and forklifts. The company is investing $60 million in the deal, which is expected to create 300 new jobs.
Distribution Center Set for Opelika
Craft and fabric retailer Jo-Ann Stores Inc., announced in the winter quarter it is building a 700,000-square-foot distribution center in Opelika, Ala. The $45 million center is the third in the U.S. for the Ohio-based company. The company operates nearly 1,000 stores in the U.S. and the Opelika center will serve all of its locations in the South. The center is expected to house 425 workers.
Distribution Center Set for Geneva County
SYSCO Corp., the food service giant, announced in late February it will open a distribution center in the South Alabama county of Geneva. The company will move into an existing facility and operate a "broad line" distribution center that will house 200 workers initially and 800 within three years.
Company Expands in Montgomery
Webster Industries dedicated its new facility in Montgomery, Ala. in the fall and announced in the winter it will expand by adding 125,000 square feet to its 137,000-square-foot facility and bringing in 300 new workers. Webster Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chelsea Industries, based in Peabody, Mass. The company is a supplier of branded and private label trash bags and food contact products to retailers and distributors worldwide. Webster's original facility was established in Montgomery in 1978, when the former Bes-Pak Co. was purchased by Webster.
Lockheed Martin Adding Jobs in Huntsville
Lockheed Martin is hiring 160 workers over the next 18 months to support work on the Medium Extended Air Defense System, or MEADS, a joint effort among the U.S., Italy and Germany. Last fall Lockheed Martin earned a $770 million contract to develop battle management and control systems for MEADS. The MEADS system is scheduled to be available by 2012 and will use Patriot Advanced Capability-3, or PAC-3, missiles for air and missile defense. It is the next step beyond the Patriot missile defense system in use now.
Louisiana-Pacific Building Mill in South Alabama
Nashville-based LP, the building supplies manufacturer, announced in the winter quarter it is building an oriented strand board mill in Clarke County, Ala., located north of Mobile. The site of the plant will be located on 820 acres near Thomasville, Ala. Startup of the plant is expected to be in the fall of 2007 and about 130 new jobs will be created.
Software Company Hiring 40
Birmingham-based McLeod Software, a designer of software for the trucking industry, is hiring 40 new programmers, project managers and quality assurance analysts. The company currently employs 110.
Wachovia Investing $400 Million in Alabama
Wachovia Corp., which recently purchased Birmingham-based SouthTrust Corp., announced plans for a $400 million data center in Birmingham. The 210,000-square-foot center will house 40 employees initially.
ARKANSAS
Foam Insulation Company Opening New Facility in Conway
Progressive Foam Technologies announced in the winter quarter it is opening a new facility in Conway, Ark., to produce a contoured foam system that adheres to the back of home siding panel. The foam adds to standard insulation, resulting in energy savings for the user. The company is moving into 72,240 square feet of space in the former 400,000-square-foot Carrier Refrigeration facility. About 100 workers are expected to be employed by Progressive Foam within two years.
FLORIDA
Citrix Systems Expanding in Fort Lauderdale
Citrix, a provider of remote computer access to data and voice through a single gateway is expanding its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. The company is adding 130 workers at an average annual salary of $60,000. One of Citrix biggest customers is Microsoft.
Spa Manufacturer Hiring 150 in Tampa
Gulf Coast Spa Manufacturers is moving its manufacturing plant from Ocala, Fla. to a 160,000-square-foot facility in Tampa, investing $10 million and adding 150 jobs in the deal. The company is based in Pinellas County, Fla.
SAXoTEch Moves N.A. HQ to Tampa
SAXoTEch, a provider of content management and online production system and software for media companies, has relocated its North American headquarters from Rockville, Md., to Tampa, Fla., where 30 new technology positions are being created. Founded in Denmark in 1992, SAXoTech opened its first U.S. office in Rockville in 1999. Newspaper, magazine and media companies are among the company's clientele including The Washington Times, Dow Jones', and the New York Times.
Publix Building Distribution Facility
Lakeland, Fla.-based grocery chain Publix announced it is building a 600,000-square-foot distribution center in Punta Gorda, located in southwest Florida. The new facility is expected to house about 400 workers.
Certegy Moves HQ to St. Pete
Certegy, a spin-off of Equifax, has moved its corporate headquarters from Alpharetta, Ga. to St. Petersburg, Fla. The company already has a huge presence in Tampa Bay, where 2,000 of the company's 5,000 workers are located. Certegy processes credit card transactions and e-commerce transactions. About 150 employees will remain in Alpharetta, which is located north of Atlanta.
Leaders First Choice Chooses Seminole County
Leaders First Choice, a national provider of settlement services and title insurance, announced in the winter it would locate a new, state-of-the-art processing facility in Seminole County in Central Florida. The company will create 240 high-wage jobs and make $1.6 million in improvements to an existing 25,000-square-foot building in Longwood, and the purchase of equipment to include routers, PBX cabling, LAN switches and servers.
Northrop Grumman Hiring 100
Northrop Grumman's St. Augustine facility is growing. The manufacturing facility in north Florida produces Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Warfare Systems for a variety uses. The company is adding 100 jobs, a few of which will be staffed by relocating workers from New York.
GEORGIA
Target Building Distribution Center in Georgia
Target Corp., announced it is building a 1.5 million-square-foot distribution center in Midway, Ga. The Minnesota-based retailer already operates a similar facility in Tifton, Ga. The project is the first for Liberty County's new 4,700-acre MidCoast Business Center, which fronts Interstate 95. Liberty County is located in southeast Georgia. About 500 workers are expected to be employed at the new distribution center.
Bobcat Expands to Georgia
The Bobcat Co., the North Dakota manufacturer of agricultural and industrial equipment, has announced a new plant in Carrollton, Ga. The company, a division of Ingersoll-Rand, is moving into 80,000 square feet of existing space in Carrollton to produce Bobcat buckets used in loaders and excavators. Bobcat is investing $8 million in the deal and hiring about 100 workers.
Bass Pro Shops Announces Regional Distribution Center in Macon
Missouri-based Bass Pro Shops is creating 400 new jobs in Macon, Ga. The outdoor sports retailer is building its first regional distribution center that will include a retail store, lodging and restaurants. The 600,000-square-foot facility will service Bass' retail outlets in the Carolinas, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia.
Trailer Maker Expanding
Carry-On Trailer Corp., is adding 80,000 square feet of manufacturing space at its facilities in the Franklin County, Ga., town of Lavonia. The company is adding 85 workers in the expansion.
German Film Producer Lands Plant in Bryan County
A German maker of PVC film that's used in adhesive tapes, graphics and reflective films announced this winter it will build a plant in Bryan County, Ga. ORAFOL USA, a subsidiary of German-based ORAFOL Klebetechnik GmbH, is building a new 200,000-square-foot facility in the Interstate Centre Industrial Park, which is located near Savannah. The company is investing $45 million in the deal and will create 60 new positions.
KANSAS
FSC to Keep HQ in Wichita, Expand
Officials with Franchise Service Co. (FSC), have made the decision to keep their corporate headquarters in Wichita and expand operations to include 600 new jobs over the next four years. Not only has FSC decided to stay in Wichita, its parent company, Savista LCC, is moving its headquarters there as well. Savista's headquarters is currently in Chicago. FSC offers a variety of services for restaurant chains, including Applebees, Pizza Hut, McDonalds and Hardees.
KENTUCKY
Maverick Picks Louisville
Maverick Tube is consolidating its steel conduit operations to a 400,000-square-foot building in Louisville's Jefferson Riverport International. The $63 million project will create about 240 new jobs. The company will produce tubular steel products at the plant. Maverick Tube operates 21 plants in nine U.S. cities.
Expansion at Airhead Factory
Perfetti Van Melle USA is closing a facility in Illinois and adding production to its plant in Erlanger, Ky., that makes Airheads candy. The Erlanger facility will expand the Airhead product line to include Airheads Extremes, Airheads Fruit Spinners and Airheads Bubble Gum. The expansion will add about 60 new jobs.
Fort Knox National Adding Call Center in Western Kentucky
Fort Knox National, an Elizabethtown, Ky.-based financial transactions processor, is launching a new call center in Madisonville, Ky. The firm is hiring 192 workers for the center. The company handles transactions for the automotive financing industry and other private and governmental financial institutions.
Law School to Locate in Paducah's Information Age Park
In the winter quarter, the American Justice School of Law announced its plans to locate its school in Paducah's Information Age Park's Resource Center. The school expects professional and staff employment to be in excess of 300 within four years. Student enrollment is expected in 2005 or early 2006, contingent on the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education's approval of the school's application for Kentucky licensure.
Company Relocates to Bowling Green
Pan-Oston, a designer of metal and wood store fixtures, is relocating from Glasgow, Ky. to Bowling Green, Ky. and adding 125 new jobs. The $6.5 million deal brings Pan-Oston's employment to nearly 350 at the new site.
Publishing Company Locates in Boone County
U.K.-based Taylor & Francis Group announced recently it is establishing a distribution and customer service center in Florence, Ky. The company publishes more than 1,000 journals and about 2,000 new books each year. About 50 new jobs are expected to be created and the company is investing $7 million.
LG&E Energy to Build New Plant
LG&E Energy, a Louisville-based utility conglomerate, announced it is spending $1.2 billion (that's with a "b") on a new advanced super-critical coal-fired power plant in Trimble County. Plans call for construction to begin on the plant next year with an operational date of 2010.
LOUISIANA
Shintech Announces $1 Billion Facility
Officials with Shintech, a subsidiary of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. of Japan, the world's largest producer of polyvinyl chloride, announced in the winter quarter the company is building a $1 billion new facility in Iberville Parish, La. The new plant, which is locating on a 1,725-acre site just south of Plaquemine, La., that was the home of Ashland Chemical Company, will enable Shintech to produce up to 1.3 billion pounds of PVC annually. The company operates another plant in Addis, La., that is capable of producing 1.1 billion pounds of PVC each year. PVC is used in building materials such as piping, flooring and siding and is also used in medical supplies like sterile bags and packaging and IV tubing. More than 2,000 construction workers are expected to help build the new facility, which will house 150 employees. Shintech's North American headquarters is located in Houston.
MARYLAND
Call Center Adding 200 New Jobs
Nashville-based American Healthways is adding 200 workers at its call center in Columbia, Md. The disease management company is expanding due to a new federal Medicaid and Medicare contract.
SAIC Adds Jobs
Science Applications International Corp., a San Diego-based research, development and engineering concern, has added 70,000 square feet of warehouse space near Baltimore in Harford County, Md. The company leased 90,000 square feet of office space there in 2002. The expansion also includes about 150 new jobs. SAIC recently won a new Department of Defense contract.
Home Depot Expands Distribution Center in Hagerstown
Home Depot recently expanded its warehouse and distribution center in Hagerstown, Md., by 370,000 square feet. The expansion will result in 125 new jobs. The home improvement retailer moved into an 824,000-square-foot existing building in Hagerstown in January of 2004. The expansion will result in the company taking the entire building.
BP Solar Expanding in Frederick County
BP Solar, a division of London-based energy conglomerate BP, is investing $25 million to expand its plant in Frederick County, Md. The company manufactures solar powered energy systems for commercial and residential structures. BP Solar is adding 115 jobs to its current work force of 425 and will install new equipment at the facility.
MISSISSIPPI
PFSweb Starts Operating in Southaven
In the winter quarter, PFSweb, Inc., a global provider of integrated business process outsourcing solutions, announced a three-year lease of an existing 435,000-square-foot building in the Airways Distribution Center in Southaven, Miss. The new high-volume center is expected to handle up to 70,000 packages a day. The new facility will eventually house 900 workers.
Kingsford Announces Mississippi Plant
Officials with Kingsford Charcoal, a division of Clorox, announced over the winter a new manufacturing plant in Glen, Miss. The plant will process wood waste into "char," a key raw material in the production of charcoal. The char will be shipped to plants in Kentucky and Missouri and made into charcoal. Kingsford will invest $20 million in the project and about 100 jobs are expected to eventually be created.
Northrop Grumman Expanding in Jackson County
Northrop Grumman Corp. has expanded its presence in Jackson County, Miss., by breaking ground on a new Unmanned Systems Center at Trent Lott International Airport in Moss Point, Miss. The new 39,000-square-foot facility, which the company will use to produce RQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles for the U.S. Navy, will initially provide 30 new high-tech manufacturing jobs.
NAGV Expanding in Mississippi
The National Association of Government Vending, a non-profit that uses electronic commerce via the Internet to reduce the cost of purchasing for government, churches and other non-profits, has announced it expects to hire up to 300 workers over the next five years. The company's headquarters is located in the Howard Technology Park, in Jones County, Miss.
MISSOURI
Glass Company Building Plant
Oldcastle Glass is building an $8 million, 65,000-square-foot glass fabrication plant in Wright City, Mo. The new plant will house about 100 workers. Oldcastle Glass is headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif.
Procter & Gamble Opens Warehouse in K.C.
Procter & Gamble has opened a 361,000-square-foot warehouse in Kansas City that is distributing home care products that are made across the line in Kansas City, Kan. The warehouse houses about 30 workers.
Olin Relocates HQ to St. Louis Area
Olin Corporation is relocating its headquarters from Norwalk, Conn., to Clayton, Mo. to save on operating costs company officials reported this winter. The move is part of a corporate restructuring plan announced in 2004 for the $1.6 billion company. The relocation to Clayton, located in the St. Louis metro, is the latest in a string of headquarter moves to the city, including those done by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Graybar Electric and Centene Corp.
NORTH CAROLINA
SYSCO Building Distribution Center
Food service giant SYSCO announced a 300,000-square-foot distribution center in Selma, N.C. over the winter quarter. The company is investing $37 million and creating 600 new jobs. SYSCO purchased 80 acres off U.S. 70 in Johnston County.
Comair Locates Maintenance Facility in Triad
Comair, Inc. is establishing a new aircraft maintenance facility at the Piedmont Triad International Airport that serves the Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point region. The deal is expected to create over 50 jobs with an investment of $1.6 million.
Classroom Builder Hiring 170
Comark Building Systems, a manufacturer of custom commercial modular and portable classroom buildings, is locating a facility in Robeson County. The Texas-based company will create 170 new jobs and invest almost $4 million in the project.
Metal Fabricator Locating in Rocky Mount
New Standard Corp., a metal fabrication and stamping manufacturer is expanding into the former 117,000-square-foot Fountaine Fifth Wheel building in Rocky Mount, N.C. The company is investing $10 million and creating about 200 jobs over a three-year period. New Standard's products are used in major appliances, heating and cooling, truck and bus manufacturing and in auto parts.
Winston-Salem Site for New U.S. Airways Call Center
U.S. Airways, the never-say-die airline, is consolidating call center operations to Winston-Salem. At the same time, it is closing its 800-employee call center in Pittsburgh. The current Winston-Salem service center also employs about 800 workers. It is unclear how many of the workers in Pittsburgh will relocate to North Carolina. U.S. Airways largest hub is located in Charlotte.
Shaw Group Adding 200 Jobs in Charlotte
Louisiana-based The Shaw Group is leasing 50,000 square feet of office space in downtown Charlotte and adding 200 engineers. The engineering and construction company purchased Charlotte-based Duke Energy's Energy Delivery Services in 2003. Shaw provides engineering, design and construction services to the government and private sectors and focuses on the energy and environmental markets.
Ameri-Kart Expands
Indiana-based Ameri-Kart, which manufactures a variety of custom-molded plastic products such as waste handling containers, tanks and live wells is adding 70 new workers at its plant in Reidsville, N.C. The company is investing $2 million in the expansion.
Spuntech Announces First U.S. Plant in Roxboro
Spuntech Industries is locating its first U.S. plant in Roxboro, N.C. and it will represent a $24 million investment and create 60 new jobs. The new plant will be located in the old Wolverine Tube facility. The non-woven fabric maker operates other production facilities in Israel.
Biodiesel Plant to be built in Eastern N.C.
Atlantic Bio-Energy announced in the winter quarter it will build a $45 million biodiesel plant in Mount Olive, N.C. The new plant will employ about 25 workers, with another 20 added when a planned expansion is completed. The facility will produce fuel from soy oil and other products. The Grain Growers Cooperative is backing the project. The Wilson, N.C.-based cooperative is owned by more than 250 agricultural producers in North Carolina and is investing in the plant to provide an additional market for soybeans. Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel and contains no petroleum, but can be blended with petroleum products in levels ranging from two to 20 percent. Vehicles that use biodiesel, rather than petroleum diesel, substantially reduce the amount of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and other pollutants from exhaust.
Manufacturer Expanding in Pitt County
DSM Dyneema, a manufacturer of high performance polyethylene fiber, is expanding its Pitt County, N.C. operations, creating 60 new jobs. The company is investing $50 million in the deal. DSM Dyneema is a subsidiary of Netherlands-based DSM, the world's largest producer of high-performance polyethylene fiber. The fiber is used as a component for ropes, cables and bullet resistant armor for the police and the military.
Pitt County Turns another Deal
Harper Brush Works, a cleaning supplies manufacturer, is locating its first East Coast operation in Greenville. The deal will create 250 jobs with an investment of more than $5 million. The company makes more than 600 cleaning supply products, which are sold in retail outlets such as Lowe's and Home Depot.
Altec Lands in Burnsville
Birmingham-based Altec Industries announced it is investing $8 million and creating 300 new jobs at a new plant in Burnsville, N.C. The company makes lifts, truck mounted cranes and other equipment for the utility, construction and telecommunications industries.
RF Micro Expands
RF Micro Devices is expanding again in Greensboro. The microchip producer is adding 75 jobs this year. The company is also spending about $75 million in new equipment and to expand its main chip production facility. The expansion will enable RF Micro to produce new microchips used in cell phones.
Raflatac to Invest $40 Million
Raflatac, a supplier of pressure sensitive adhesive labels, is investing $40 million and adding 70 new jobs as it expands its American headquarters in Fletcher, N.C. The company has been in North Carolina for 20 years.
CertainTeed Expands in Oxford, N.C.
Pennsylvania-based CertainTeed Corp. is spending about $50 million to expand its facilities in Oxford. The company makes shingles for commercial and residential use and the expansion will help launch a new laminated shingle product. The company expects to add 55 workers to the current work force of 225.
Company Relocating HQ to Raleigh from NYC
An Israeli company is moving its North American headquarters from New York City to Raleigh. Makhteshim Agan Industries, or MANA, is relocating 25 employees and hiring another 15 in the move. The company produces generic crop protection chemical agents.
Plant Announced Near Fayetteville
Nitta Gelatin USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Nitta Gelatin, Inc., is investing $26 million in a new gelatin production facility in Cumberland County, N.C. The plant is being built near Fayetteville and will house 21 workers when completed. The gelatin produced at the facility will be used in pharmaceutical and food products.
Silver Line Windows Creating 790 Jobs
Silver Line Windows is investing about $23 million to open a vinyl window manufacturing plant in Durham. The deal is expected to create about 800 jobs over the next three years.
OKLAHOMA
IBM Announces 1,000 New Jobs in Tulsa
IBM, which already employs about 1,200 workers in Tulsa, announced in the winter quarter it plans to add another 1,000 employees in Oklahoma's second-largest market by 2009. IBM, which is the world's largest information technology company, has had a presence in Tulsa for over 65 years. Most of the employees being added will work in the company's finance and accounting outsourcing divisions.
SOUTH CAROLINA
International Paper Invests in Eastover Mill
IP is investing $125 million at its Eastover Mill. The company, which has a core business of paper, packaging and forest products, has 25 other facilities in South Carolina.
New Manufacturing Facility Bringing 800 Jobs to Aiken County
Global Containment Systems announced in the winter quarter it has chosen Aiken County, S.C. for a new $60 million, 463,000-square-foot manufacturing plant. The plant will produce glove boxes for industrial applications. About 800 jobs are expected to be created at the plant over the new five years.
Hi-Tech Molding and Tooling Locates in Anderson County
Hi-Tech Molding and Tooling announced plans to locate its headquarters and manufacturing operation in Anderson County, S.C. The company, which is involved in plastic injection molding technology and tool making, is moving into a 49,000-square-foot existing building at the Clemson Research Park in Pendleton, S.C. About $6 million in being invested in the deal with about 100 jobs created this year.
Officials Break Ground on Dreamliner Fuselage Facility
Officials broke ground in North Charleston, S.C. at the site where Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. and Global Aeronautica LLC, will produce and integrate fuselage structures for Boeing's new Dreamliner passenger jet. The plane, formerly referred to as the 7E7, was recently renamed by Boeing as the 787. Vought Aircraft will produce fuselage sections for the 787 and the newly formed Global Aeronautica will join and integrate the sections. The two companies will occupy more than 600,000 square feet of space at the site. About 650 jobs will be created, with a total investment of around $560 million. The average annual salary of workers at the facilities will be approximately $50,000.
Signode Expands in Dillon County
Signode Packaging Systems is expanding its operations in Dillon County, S.C. The company will invest $3 million and add 42,000 square feet of space. The expansion will add 10 jobs and will increase capacity of heavy-duty polyester strapping for industrial packaging applications.
Performance Food Group Expanding in Rock Hill
Performance Food Group, a food service distribution company, is building a new warehouse distribution center in York County, S.C., located near Charlotte, N.C. The 165,000-square-foot center will house about 80 employees initially, with an expansion planned to 400,000 square feet and 150 employees.
TENNESSEE
Packager/Printer Announces Facility in Pulaski, Tenn.
A 75-year-old California-based printer and publisher has announced plans to open a new operation in Pulaski-Giles County, Tenn. Bert-Co, which specializes in consumer products, cosmetic, nutraceutical, drug and food packaging, brochures, direct mail, catalogs and point-of-purchase displays, plans to invest $12 million in equipment and the purchase of an existing 112,000-square-foot industrial building located in the Pulaski-Giles County Industrial Park formerly owned by Benchmark Corp. Bert-Co is also a leading printer servicing the entertainment industry with its Cine-Pak DVD packaging design. The company, which operates two other facilities in Los Angeles, is expected to hire 230 workers for the new facility in Pulaski.
Embraer Adding Jobs
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is expanding its Nashville aircraft maintenance facility. The company is leasing a 71,000-square-foot hanger and adding 140 jobs at the Nashville International Airport. The company currently employs 220 workers in Nashville.
Steel Tube Manufacturer Expanding in Chattanooga
LJT, a structural grade steel tubing manufacturer, is investing $8 million at its plant in Chattanooga. The company uses a variety of steel to make steel tubing for the automotive, health care and furniture industries. About 50,000 square feet is being added to the plant and about 40 new jobs are being created.
Global Industrial Components Expands in Woodbury
Global Industrial Components, a manufacturer and distributor of specialty fasteners and component parts, will add between 25 and 50 new jobs to its present work force of 30. The company's products support a wide array of industries including automotive, lawn and gardening and marine. Woodbury is located in Cannon County, Tenn.
High-Tech Manufacturer Locates in Bristol
Basalt Specialty Products is adding over 100 workers in Northeast Tennessee. The company has purchased a building in the Bristol Industrial Park. Basalt, a privately-held company based in Elkin, N.C., produces continuous filament basalt.
Goodman Manufacturing Expanding
Goodman Manufacturing Co., a manufacturer of heating and air conditioning products, is adding a new line to its operations in Fayetteville, Tenn. The company, which employs about 1,200 workers at the facility, is adding 300 in the expansion.
Steam Machines Brings Operations to Smith County
Steam Machines, Inc., formerly located in Hermosa Beach, Calif., is opening a new facility in the Hiwassee area of Smith County. The company makes closed circuit diving systems called rebreathers for serious diving enthusiasts and the military. Steam Machines will hire about 10 people at the facility and invest about $1 million.
TEXAS
Tyson Foods Building Meat Packing Plant, Creating 1,600 Jobs
Arkansas-based Tyson Foods has chosen Sherman, Tex., for a $100 million case-ready meat packing plant. The food maker will employ 1,600 workers at the facility within three years. The plant is the largest announced by Tyson to date, with 6 million pounds of beef and pork packaged each week.
Convergys Selects Round Rock
Convergys, the Ohio-based customer care outsourcing company that has been named one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies, is opening an inbound call center in Round Rock, Tex. The center is the 62nd for Convergys, which operates in 20 countries and employs more than 63,000 workers. The company has not determined how many employees will be hired at the center.
Convergys Adding 200 in Killeen
Convergys is also adding 200 new positions at is call center in Killeen, Tex. The 50,000-square-foot call center in Killeen opened in 1995. The 200 new employees will bring Convergys' total employment to 800 in Killeen.
Massachusetts Company Picks Sugar Land
Thermo Electron Corp., based in Massachusetts, is relocating its process systems business division to Sugar Land, located near Houston. The company is consolidating three operations located in Houston and Round Rock, Tex., and one in the United Kingdom. Approximately 230 workers will be employed at the new Sugar Land site, with about 140 of those coming over from Houston. Thermo Electron will produce analytical instruments used in the oil and gas and utility sectors.
BP Selects League City for Spin-off
BP America, an oil and gas conglomerate, has selected League City, Tex., for a new U.S. location for the company's spin-off into the petrochemicals and plastics sectors. The deal, which is a consolidation of BP's olefins and derivatives divisions, will bring 150 jobs to the Houston bay area and represents a $6 million investment.
IDC Opening Distribution Center in Roanoke
IDC is opening a 200,000-square-foot distribution center in Roanoke, Tex. The facility is being used to distribute Westinghouse Solar Lights to locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Countrywide Financial Announces Huge Texas Deal
California-based Countrywide Financial Corp. has announced it is creating about 7,500 new jobs in the state of Texas over the next five years. The expansion into the Lone Star State will begin in January when the company will add about 2,500 jobs to its Richardson, Tex. location.
Tenet Healthcare Relocates to Dallas
Tenet Healthcare Corp., formerly of Santa Barbara, Calif., has relocated its headquarters to Dallas. Tenet owns five hospitals in the Dallas area and has operated a large administrative facility in Dallas for years. Tenet has officially relocated its headquarters, but won't close its Santa Barbara operations until the summer.
VIRGINIA
Log Home Maker Hiring 200
AmerLink, a manufacturer of log homes, will invest $3 million to open its first Virginia plant in Carroll County. The project will create 200 new jobs. The company has produced log homes in the U.S. since 1982.
Cabinetry Manufacturer Announces 540 New Jobs in Southside
Yorktowne Cabinetry, a maker of fine cabinetry, will invest $19 million to open its first Virginia plant in Cane Creek Centre, an industrial park jointly developed by Pittsylvania County and the City of Danville. The project will create 540 new jobs over five years. The company is headquartered in Pennsylvania.
Wood Products Company Investing $6M
Ten Oaks LLC, a new hardwood products manufacturer, is investing more than $6 million to open a plant in Patrick County, Va. The company is moving into the former Vaughan Furniture plant in the Rich Creek Corporate Park in Stuart. The project will create about 150 new jobs in Southwest Virginia.
Railroad Car Manufacturer Creating 400 Jobs
FreightCar America is leasing a portion of Norfolk Southern's East End shops in the City of Roanoke to manufacture railroad freight cars. The company is investing $5.5 million and hiring about 400 workers. FreightCar America, which operated as Johnstown America until 2004, has produced railcars since 1901. The company is headquartered in Chicago.
Yarn Company Relocates to Henry County
Texturing Services Inc., a maker of custom specialty yarns, is investing $14 million to relocate it operations to Henry County, Va., from Reidsville, N.C. The new operation will move into the Bassett Walker Building and plans to employ 200 people. The company texturizes synthetic filament yarns for use in the upholstery market.
Lindstrand Opening First U.S. Facility
Lindstrand USA has chosen Virginia for its first U.S. manufacturing facility. The company makes inflatable structures such as flood barriers, portable bridges and aircraft hangers. Lindstrand USA is a subsidiary of Lindstrand Technologies, which is based in the U.K. About $3 million will be invested by the company and 50 new jobs will be created.
USG Investing $132 Million in Norfolk
USG Corp., a manufacturer of building materials, is investing $132 million to expand and modernize its manufacturing facility in the City of Norfolk. The Norfolk plant has been operating for 55 years. USG will add about 25 new jobs to the current work force of 116 at the plant.
Arkay Packaging Expands Near Roanoke
Arkay Packaging, a manufacturer of high-quality packaging, announced in the winter quarter it is expanding its operations in Botetourt County, located near Roanoke. The New York-based company is investing $11 million and adding 75 new jobs. Arkay makes packaging for the pharmaceutical, fragrance and cosmetic industries.
Snack Maker Announces 95 New Jobs
Snack Alliance, Inc., a national snack food manufacturer, has purchased the Wise Snack Food plant in Bristol, Va., and plans to expand its production with an investment of about $10 million. The project will bring 95 new jobs to the Southwest region and save 85 existing jobs at the plant.
WEST VIRGINIA
Variform Expands in Berkeley County
Variform, Inc., a maker of vinyl siding, announced in the winter quarter it is adding 122,000 square feet of distribution space in the Berkeley County Business Park, located south of Martinsburg, W.V. The company, which employs about 250 workers, has expanded its manufacturing facilities four times since arriving in Martinsburg in 1987. The expansion will add about 50 new jobs.
Division Relocating to Wheeling, W.V
Troy Group, Inc., is taking is software development office from Nashville to Wheeling. The California-based company, which provides financial services payment processing, relocated its financial services division to Nashville in 2001. The relocation of the software office will locate to a data center Troy is opening in Wheeling.
QUIZ ANSWER
The answer is (d) Bentonville, Ark. In 1996, Wal-Mart officials began encouraging vendors to set up shop near its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. It's been estimated that since then over 700 suppliers to the nation's largest retailer have opened up operations in and around Bentonville, located in Northwest Arkansas.
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