Access to more than 16,000 miles of navigable water and nearly half of the
Access to more than 16,000 miles of navigable water and nearly half of the continental
Access to more than 16,000 miles of navigable water and nearly half of the continental U.S. Shortest distance between Mid-America and the Gulf of Mexico
Shortest distance between Mid-America and the Gulf of Mexico
Available
Support
Available certified industrial & port sites
Available certified industrial & port sites
Business
Support from local, state and federal officials
Support from local, state and federal officials
Business friendly environment Intermodal
Business friendly environment Intermodal options
28
Manufacturing Dominates Projects
Announced in the South
SB&D takes a look back at the road that led to the South’s manufacturing boom, and the roadblocks that could lie ahead
Market Awards
The states and markets, from big cities to rural communities, in the South that captured the most important job- and investment-generating projects in 2023
Significant Projects
Selected significant projects announced in the South in 2023
Under 50 to Watch
The talent level of economic development practitioners in the South is truly unmatched anywhere in the U.S., especially those who are in their forties as they hone their craft
Around the South
Top stories from the last quarter relative to business and economic development
Relocations & Expansions
All of the significant new starts, expansions and relocations announced in the South in the last quarter SouthernAutoCorridor.com
The
SOUTHBOUND
By Michael Randle, EDITOR
In a year or two, the South will account for more exports than the Northeast, Midwest and West combined.
William Faulkner, arguably Mississippi’s most famous writer, once said, “To understand the world, you have to understand a place like Mississippi.”
From our friends at Mississippi History Now:
“To the world, Mississippi was the epicenter of the cotton production phenomenon during the first half of the 19th century. The state was swept along by the global economic force created by its cotton production, the demand by cotton textile manufacturing in Europe, and New York’s financial and commercial dealings. Mississippi did not exist in a vacuum. So, in a sense, Faulkner’s words could be reversed: ‘To understand Mississippi, you have to understand the world.’ ”
Faulkner should have written “To understand the world, you have to understand a place like the South, the ‘Land of Cotton.’ ” Because the South was up to its ears in it the first half of the 19th century and that crop was exported to more than 300 places on the globe. Most of those exports were provided by slave labor throughout the region and in other U.S. regions.
While no records exist, it is possible that the South exported so much cotton to Europe and elsewhere that the value topped the exports of the West, Midwest and Northeast combined. We will never know. We do know that slave labor was responsible for not only building the South, but much of the country 200 years ago.
Although the South might not have exported in dollar value what the other three U.S. regions did 200 years ago, it is about to happen now.
At nearly $1 trillion a year, the South’s export totals are close to topping the other three U.S. regions combined. In 100 years, we have already topped the population of the Northeast and Midwest combined, so this export data is predictable.
With over $200 billion in recent manufacturing announce-
ments that have not yet been completed, the South’s export totals are about to soar after those EV plant open for business. Here is the data on Southern state exports and out-of-region exports:
Exports in Value by States and by Region, 2023
South: $920 billion
Midwest: $360 billion
West: $353 billion
Northeast: $291 billion
Southern Exports by State
Texas: $445 billion
Louisiana: $100 billion
Florida: $69 billion
Georgia: $50 billion
North Carolina: $42 billion
Kentucky: $40 billion
Tennessee: $38 billion
South Carolina: $37 billion
Alabama: $28 billion
Virginia: $22 billion
Missouri: $18 billion
Mississippi: $14 billion
Oklahoma: $7 billion
Arkansas: $7 billion
District of Columbia: $2 billion
Source: Various federal agencies, Statistica
Southern Business & Development (ISSN 1067-8751) is a registered trademark TM. Founded in 1992 and published quarterly by MCR Publishing, Inc. Affiliated Websites include www.SouthernBusiness.com, www.SB-D.com, www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com. Office address: 8086 Westchester Place, Montgomery, AL 36117. To subscribe, email stacy@sb-d.com. Annual subscription: $25. Single edition delivery by three-day mail: $10. Information contained in SB&D and on its websites is gathered from reliable sources, however, the accuracy of this information is not guaranteed. All rights reserved. Permission must be granted by SB&D for reprint rights, in whole or in part. Copyright 1992-2024. Southern Business & Development TM 1997. Southern Auto Corridor and Southern Automotive Corridor TM 2003.
2025 ASPEN PRIZE FOR COMMUNITY
COLLEGE EXCELLENCE FINALIST
Wallace State has been named one of 10 community colleges selected as a finalist for the $1 million Aspen Prize. Awarded every two years, the Aspen Prize honors colleges with outstanding performance in six critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, broad access to the college and its offerings, and equitable outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.
Please join us in celebrating the students, faculty, staff, community partners, supporters and friends who make Wallace State Community College among the Top 10 community colleges in the nation.
AROUND THESOUTH
CNBC ranks the top states for business CNBC recently released its list of “America’s Top States for Business 2024.” In the study, CNBC used data from each state’s primary economic development arm, the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and numerous other sources to determine the rankings.
States are scored on 128 metrics across 10 broad categories of competitiveness. Each category is weighed based on how frequently states use them as a selling point in economic development marketing materials. The highest a state can score is 2,500.
CNBC’s Top Five States for Business 2024 (all Southern):
Virginia
North Carolina
Texas
Georgia
Florida
Source: CNBC
For real-time news on business, politics and economic development in the South, go to SouthernBusiness.com. For all projects announced in the South and more, go to SouthernBusiness.com and SB-D.com. For more on the auto industry in the South, go to SouthernAutoCorridor.com.
What are the top 10 highest taxed states?
(Not one from the South.)
New York residents spend the most on taxes of any state in the country; a whopping 12 percent of their annual income goes to state and local government income taxes. Here are the top ten states with the highest income tax:
New York 12 percent
Hawaii 11.8 percent
Vermont 11.1 percent
Maine 10.7 percent
California 10.4 percent
Connecticut 10.1 percent
Minnesota 10 percent
Illinois 9.7 percent
New Jersey 9.5 percent
Rhode Island and Utah 9.4 percent
Source: WalletHub
ALABAMA
Airbus and South Alabama celebrate 500th Alabama-made jetliner Despite struggles in the global aerospace industry, European-based Airbus celebrated in the summer at its complex at the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Ala. The 500th airliner exited the line at the Airbus plant in Mobile.
Norfolk Southern is investing $200 million in Alabama
Norfolk Southern is investing more than $200 million to grow capacity on a key rail line in Alabama, the 3B Corridor, which connects markets in northern and central Alabama to the Port of Mobile and destinations worldwide. The 3B Corridor is strategically aligned with the Port of Mobile, which contributes $85 billion in annual economic value to Alabama. The corridor represents an important segment of Norfolk Southern’s annual traffic, serving critical industries like agriculture, automotive, chemicals, forestry and steel. The investment project positions the line to accommodate expected growth in sev-
eral sectors as the Southeast progresses as an economic powerhouse for the U.S. economy.
Alabama’s poorest region is all-in on ecotourism
Alabama’s Black Belt has all the ingredients to become a premier ecotourism destination, according to a report produced by a renowned ecotourism expert who conducted a detailed assessment of tourism development potential in the region.
The report, authored by Costas Christ and Associates, along with Beyond Green Travel and the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, recommends that tourism planning and development in the Black Belt focus on the three pillars of nature, culture and community. It also urges communities throughout the Black Belt to collaborate and work together to foster economic development throughout the region’s 23-county footprint.
“By emphasizing the conservation of nature and protection of cultural and historic sites, along with local
community engagement, the Black Belt can become a leading ecotourism destination,” said Christ, who is a former editor and senior director for sustainability for National Geographic and a top travel expert. “The Black Belt is a diamond in the rough. It just needs some polishing,” Christ said in an interview with Alabama News Center.
ARKANSAS
Mississippi County is leading the way in “green steel”
Arkansas steel giants like Blytheville-based Nucor-Yamato, as well as Big River Steel and Hybar of Osceola, are transforming Mississippi County into a hub of recycled steel, renewable energy and innovative technology. Industry experts say green steel is the future, and Mississippi County steel plants are leading the way.
Steel manufacturing produces more carbon dioxide than any other heavy industry, responsible for about 8 percent of total global emissions, according to the World Economic Forum. With eyes on manufacturers to reach net-zero targets and meet
The unemployment rate in Arkansas fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.3 percent in July as non-farm payrolls grew at the fastest rate in the nation.
ambitious climate goals, green steel is the answer many companies are seeking.
Arkansas unemployment rate falls to near 3 percent while national rate rises to 4.3 percent The unemployment rate in Arkansas fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.3 percent in July, according to the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. Here are the lowest seven state unemployment rates in the South in the mid-summer of 2024:
Mississippi 2.7 percent
Virginia 2.7 percent
Alabama 2.8 percent
Tennessee 3.0 percent
Florida 3.3 percent
Arkansas 3.3 percent
Georgia 3.4 percent
GEORGIA
Atlanta City Council Members seek data center ban
Atlanta City Council Members Jason Dozier and Matt Westmoreland introduced two pieces of legislation in the summer that would ban data centers from being built within the BeltLine Overlay District within a half-mile
AROUND THESOUTH
main investments in Kentucky include the
at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
of transit stations in Atlanta. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, every council member is backing the legislation, which would not affect existing data centers nor those already approved for construction.
“We want to make sure you have spaces that will be utilized by people rather than equipment and robots,” Dozier said.
Atlanta is the hottest data center market in the U.S. right now, growing by 211 percent in projects under construction between 2022 to 2023, according to a CBRE report. Members of the City Council say that data centers should not be built where there could be more appealing uses of the land, such as greenspaces and affordable housing. Atlanta is a huge player in data centers, along with Dallas-Fort Worth and Northern Virginia, two other markets in the South that are recruiting the pricey projects.
KENTUCKY
Amazon’s economic impact on Kentucky Amazon.com Inc. is a massive company — currently ranking No. 5 in market cap in the U.S. at over $1.7 trillion and annual revenue of more than $600 billion.
And Amazon has had a big impact on Kentucky. Here are some highlights:
$43 billion — invested in Kentucky since 2010, including infrastructure and compensation to employees
$39 billion — added into Kentucky’s Gross Domestic Product
Each hub serves as an entrepreneurial support system throughout its region, providing mentorship and startup coaching, connections to public and private funding, events and networking opportunities across the state and many other resources to accelerate growth.
“We are securing Kentucky’s place at the forefront of innovation by continuing to invest in new businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Gov. Beshear. “The Innovation Hubs provide incredible opportunities for startup companies to succeed and create quality jobs for Kentucky families.”
Qcells receives major fed support to build solar panel factory in Cartersville, Ga.
In the summer quarter, Qcells received support from the federal government for its massive industrial project in Northwest Georgia.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced it will extend a loan guarantee of up to $1.45 billion to Qcells, a South Korean-based manufacturer of solar energy technology, to support the building out of its solar panel manufacturing facility in Cartersville.
The facility will be the United States’ first fully integrated silicon-based solar manufacturing plant in more than ten years, per the Department of Energy. It will also be the largest factory producing ingots and wafers — key parts of the panel-manufacturing process — ever to be built in the U.S.
22,000 — full- and part-time jobs created in Kentucky (as of January)
50,300 — indirect jobs supported on top of direct hires in the state (based on Input-Output methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
Amazon’s main investments in Kentucky include: 11 fulfillment and sortation centers; five delivery stations; one Air Hub; two Whole Foods Market locations; four solar farms; and one on-site solar location, according to Louisville Business First Gov. Beshear: Kentucky continues to support job growth by investing in six regional innovation hubs Gov. Andy Beshear announced that the state is continuing to support job growth and economic development by renewing its contract with six Innovation Hubs located throughout the state that help support new businesses and entrepreneurs.
The Innovation Hubs are a partnership between the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation (KY Innovation) and the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation (KSTC).
LOUISIANA
Gov. Landry signs bill transforming the State’s approach to economic development and “positioning Louisiana to win”
Surrounded by legislators, economic development leaders and business stakeholders from around the state, Governor Jeff Landry signed legislation that fulfills his commitment to overhaul the state’s approach to economic development and revitalize business investment and job creation.
SB 494, known as the “Positioning Louisiana to Win” bill, modernizes the organizational structure of Louisiana Economic Development
Amazon’s
Amazon Air Hub
so it can better attract new business and more effectively support the businesses already invested in the state.
The signing coincided with LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois’ announcement of her senior leadership team, which adds extensive private sector, economic development and change management experience at a pivotal moment in the agency’s history.
NORTH CAROLINA
Governor calls North Carolina the “epicenter of clean energy”
In the summer quarter, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said that the Tar Heel State is the center of clean energy in the U.S. From the Triad Business Journal, “If you talk
to any CEO of any car company in the world, they will tell you that they are stumbling all over themselves to get into the market first for affordable vehicles,” says Governor Roy Cooper, who calls North Carolina “the epicenter of clean energy.”
Toyota is building its $13.9 billion battery manufacturing plant in Randolph County, N.C. (near Greensboro). Toyota’s project will create more than 5,000 jobs upon completion in 2025.
The story also contained a quote from the president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing: “The thing that we were really, really interested in, and we felt like we can capitalize on, was the human
capital in the people, the talent pool that they had here, mainly driven a lot by their school systems, their college systems,” said Sean Suggs, who is the North Carolina president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing.
Charlotte’s office vacancy rate hits “historic high” Charlotte’s overall office vacancy hit an all-time high in the second quarter of 2024. Cushman & Wakefield’s recent report showed that Charlotte’s vacancy rate reached nearly 25 percent in the second quarter. The real estate firm’s report showed that vacancy rates in Charlotte are about the same as during the Great Recession in 2008.
Boom Supersonic celebrates superfactory in North Carolina with talk of another one (or two)
The completion of the factory for building Boom Supersonic’s first supersonic commercial jetliner factory marks just the start of a likely expansion that will double and perhaps even triple its footprint at Piedmont Triad International Airport, its founder and chief executive said at a ceremony marking the occasion in the summer.
CEO Blake Scholl said the company expects to build 33 of the jets a year, but already plans to expand with another building housing a second manufacturing line to assemble the jetliners. Boom is The South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center is the Southeast’s only business park dedicated to serving the robust needs of the automotive and aerospace industries. As Global Home of the Lockheed Martin F-16 and home to South Carolina’s world-class automotive test track, the International Transportation Innovation Center, there’s good reason why it’s all systems go at SCTAC.
AROUND THESOUTH
According to the Allied U.S. Migration Report, the most attractive state for inbound moves in 2023 was South Carolina (65 percent). Shown here is the bronze statue of the University of South Carolina’s mascot.
already working on a second and third version of the aircraft, larger than the first.
The additional facilities would locate on the 62acre campus on the northwestern edge of PTI’s vast grounds. Scholl likened the 180,000-square-foot building that’s now completed to a Lego block that the company can repeat as needed.
Nucor eyes production start for $350 million mill in Triad, N.C. Nucor is moving toward a production start at its new $350 million steel mill in Davidson County, N.C. The Charlotte-based steel-making giant confirmed that the mill is on track to open in the first quarter of 2025. Nucor also has hired 139 of the expected 200 new employees that will work at the mill, a company spokesperson told the Charlotte Business Jour-
age represents the number of people moving into the state as a share of the state’s total number of movers.
The top five inbound states included Arizona, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida in the Allied ranking. Other data from the report included:
Top Outbound States
Illinois
California
Pennsylvania
Michigan
Washington
Top Inbound Cities
nal. Nucor CEO Leon Topalian confirmed the mill’s timeline on the company’s second-quarter earnings call last this summer.
SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina earned top inbound state for moves; top five include four from the South
The 2023 Allied U.S. Migration Report presents a detailed analysis of the current trends in interstate moves across the United States, highlighting significant patterns and underlying economic factors.
According to Allied, South Carolina topped the list of states for relocation in 2023.
According to the Allied U.S. Migration Report, the most attractive state for people to move to in 2023 was South Carolina (65 percent). And Charleston was the top city (70 percent). The percent-
a “park” in Nashville with “buildings in the park.” The $1.35 billion deal is expected to create 8,500 jobs. Oracle will add 30 percent of Nashville’s total office space with the big buffalo deal.
TEXAS
San Francisco-based chip company looking to connect with Bryan, Texas
San Diego, Calif. Chicago, Ill. Seattle, Wash. Detroit, Mich.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Source: Allied US Migration Report
TENNESSEE
Oracle plans “world headquarters” in Nashville
Software giant Oracle Corp. announced in the spring quarter it will build its world headquarters on a 70-acre piece of property on the city’s downtown riverfront. That was news to Austin officials, who captured the company’s U.S. headquarters in 2020 when Oracle moved from Silicon Valley. For now, it looks like the company will operate both campuses. The company says it is building
An unknown (for now) semiconductor manufacturer is eying Bryan, Texas, for a new greenfield plant that could house thousands of workers. We also have information on four more chip plants scoping out the South as the industry continues to expand in the U.S., all the while ditching Asia to a degree. The plant, which rumor has it could generate a longterm investment of $100 billion and 2,000 jobs, would be built on a site owned by Texas A&M University.
TIAA shifting 1,000 Denver jobs to new North Texas office
The financial firm TIAA is expanding its presence in North Texas. The company recently confirmed that it will close its downtown Denver office in 2026, as it transitions most of those roles to its new Frisco corporate office, which is located in The Star development near the Dallas Cowboys training facility.
The Denver Business Journal reported that TIAA’s exit out of Denver could impact around 1,000 jobs, with most of those being part of the relocation to Frisco.
TIAA’s new office in Frisco is a 15-story building that cost around $110 million and will
total around 500,000 square feet, according to reports by the Dallas Business Journal
Chevron snubs California, will relocate HQ to Houston
Chevron, the second largest U.S. oil company, is moving its headquarters to Houston from California, the nation’s most populous state that continues to push aggressively to address climate change. It should be noted that the State of California sued Chevron and other large oil companies last year, claiming they misled the public over the risks of fossil fuels.
While the Houston MSA is no stranger to oil and gas (it is known as the energy capital of the world) the past few years have marked a shift
in favor of Houston when it comes to where Fortune 500 companies want to call home.
When Chevron’s relocation becomes effective January 1, 2025, and after corporate functions relocate over the next five years, the company will become the 24th Fortune 500 company in the Houston area, which ranks third in the nation behind the New York and Chicago metros.
Chevron will also become the fourth Fortune 500 company to have relocated to Houston in the past five years: Spring-based ExxonMobil moved its headquarters there officially last summer. NRG Energy made Houston its sole headquarters in 2021, and Spring-
based Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. moved there from California in 2020.
With Chevron’s move, the country’s top three oil and gas supermajors will be headquartered in the Bayou City area, according to the Houston Business Journal
Giant industrial park underway near Samsung plant in Austin suburbs
More than 1 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space is planned in Hutto, Texas, not far from Samsung Electronic’s sprawling chip-making plant being built in nearby Taylor.
The site of the project is about 10 miles west of Samsung’s growing campus and about 20 miles north of Tesla’s mas-
sive gigafactory in eastern Travis County in Texas.
VIRGINIA
Fairfax to regulate data centers
Officials in Fairfax County, Va., are monitoring the number of data centers it seeks to recruit. Data centers continue to expand throughout Northern Virginia and the state plans to adopt policies that will monitor and therefore avoid problems like noise, power lines and electricity and water used for each project. Loudoun County is one of the leaders in Northern Virginia with regard to massive data center projects. Fairfax is looking at “edge” data centers that make connectivity even faster in dense populations. J
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Where Economic Growth Takes Off
Located in the heart of South Carolina, the Midlands region boasts the right people, places and partners for sustained economic growth and prosperity. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) is an essential partner in the region’s success.
CAE is more than a travel hub; it’s a cornerstone of opportunity and regional development. As a committed community partner, CAE is deeply invested in enhancing the local economy and supporting businesses. From move-in ready industrial sites to land development and leasing options surrounding the airport, CAE’s economic impact extends far beyond its footprint.
Strategic Collaborations for Community Development
A key example of CAE’s strategic collaboration with the business community is 803 Industrial Park. Situated at the end of the CAE runway and adjacent to vital rail lines and three major interstates, this multimodal hub offers unparalleled connectivity. With close proximity to UPS regional air and ground hubs and FedEx Freight, the park is powered by CAE and brought to life through a collaboration between Magnus Development Partners, Mashburn
Construction and Colliers.
It boasts nearly 1 million square feet of strategically located, versatile space designed to meet the needs of a diverse range of tenants, making it an ideal location for businesses looking to expand or relocate.
Projects such as the Airport Expressway Extension, alongside the new traffic signal at the CAE Enterprise Park entrance, exemplify the airport’s commitment to infrastructure improvements to support business growth. These enhancements, made possible through partnerships with Lexington County and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), provide a safer and more efficient entry point, significantly raising the value of available parcels for sale or lease. Businesses can thrive in an environment where logistics are seamless and accessibility is a priority.
Boosting Regional Economic Potential
CAE is partnering with the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Lexington County to create multiple Certified Sites for aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue generation. This initiative fosters regional economic development, positioning CAE as a critical economic driver
and making the Midlands an even more enticing location for businesses.
Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 127 at CAE provides businesses with a strategic advantage by allowing them to defer customs duties, reduce operating costs, and enhance supply chain efficiency, all within the Midlands. With oversight from CAE, FTZ 127 covers a centrally located region and offers a streamlined process for businesses to obtain FTZ designation, spurring job creation and investment. Additionally, companies engaged in production or manufacturing within the zone can benefit from deferred or reduced taxes, further amplifying their competitive edge.
CAE has launched multiple taxiway improvement projects, engaging local vendors and suppliers to secure federal grant money and infuse funds into the community. By using a phased approach, CAE minimizes disruption to commercial operations, ensuring a smooth experience for passengers while meeting FAA standards. These projects, funded by federal grants, airport investments and passenger facility charges, significantly boost the local economy by reinvesting millions back into the Midlands region each year.
Record-Breaking Passenger Growth and Enhanced Experience
Reflecting South Carolina’s population growth, CAE has seen a remarkable increase in passenger traffic. In 2023, the airport welcomed 1,234,487 passengers, marking a 16 percent rise over 2022’s passenger totals and nearing its highest passenger numbers in over a decade. Expanded nonstop flight routes, such as American Airlines’ seasonal service from CAE to Miami International Airport, meet this growing demand, advancing the region’s connectivity and appeal.
To enhance convenience for travelers, CAE has added new functionality to its website, allowing passengers to book flights directly from FlyCAE.com. Additionally, a multi-year airport master plan outlines growth and development for the next 20 years, incorporating community input to ensure regional needs are met.
STAYING POWER.
Our story is best told through the success of our members. Since 1988, South Carolina Power Team has been championing great stories through industry recruitment and by offering highly reliable power through South Carolina’s electric cooperatives. As an essential economic development partner, we continue to commit resources and incentives to help businesses thrive in South Carolina, and we play an essential role in the creation of job and career opportunities for those we serve.
Spurs Up, Wheels Up
As the Official Airport of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks®, CAE proudly supports athletics fans and alumni with seamless travel in and out of Columbia, just a short 20-minute drive from campus. This connection to the state’s flagship university — the largest in South Carolina — underscores the airport’s role in fostering community and economic ties.
Smart Sustainability CAE’s commitment to sustainability also sets it apart as a forward-thinking and responsible partner. By installing solar panels to provide additional covered parking while providing electricity to the terminal and new EV
charging stations, the airport will support clean energy efforts without straining the local grid. Area businesses can be confident that they are part of a community that values and implements sustainable practices.
Join Us on the Journey
At Columbia Metropolitan
Airport, the mission goes beyond facilitating travel; it is about propelling economic growth and community development. Businesses are invited to join CAE on this journey to new heights, ensuring a prosperous future for South Carolina. Discover more about the
opportunities that await at FlyCAE.com.
To learn more about the Midlands region, and why it is truly the heart of South Carolina, check out the Central SC Alliance at CentralSC. org. Central South Carolina is where businesses thrive, and the future takes flight.
R ELOCAT IONS & EXPANSIONS
For real-time news on business, politics and economic development in the South, go to SouthernBusiness.com. For all projects announced in the South and more, go to SouthernBusiness.com and SB-D.com. For more on the auto industry in the South, go to SouthernAutoCorridor.com.
ALABAMA
ARKANSAS
Shipbuilder Austal to add over 1,000 jobs at its complex in downtown Mobile, Ala. Austal USA announced plans to expand its Mobile shipyard with the construction of an additional waterfront assembly facility to support the growth of shipbuilding in Alabama’s Port City.
The expansion project, fueled by a capital investment of more than $288 million, is set to create 1,032 new jobs over the next four years, according to the Mobile Chamber. This infrastructure expansion includes the construction of Final Assembly Building #2 (FA 2). The facility will feature three bays to build large steel modules including the Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) and the Navy’s TAGOS-25 ocean surveillance steel ships.
Montgomery lands nextgen Meta data center In the summer, Meta Platforms announced that it will build a 715,000-squarefoot data center on a 1,500acre site across Interstate 65 from the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in Montgomery. California-based Meta operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp, among other products and services. It is the second Meta data center in the state. The other is in Huntsville.
In a report by the Alabama News Center, Meta seems very happy about the decision to build in Alabama’s Capital. “Montgomery is the perfect home for Meta,” Brad Davis, director of Community and Economic Development at Meta, said. “It offers so much. Great access to infrastructure and renewable energy, a strong pool of talent and most importantly, a great set of community partners who have helped us move this project forward quickly. You all have been amazing from the beginning, and we thank you.”
The largest direct extrusion press in North America is in Arkansas
Aluminum extrusion and metal fabricator Taber Extrusions of Russellville announced a $60 million expansion of its facility that will introduce the largest direct extrusion press in North America. The project is expected to create 70 jobs. It will add 125,000 square feet to Taber’s existing 140,000-square-foot facility and increase overall production capacity “by multiples,” the company said.
EV battery-quality lithium plant in Arkansas gets boost
Standard Lithium Ltd., the company developing commercial lithium operations in Arkansas and east Texas, announced that it has a new partnership with publicly traded Equinor ASA. Norway-based Equinor is investing up to $160 million in the new plants.
Standard, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, will get a $30 million cash payment at closing of the deal. Additionally, Equinor will
solely provide funds for a $60 million work project in southwest Arkansas and in east Texas. Standard has been producing battery-quality lithium products at a test plant in El Dorado for more than three years.
Tractor Supply opens in Maumelle
Tractor Supply has opened its tenth U.S. distribution center in Maumelle, Ark. The 1.1 million-square-foot facility represents an investment of more than $175 million in the region and will create 500 full-time jobs for local residents. Tractor Supply is the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the country.
FLORIDA
Travel+Leisure moving 1,000 positions to new downtown Orlando headquarters
The Orlando-based timeshare/vacation ownership giant is relocating from its current headquarters located in the tourism sector of the region.
Big deal in Winter Haven Niagara Bottling plans to create at least 100 full-time jobs at a new 1.45 million-squarefoot manufacturing plant in Winter Haven’s Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center. The California-based beverage supplier received a tax exemption for the approximately $422 million
project in 2023. The company was expected to officially break ground that year, but has yet to do so.
GEORGIA
Maker of transformers to open Georgia factory near Plant Vogtle
A European company that makes transformers for utilities and vehicles announced it will open a facility in eastern Georgia near the sprawling Plant Vogtle nuclear power station. Ritz Instrument Transformers will invest $28 million in the new facility in Waynesboro, about 30 miles south of Augusta, and promised to hire 130 workers. The German company, which already operates
Rural Arkansas county on a major five-year run Zekelman Industries, the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America, will invest up to $120 million to expand the manufacturing capabilities and product offerings of its subsidiary, Atlas Tube, in Mississippi County, Ark. The project will bring Zekelman’s total number of employees in the area to more than 300. During the unveiling, the manufacturer also announced it will partner with Arkansas Northeastern College on a new workforce training initiative. Mississippi County is the largest steelmaking county in the U.S., with plants like Big River Steel, Nucor and U.S. Steel.
Atlanta’s data center projects march on Microsoft is constructing a new data center campus on Atlanta’s Southside. Since 2023, data center construction in metro Atlanta has increased 211 percent, which is the fastest among major data center markets across the country, according to real estate services firm CBRE. Microsoft has targeted Atlanta’s Southside for data center development, paying at least $171 million so far this year to acquire more than 480 acres, including the Union City site.
R ELOCAT IONS & EXPANSIONS
Mizkan to expand in Owensboro, Ky., with $156 million investment
Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted exciting news within the state’s food manufacturing sector as Mizkan America, which makes products like Ragu pasta sauce, announced plans to expand its current facility in Owensboro with a $156 million investment creating 44 new Kentucky jobs.
The project will see the company expand its Owensboro facilities by approximately 320,000 square feet, bringing its total operational space to over 970,000 square feet. The additional space will allow for building improvements, new machinery and equipment, IT upgrades and related assets.
two Georgia plants, develops and produces transformers ranging from 600 volts to 500 kilovolts in addition to cast metal parts.
KENTUCKY
Distiller breaks ground on new $143.7 million distillery in Morehead, Ky. Eastern Light Distilling broke ground this summer on a new distillery in East Kentucky. The $143 million deal will create 50 new jobs.
Gov. Beshear: Mitsubishi Electric US to bring 122 high-wage jobs with $143.5 million investment in Maysville, Ky.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Mitsubishi Electric US (MEUS) will repurpose an existing manufacturing facility in Maysville to produce highly efficient heat pump com-
pressors, which will bring 122 new full-time jobs with a $143.5 million investment. The Cabinet for Economic Development believes this is the largest project in Mason County in 20 years.
“I had the privilege of meeting with Mitsubishi Electric’s leadership during last week’s economic development visit to Japan to discuss our longstanding partnership and how we can continue to grow together. We also discussed the unique opportunity presented by this project, and it is incredible news for the company and for the commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “The establishment of this facility positions Mitsubishi Electric, a leader in all-climate heat pump systems, to take its business to the
next level and emphasizes the importance of investing in companies that are committed to U.S. manufacturing. I want to congratulate the company’s leadership on their decision to reinvest in Kentucky.”
LOUISIANA
New Southland Industrial Coatings manufacturing facility in Acadiana to create nearly 300 new jobs
Southland Industrial Coatings announced it is investing $13.1 million to construct a new fireproofing facility in St. Landry Parish that will serve customers in the utility and renewable energy industries nationwide.
With this expansion, the Louisiana-based family business expects to create 120 direct new jobs with an average
annual salary of more than $53,000 and retain 340 existing jobs in the state. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will also result in 178 indirect new jobs, for a total of 298 potential new jobs in the Acadiana Region. The company estimates 195 construction jobs at peak construction.
“The continued expansion of Southland Industrial Coatings, and its parent company Southland Steel Fabricators, is a Louisiana success story,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “We thank this family-owned business for its ongoing commitment to the skilled workers of Louisiana and continued investment in rural Louisiana.”
Northshore New Orleans on a nice deal run Construction has begun on a $46 million cold storage facility in Pearl River, La., that promises 100 new jobs. It is one of several deals turned recently in St. Tammany Parish. Georgia-based Agile Cold Storage is building a new facility that will house food production and distribution through the Port of New Orleans to around the world. The project is one gained by the announced $1.8 billion expansion of one of the South oldest port facilities.
MISSISSIPPI
Swiss manufacturer Liebherr locating in Tupelo Liebherr, one of the largest manufacturers of construction equipment in the world,
is locating distribution and manufacturing operations in Lee County. The project represents a corporate investment of $176 million and will create at least 180 jobs by 2026. The company potentially will invest up to $238.4 million and create up to 342 jobs to support its new operations.
Liebherr selected The HIVE Business Park in Tupelo as the location to expand its North American operations. The company will develop a new campus on a 118-acre site where it will construct more than 1 million square feet of building space.
Ashley expanding furniture manufacturing in Lee County
Ashley Furniture Industries, the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, has plans to expand operations in two of its existing locations in Lee County. The project represents a corporate investment of approximately $80 million in facilities and equipment, and will create at least 500 new jobs.
This project will expand Ashley’s foam and mattress production in Verona through
the purchase and renovation of a neighboring facility and the construction of a new facility. Additionally, Ashley plans to expand operations in Saltillo, currently the country’s largest mattress plant, with a substantial investment in equipment and operations. This project aims to enhance the company’s operational efficiencies to better serve Ashley’s customers in over 155 countries worldwide.
Anduril Industries expanding operations in Stone County, Miss.
Anduril Industries is expanding its operations in McHenry. The project represents a corporate investment of $75 million and will create 60 new jobs. Anduril is a defense technology company on a mission to transform U.S. and allied militaries with advanced technology. Anduril combines modern software expertise with a rapid and differentiated approach to hardware development and manufacturing.
The company, based out of Costa Mesa, Calif., acquired Adranos last year, along
Company plans to add 160 jobs in Lake Charles, La. Process Service Specialists, a specialty industrial mechanical contractor that provides support to all column, reactor, piping and specialty welding, catalyst and demolition work, will invest $3.5 million in its facility over the next three years, a move that will result in 160 new jobs.
with its solid rocket motor production site in Stone County. The expansion will enhance the capabilities of that facility to increase the propellant mixing and solid rocket motor annual production capacity from 600 to more than 6,000 tactical-scale solid rocket motors. The expansion supports growing demand from Anduril’s customers.
CONTINUED
Wolfspeed has a neighbor at the 1,800-acre Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing Site In the spring quarter, Wolfspeed topped off its semiconductor plant in Chatham County, N.C. The facility will produce 200mm silicon carbide wafers, significantly expanding Wolfspeed’s materials capacity by meeting the demand for next-generation semiconductors critical to energy transition and AI. Innovative Construction Group, which was acquired by national homebuilder PulteGroup in 2020, announced in the spring it is investing roughly $40 million in operations in Siler City.
R ELOCAT IONS & EXPANSIONS
Three-million-dollar investment will create 68 new jobs in South Carolina Fenecon, a provider of energy storage systems, announced it is establishing its first North American operation with headquarters and manufacturing in Greenville County. The company’s $3 million investment will create 68 new jobs.
Founded in Germany, Fenecon is a leader in the clean energy sector, known for its innovative battery energy storage systems and smart energy management. The company designs and produces cutting-edge energy storage solutions for residential, commercial and industrial markets.
NORTH CAROLINA
Fayetteville chosen for nearly $1 billion titanium plant. Here’s what we know.
A nearly $1 billion titanium plant bringing hundreds of high-paying jobs will be built in Cumberland County, according to the Fayetteville-Cumberland Economic Development Corporation.
American Titanium Metals, operating under the name Project Aero, has announced it will build its aerospace-grade titanium mill in Fayetteville, creating more than 300 jobs with an average salary of $123,476, the news release said. The project involves an investment of more than $867 million in buildings and equipment, according to the release.
Japanese manufacturer plants its flag in Greenville, N.C. Nipro, a manufacturer of medical equipment, is establishing a new plant in Pitt County, N.C. The $400 million project will create 232 jobs.
OKLAHOMA
Wake Forest Innovation Quarter launches second phase in Winston-Salem
The 250-acre Wake Forest Innovation Quarter is growing the life sciences on Tobacco Road. Innovation Quarter’s second phase, which will double the science park’s square footage, lands Greensboro/Winston-Salem as a top 10 U.S. market for life sciences construction activity, according to a recent ranking by commercial real estate search-engine Commercial Search.
Consuming about half a million square feet at Innovation Quarter is the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM). The institute is a leader in R&D, clinical trials, tech transfer and workforce development in health treatments.
Oklahoma celebrates $51 million investment in Tulsa region’s Tech Hub In the summer quarter, Gov. Kevin Stitt released a statement celebrating the $51 million federal investment in Tulsa’s Tech Hub: “The Tech Hub, which focuses on autonomous technologies such as drones, will make Tulsa the world’s leading destination for innovation, investment and talent in this technology and will find uses in industries spanning agriculture, defense, energy, health care, manufacturing and beyond.”
SOUTH CAROLINA
Nucor Steel breaks ground on $425 million expansion in South Carolina
Nucor Steel Berkeley broke ground on the construction of a new galvanizing line in May. The $425 million investment will create more than 50 new full-time jobs, according to a news release. The new galvanizing line is expected to start up in mid2025. Adding the new line at the South Carolina sheet steel mill supports Nucor’s strategy to expand its capabilities and grow its participation in the automotive and consumer durables markets, the release stated. The mill
in Berkeley County produces flat-rolled steel which has hundreds of everyday uses, including parts for cars, water heaters, lawnmowers, appliances and more. Nucor Steel Berkeley also produces steel beams that are used as support structures in bridges and buildings.
TENNESSEE
Howmet Aerospace announces Tennessee expansion at U.K. airshow Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Howmet Aerospace officials announced the company is expanding its location in Morristown, Tenn.
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Howmet Aerospace has locations in 13 different countries around the globe and 15 states across the U.S. With the Morristown expansion, the company will create 50 new jobs and invest an additional $27.9 million in Tennessee.
PPG picks Loudon County for $225 million plant
PPG will invest a total of $225 million and create 129 new jobs in Loudon County. The Loudon plant will be PPG’s first new U.S. manufacturing facility in the last 15 years and is part of the company’s greater investment to expand and innovate advanced manufacturing in North America.
TrueGreen to move C-suite execs to Franklin One of Memphis’ largest private companies is relocating its execs to Franklin, the affluent city south of Nashville where Nissan operates its North American headquarters among other major cor-
porate players. However, the company stated it is not relocating its headquarters.
TikTok is moving forward with a new Nashville office
Online sensation TikTok is leasing almost 150,000 square feet in Nashville’s Music Row’s Moore Building to place its permanent office.
TEXAS
ExxonMobil adding research center at Houston area headquarters ExxonMobil is renovating its 385-acre headquarters in Spring, Texas, to accommodate a new research center, which will relocate up to 600 employees to the Houston area and hire additional people locally.
The oil and gas super-major is closing its other research centers around North America — two locations in Canada and one in New Jersey — and will build up the Houston area as its only remaining research center in the region. While the company has other research centers around the world, Exxon decided this was the best move for North America.
Elon Musk continues his love affair with Austin Elon Musk’s X is now trying to lock down office space in the Texas capital. The company is moving its headquarters to Austin from San Francisco as Musk says he’s moving his companies out of California. In two posts on X, the billionaire said he will move SpaceX’s headquarters from Hawthorne, Calif., to Starbase, Texas, a
company town being built in the southern part of the state. Social media platform X will move from San Francisco to Austin, he then said.
German hydrogen company Thyssenkrupp Nucera is growing in Houston
An international electrolyzer company is looking to Houston as a prime location to build out its hydrogen business. Germany-based Thyssenkrupp Nucera, which is a supporting partner of the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub, established its Houston office in 2021, and is preparing for the local hydrogen ecosystem to grow.
DC leaders endorse plan for $1 billion Port of San Antonio campus Congressional leaders are supporting the Port of San Antonio’s proposal to develop a new billion-dollar campus for Air Force Cyber. The 16th Air Force’s AFCYBER campus would replace outdated structures and be designed and built to serve as a base of the future, according to multiple high-level backers of the project.
AFCYBER employs more than 2,000 airmen, civilians and contractors who conduct sensitive cyberspace and information operations, electronic warfare, intelligence and reconnaissance activities in support of U.S. national security objectives.
announced in the spring that JDSAT, Inc., a veteran-owned application development and data sciences firm, is investing $630,000 to expand its operations in Fairfax County. The company intends to invest in technical staff and analysts to support its growing artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data science business. The project will create 60 new jobs.
Submarine cable manufacturer to build $681 million plant in Chesapeake
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that LS GreenLink USA, Inc. will invest $681 million to build a state-of-the-art 750,000-square-foot high-voltage direct current submarine cable manufacturing facility to serve the global offshore wind industry on approximately 100 acres of brownfield in the City of Chesapeake. The new facility will create over 330 full-time jobs.
“LS GreenLink’s investment in Virginia will showcase the Commonwealth as a leader in offshore wind industry manufacturing,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “LS GreenLink has recognized that Virginia has the skilled talent, worldclass logistics location, and business environment that will allow it to serve its growing global customers for submarine power cables.”
VIRGINIA
Veteran-owned data sciences company JDSAT to expand operation in Virginia
Governor Glenn Youngkin
Global clean energy manufacturer Topsoe to invest $400 million in Virginia Topsoe, a Danish manufacturer and global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies, plans to invest more than $400 million to build a factory at Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield County. Pending Final Investment Decision, the company will manufacture advanced, energy-efficient Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells (SOEC) that are essential in the production of clean hydrogen. Federal tax credits from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (Section 48C) will support the construction of the facility, which would be Topsoe’s largest U.S. investment. The project is expected to create 150 new jobs. J
SOU T HER NAUTOCORRIDORJCOM
For real-time news on business, politics and economic development in the South, go to SouthernBusiness.com.
For all projects announced in the South and more, go to SouthernBusiness.com and SB-D.com. For more on the automotive industry in the South, go to SouthernAutoCorridor.com.
ALABAMA
Automakers contribute $10.8 billion to Alabama, report says Alabama’s four assembly plants and affiliated factories contributed $10.8 billion to the state’s economy last year. That’s according to a new report from Autos Drive America and the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA). According to the report, the auto industry has invested $14.5 billion in Alabama.
Last year, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai and Mazda-Toyota produced 1.124 million vehicles, with $10.7 billion in autos purchased from U.S. suppliers.
As far as jobs, the industry created 88,947 total jobs, generating $6.4 billion in total compensation. That includes more than 17,000 direct jobs and 64,000 indirect jobs. According to the report, every direct auto-making job supports 3.5 additional jobs in Alabama.
In revenue, the industry generated $892 million in state and local taxes, and $1.5 billion in federal tax receipts.
Alabama announces new EV workforce training center to support auto industry growth
Governor Kay Ivey announced that Alabama is building a $30 million workforce training center in Decatur that will focus on electric vehicles and emerging technologies in order to position the state’s auto industry for the next chapter of its growth. The facility will be located on the campus of the Alabama Robotics Technology Park, a unique $73 million center operated by AIDT that helps companies train workers on advanced R&D and manufacturing technologies.
Auto parts supplier opens in rural Alabama
Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair joined officials of Samkee Corp. and local leaders last quarter to mark the opening of the auto parts maker’s new production facility in Tuskegee Commerce Park. South Korea-based Samkee invested $128 million to build its first U.S. factory, which will employ over 170 people at full operation while providing a massive economic boost for rural Macon County.
“Samkee is a first-class addition to Alabama’s dynamic auto industry, and the opening of this state-of-the-art facility in Tuskegee demonstrates that the industry continues to gain horsepower in the state,” Commerce Secretary McNair said about the manufacturer of die-cast components for the automotive sector.
Michigan-based Shape Corp. celebrates opening of second Alabama production facility Shape Corp., a global Tier 1 automotive supplier, officially opened its second Alabama production facility after completing a $74 million growth project that will create over 100 jobs in the coming year. Michigan-based Shape Corp., which opened a plant in nearby Athens, Ala., in 2016, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new 202,306-square-foot facility in Southpoint Industrial Park.
“This new facility represents our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in the automotive industry,” said Mark White, president and CEO of Shape Corp. “By expanding our operations in Alabama, we are not only increasing our production capabilities, but also investing in the local community through job creation and economic growth.”
Korean parts maker expanding in Opelika Auto parts maker Daewon is planning a $46.2 million expansion in Opelika, Ala., that will create 100 jobs. John Sweatman, the city’s economic development director, said Daewon has made $164 million in capital investments in Opelika since the company came to the city in 2006.
ARKANSAS
EV startup scratches Arkansas from its site list Electric vehicle manufacturer Canoo Technologies announced in November 2021 that it was moving its corporate headquarters from Texas to Bentonville, Ark., and planning a research and technology center in Fayetteville. That is unlikely to happen now as the warehouse in Bentonville where Canoo was to begin EV assembly is now up for sublease, after only a couple of years of the company signing a 10-year lease. But Canoo never moved in because it could not secure, according to the company, a second site in the area to house its headquarters.
Hino Motors closing large plant in Arkansas Delta A couple of decades ago, Toyota and its site selection
guru, Dennis Cuneo, scouted a megasite across the bridge from Memphis in Marion, Ark., to build a large assembly plant. That was the pickup truck project that ended up in San Antonio.
While East Arkansas lost out on that deal, they gave the Delta a “parting gift,” according to workforce development pro, Dr. Glen Fenter. (Fenter is the superintendent of Marion, Ark. Schools.)
The parting gift was Hino, which makes stamping and component parts in Marion. In June, the Japanese-based parts manufacturer announced it will close the 1,300-employee facility in late 2027. HMM is a subsidiary of Japanese publicly traded company Hino Motors Ltd., of which Toyota owns a majority stake. HMM began production at its Marion facility in 2006, and has expanded multiple times over the years.
GEORGIA
Hyundai begins hiring push in Savannah
Korean automaker Hyundai is well into hiring at its metaplant just west of Savannah. The plant is nearing completion and test vehicle assembly has started. Hyundai’s facility is reshaping the Savannah area’s labor land-
scape. The assembly plant and adjacent battery factory, located 25 miles west of downtown Savannah near Ellabell, will employ 8,500 at full build-out, while suppliers put 7,000 more residents to work.
On again, off again, Rivian EV plant lands $5 billion in funding from Volkswagen Rivian Automotive landed a major investment that may get its Georgia plant back on track. The EV startup has joined with Volkswagen to fund its prospective plant east of Atlanta. Rivian could help the German automotive company expand its plans for software-defined vehicles based on Rivian’s existing software platform, electrical architecture and technical capabilities.
Rivian originally planned to manufacture the R2 SUV at its new Georgia facility, but has since decided to move production to Normal, Ill. The first R2s are expected to roll off the assembly line in the first half of 2026.
KENTUCKY
Ford considers new $400 million plant Shelby County Ford Motor Co. appears to be considering a site in Shelby County for a small, specialized EV component plant. The plant was mentioned
Gov. Andy Beshear has confirmed that Ford Motor Co. appears to be considering a site in Shelby County, Ky., for a small, specialized EV component plant.
during a recent meeting of the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority. It was referenced in meeting minutes and the Courier Journal reports. Gov. Andy Beshear has confirmed it as well.
The project would be an investment of $400 million, according to the meeting minutes, all of which qualifies as eligible for tax incentives for the Kentucky Business Incentive program — a state program that gives companies tax breaks on major projects.
Another portion, $170 million, would qualify for incentives under the state’s KEIA program, which provides a refund of Kentucky sales and use tax. According to the minutes, the project would create 260 jobs with an average wage of $36 per hour, including benefits. Louisville Business First
LOUISIANA
EV battery material maker buys land in Ascension Parish Element 25, an Australian mining company, has purchased a 35-acre site in Ascension Parish, where it hopes to invest $289 million in a plant to make electric battery components. The plant would be the first in
SOU T HER NAUTOCORRIDORJCOM
the Western Hemisphere to manufacture high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate, or HPMSM, a critical component in electric vehicle batteries.
MISSISSIPPI
Electric truck tri-venture in Mississippi snags BlueOval City CEO BlueOval City, a massive Ford-driven project north of Memphis, is nearing completion. Ford will manufacture its next-generation electric truck at BlueOval City, which is scheduled for completion this year.
Kel Kearns, formerly the plant manager at the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center at BlueOval City, will serve as CEO of Amplify Cell Technologies, the name for the tri-venture between Cummins, Daimler Truck and Paccar. The nearly $2 billion facility will produce differentiated lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cells in Marshall County, Miss. The North Mississippi plant is projected to house 2,000 workers.
NORTH CAROLINA
Governor calls North Carolina the “epicenter of clean energy”
Toyota is building its $13.9 billion battery manufacturing plant in Randolph County, N.C., (near Greensboro). In the meantime, Vietnamese EV maker VinFast has delayed constructing the first electric vehicle manufacturing facility in the Triangle Region in Chatham County for three years. That project is fueled in part by a $1.2 billion economic development initiative, largest in the state’s history. Toyota’s project will create more than 5,000 jobs upon completion in 2025.
The Triad Business Journal also contained a quote from the president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing: “The thing that we were really, really interested in, and we felt like we can capitalize on, was the human capital in the people, the talent pool that they had here, mainly driven a lot by their school systems, their college systems,” said Sean Suggs, North Carolina president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Small EV maker to create jobs in South Carolina
BOTTOM PHOTO: The Columbia Vehicle Group, an electric vehicle manufacturer, announced it selects Aiken County for the company’s first South Carolina operation. Columbia’s $12.2 million investment will create 180 new jobs.
In the summer quarter, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said that the Tar Heel State is the center of clean energy. From the Triad Business Journal: “If you talk to any CEO of any car company in the world, they will tell you that they are stumbling all over themselves to get into the market first for affordable vehicles,” says Governor Roy Cooper.
The Columbia Vehicle Group, an electric vehicle manufacturer, announced it selects Aiken County for the company’s first South Carolina operation. The company’s $12.2 million investment will create 180 new jobs.
Part of the Nordic Group of Companies, Columbia Vehicle Group manufactures pure electric vehicles for industrial and commercial markets under the Columbia and Tomberlin brands. The company’s products, which
TOP PHOTO: Toyota is building its $13.9 billion battery manufacturing plant in Randolph County, N.C., (near Greensboro).
include golf carts, utility vehicles, maintenance vehicles and e-bikes, are distributed globally.
Columbia is relocating manufacturing operations from Florida and Wisconsin to Aiken County for closer proximity to customers and its supply chain. The company will purchase and up-fit an existing 154,480-squarefoot facility located on University Parkway in Aiken.
TENNESSEE
BlueOval City coming to life in West Tennessee Ford Motor Co. made a major announcement in the summer regarding its BlueOval City plant north of Memphis. Mass hiring for BlueOval City was scheduled to start next year. Then, Ford made the decision this summer to delay the production of its F-150 EV pickup truck line until 2027. The project was announced in 2021 and
was originally scheduled to be completed in 2025.
However, much of the massive complex is complete with robotic training cells, conveyors, paint spray booths, and stamping press lines have been installed at what is called the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center (TEVC) in rural Stanton, Tenn.
UAW successfully organizes union at VW plant in Chattanooga
In the spring, workers at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee voted to join the union, the first large non-union auto plant in the South to do so. Weeks later, the union negotiated a new contract bringing significant pay and benefit improvements for its members at several North Carolina factories owned by Daimler Truck. And in
Hiring for hourly workers at Ford’s BlueOval City in Tennessee is set to begin, with Ford unleashing its BlueOval Learning workforce development plan to build up a local workforce in the meantime. The plant’s EV line has been delayed until 2027.
the summer, 5,000 Mercedes-Benz employees at its plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala., defeated UAW organization.
TEXAS
Texas county approves Toyota incentives for $531 million San Antonio expansion
Local officials are hopeful that nearly $32 million in public incentives will sway Toyota to invest more than $531 million in a major expansion of its San Antonio manufacturing campus. Last month, Bexar County Commissioners authorized negotiations with Toyota on an incentives package valued at $14.9 million. Commissioners have now approved a contract between the county and Toyota tied to those incentives. J
In April, workers at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee voted to join the union, the first large non-union auto plant in the South to do so.
Manufacturing Dominates Projects Announced in the South
SB&D takes a look back at the road that led to the South’s manufacturing boom, and the roadblocks that could lie ahead.
BY MICHAEL RANDLE
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, also known as the “bank bailout of 2008” or the “Wall Street bailout,” was a federal law enacted during the Great Recession that created federal programs to “bail out” failing financial institutions and banks. The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush, and unleashed a storm of protests.
Fifteen years ago, this nation needed something good to happen to its economy. Anything good.
The “Great Recession” of 2007-2009 was a financial disaster for most. It did not matter the industry sector, they were all negatively affected. Families, large corporations, small businesses, services, manufacturing, governments. . .we all went dark, at least temporarily, during the Great Recession.
It was the start of the year 2010 — a new decade — as the dregs of the U.S. Great Recession hung on like gum on your shoe.
Are we headed for another recession? That depends on who is elected president in November, I would guess, more than any other factor. The other factors are simply the ones the South is best at — reshoring and the advancement of green energy projects. As of the end of the summer, the South had captured over 60 percent of all EV projects announced in North America since 2020, according to the Center for Automotive Research based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Great Recession began in December 2007, and statistically ended 18 months later in June of 2009. By the end of 2009, the Great Recession was
technically toast. . .finished, or so we were told.
Tell that to small business owners like myself in January 2010, when the U.S. unemployment rate was still sitting at 9.8 percent, more than double the number needed for full employment, which is generally viewed at 4 percent. We have been beyond full employment (yes, even folks who started working when they didn’t even want to work) for three years now.
Interestingly, in the Great Recession (2009) many employers could not afford to hire. They could only fire and lay off staff in a collective effort to cut costs.
Fast forward to today, and we can’t find enough workers to work.
A huge story that is not being properly covered
This is a story of how 2010 to today became manufacturing’s brightest moment in the South, at least in our lifetimes. This is the story of a sector of this nation’s economy that was essentially dismissed.
But, no! Huge global cost issues changed around 2010 and 2011, when wages in China began to skyrocket. More than any other year, 2010 is regarded among economists as the year everything changed regarding manufacturing in the region. The U.S. became very competitive with regard to costs for producers who make stuff. The South and Mexico? So much more competitive than the U.S. as a whole.
What brought that change to reverse manufacturing’s struggles in the South? The book, “Made in America, Again,” published by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in 2011, gave us the answers.
The answer to that question was revealed in 2011 with Hal Sirkin’s book, “Made in America, Again.” Other Boston Consultant Group execs contributed to the book that outlined why manufacturing was beginning to ramp up in the South, “Made in America, Again.”
CONTINUED
Lee & Sumter, SC
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• 23 Announced Projects
$1.7B in
As the Chinese advantage began to shrink, the Foxconn suicides came to light in 2010. They were a spate of suicides linked to low pay and brutal working conditions at the Foxconn City industrial park in Shenzhen, China, that occurred alongside several additional suicides at various other Foxconn-owned locations and facilities in mainland China. The series of deaths drew media attention, and employment practices at Foxconn — one of the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturers — were investigated by several of its customers, including Apple and Hewlett-Packard.
first. “The relocation of production is still in its early stages, but we believe it will accelerate in the years ahead. It could mean the creation of 3 million new manufacturing jobs in the U.S. by 2020.” That prediction was close, but no cigar.
Two million net jobs were created in manufacturing from 2011 to 2023. On a net basis, the U.S. generated almost 3 million manufacturing jobs from a low of 13 million net jobs in 2010 to 15 million net jobs in the sector employed in 2023.
So, BCG’s prediction of 3 million jobs gained in the manufacturing sector by 2020 was two-thirds fulfilled and now we are approaching 2025. In addition to a massive GDP surge over the last 15 years, this is a blue-collar comeback
tale that is happening on a technological level where the blue-collar label may not even apply anymore. New technologies in automation have taken over the factory floor.
There are lots of “Secret Squirrel” manufacturing processes and methods that are now firmly implemented in advanced manufacturing in the South and Mexico. Those sectors where the magic has occurred can be seen everywhere. Next-generation vehicles, planes, weapons, advances in energy production. . .these and more are all being completely redefined as we knew them for decades.
In short, BCG’s predictions of 3 million manufacturing jobs by 2020 were a little high. Then again, the investment totals of tens of billions were not predicted.
Let’s compare recessions
The prior recession to the Great Recession was in 2001, when the 9/11 attack occurred smack dab in the middle of that downturn, therefore, no doubt, extending it. Emerging from that one wasn’t easy either.
The Great Recession was the fifth recession I have covered since 1981. Here are the outlines of the last six recessions if you count the COVID-19 version of just two months. Note years 1980 and 2020, when the U.S. saw an almost 20 percent in GDP decline.
Recessions Since 1980
Source: Federal Reserve
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Average total projects per year 1994 – 2005
Manufacturing Services 219 318
Average total projects per year 2010 – 2023
Manufacturing Services 360 201
Source: SouthernBusiness.com, Projects are all $30 million or more investment and/or 200 jobs or more.
Projects are all $30 million or more investment and/or 200 jobs or more.
Source: SouthernBusiness.com
been turned on their ears since 2010.
Since 2005, manufacturing projects meeting our thresholds have grown by more than double in the South, and service deals have collapsed by almost 40 percent.
In April 2009, we saw the beginning of the end of the Great Recession. On April 16, 2009, Ben “hard-landing” Bernanke told us that he sees “green shoots” regarding the recession. President Obama said the same that day and added he was observing “glimmers of hope.”
Aside, Bernanke was one of the worst Fed Chairs of all time in my opinion. We will see if current Fed Chair Jerome Powell ends up being not so good either when history books define his role regarding the inflation issue.
The Bailouts Compared:
Great Recession vs. COVID-19 Recession
The Go-Go 1990s
That statement, “We have people working who don’t want to work,” did not come from me. I heard it first from the legend Fred Harris, who ran the Nashville Chamber before Nashville became NashVegas. Fred told me in 1999, “Mike, I have never seen anything like what is happening in the Music City. We have people who are working who don’t want to work.”
If you recall, the dot-com era and the entire services sector went nuts in the late 1990s, as manufacturing went the way of the dodo bird.
Does anyone remember the “smart growth” strategies of the last half of the 1990s? Here are some statements I remember well during that period:
“Michael, we no longer chase ‘smokestack industries’ such as manufacturing. There is just no point. The days of the South being a global manufacturing center are over.” (1998).
“What are you saying, Randle? That manufacturing is making a comeback? No, manufacturing is a dinosaur and
you should know. We have lost that game to China and Mexico mainly through free trade. But every community in the South wants to land a semiconductor factory.” (1999).
Note: In that entire decade and emerging into the one after, the South landed two greenfield semiconductor plants in Orlando and Richmond. Maybe there was one turned in Sherman, Texas, which has a huge chip industry cluster. They have been successful for decades recruiting Texas Instruments.
“Anyone recruiting manufacturing right now is an idiot.” (2001, confidential).
Let’s take a look at the manufacturing versus services numbers in the late 1990s. All projects meeting or exceeding 200 jobs and/or $30 million in investment.
As you can see in the above graphic, manufacturing’s average project totals from 1994 through 2005 are completely inverted from the average number of large manufacturing projects captured from 2010 to 2023. In short, our talented industry recruiters’ target lists have
President Obama’s and President Biden’s approach to the bailouts of the last two recessions were as different as night and day. Both were elected when the economy became sketchy — banking, automotive, the housing crisis, then COVID. Who knows which of the two bailouts in the two busts in our generation were more effective?
For one, the Obama administration approached the bailout of the Great Recession conservatively. President Obama’s $1 trillion bailout was essentially created to prop up failing banks, the housing industry and domestic vehicle assembly — Chrysler (now Stellantis) and GM. There wasn’t much of a bailout of small businesses or the unemployed when President Obama began to tackle the Great Recession’s recovery.
In a side note, President Obama was also trying to fund the Affordable Care Act (“ObamaCare”) during the Great Recession. Remember?
The reds were up in arms at the cost of ObamaCare, which was $940 billion over 10 years. We find out 14 years later that ObamaCare has insured tens of
millions of Americans who could not be insured previously. A “good effing deal,” our current, outgoing president said at the time in May of 2010.
Furthermore, the fed’s overall cost of $940 billion in 10 years to implement the Affordable Care Act was almost equal to the Great Recession’s total Fed bailout of two years, or $1 trillion. It should be written that at the time, the War in Afghanistan was still raging. Osama bin Laden, the co-founder of the terrorist group Al Qaeda, was killed May 2, 2011. Given that, the U.S. Defense budget at the time was approaching $940 billion — for one year, not 10 years. One year.
President Biden’s subsidies to virtually all of America
In terms of the Biden administration’s bailout plan, it was far from the conservative one Obama’s administration dished out. Much of the $7 trillion the feds threw out in the COVID recovery was earmarked for workers and small businesses. Remember, Obama’s subsidies totaled just $1 trillion compared to Biden’s $7 trillion.
Looking back, the COVID subsidies were excessive. But they kept Southern Business & Development open and alive since it was almost impossible to sell advertising or organize an event like the Southern Economic Development Roundtable (SEDR@ThePearl). How can you sell advertising to folks who have no customers? How could anyone organize an event during COVID? They could not.
Small businesses closed by the tens of thousands during COVID. Biden’s bailout was great for small business. It remains to be seen how great it was for this country given three years of pesky inflation.
It is my thought that the high inflation we have seen for the last three years is directly tied to the excessive $7 trillion pandemic bailout. There was just too much free or no interest federal money on the street. Under Biden, the administration was kind to the American
WHY CHOOSE CHESTER?
MAJOR INVESTMENTS
people and small businesses to a fault.
Then again, that bailout and incentives for next-generation manufacturing were approved by both the reds and the blues (bipartisan) at a time when COVID-19 was blowing the job market gasket in a manner not seen since the Great Depression.
Now that the dust has settled from COVID, employment records have been set since the end of the pandemic; the most consecutive months in the nation’s history of below 4 percent unemployment.
Heather Long wrote in The Washington Post: “The big picture: U.S. unemployment has been below 4 percent for 27
months. That’s an incredible stretch that hasn’t happened since the late 1960s.”
Twenty million lost jobs in no time
Therefore, the feds were flying blind in the battle with COVID. For example, what if COVID was still raging? At the time, the feds had no idea if that disease was here to stay or not. Imagine if we were still wearing masks today, etc? Social distancing, few planes flying, your favorite restaurant’s chef and maître d’ chucked work and retired. Think about it.
Yet, a significant part of the $7 trillion federal infusion included the Inflation Reduction Act’s tax incentives, much of which has gone to clean energy manufacturing solutions, such as carbon capture, the reshoring of the semiconductor industry and, of course, this deluge of EV investments.
Evidence? Let’s just conclude with the data. J
Top Industries Number of Projects
Totals are derived from all projects announced in the American South 1994-2023 calendar years meeting or exceeding 200 jobs and/or $30 million in investment.
Source: The new SouthernBusiness.com.
GROWING POWER
Market Awards
States
and markets that captured the most important job- and investmentgenerating projects in
2023
TOP PHOTO: Savannah-based business aircraft manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace announced that it would add 1,600 jobs and invest $150 million as it ramps up to build the Gulfstream G400 and grow its maintenance operations to meet demand.
BOTTOM PHOTO: The announcements keep coming from AESC with regard to its state-ofthe-art battery cell facility in Florence County, S.C. To date, the company has invested $3.12 billion and added 2,700 new jobs across the local community.
MID-MARKET OF THE YEAR
SAVANNAH, GA.
NOTABLE PROJECT JOBS *INV
Hyundai Mobis 1,500 $926
Daechang Seat 500 $72
Hyundai/LG 400 $4,300
KISS USA 395 $121
Beretta Holding 600 $60
PHA 400 $76
Gulfstream Aerospace 1,600 $150
Sewon America 700 $300
MID-MARKET SPECIAL RECOGNITION
MONTGOMERY, ALA.
Hyundai Motor N/A $190
Hyundai Motor 300 $290
Hyundai Mobis 400 $205
YORK COUNTY, S.C.
QTS 12 $1,000
Pallidus 405 $443
Silfab Solar 800 $150
CO-SMALL MARKETS OF THE YEAR
CHESTER COUNTY, S.C.
NOTABLE PROJECT JOBS *INV
Albemarle 300 $1,300
E&J Gallo 500 $423
IKO 180 $363
FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C.
AESC 1,170 $810
AESC 450 $810
SMALL MARKET SPECIAL RECOGNITION
COLUMBUS, MISS.
DECATUR, ALA.
Nucor
VALDOSTA-LOWNDES COUNTY, GA.
Walmart 400 $350
Grupo Bimbo 295 $200
HOPKINSVILLECHRISTIAN COUNTY, KY. Toyota Boshoku
SHOWN ABOVE: Big announcements by Hyundai Mobis in Savannah, Ga., and Montgomery, Ala., helped catapult both cities to the top of the midmarket category. Hyundai Mobis is the largest tier one supplier to the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant for front and rear chassis modules, cockpit modules and front-end modules.
BOWLING GREEN, KY. O-I Glass
GADSDEN, ALA.
SHOWN ABOVE: In what is being called the largest distilled spiritsrelated investment on record in Kentucky, Sazerac (owner of Buffalo Trace Distillery) will spend $600 million to expand into Laurel County, Ky. The company will acquire the 198-acre Rowland Acres Industrial Park there, and use the land to build 20 new barrel storage warehouses.
in millions
Significant Projects
Selected significant projects announced in the South in calendar year 2023
TOP PHOTO: O-I Glass broke ground on its state-of-theart glass plant in Bowling Green, Ky., in April 2023. The project is expected to involve an investment of $240 million in phases. The facility will serve the consumer beverage market, mainly the premium spirits category.
BOTTOM PHOTO: Airbus announced the addition of 1,000 jobs at its facility in Mobile, Ala., in October 2023, after celebrating the production of Delta Air Lines’ 100th U.S.made Airbus A320 Family aircraft at the facility in May.
TOP PHOTO: e-VAC Magnetics, a manufacturer of rare earth magnets, announced it was establishing U.S. operations in South Carolina, building its first facility in Sumter County. The project is expected to bring more than half-a-billion-dollar investment and create 300 new jobs for Sumter County.
CENTER PHOTO: In July 2023, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee welcomed Magna as the first supplier for Ford’s BlueOval City. Magna, one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers, announced plans to invest more than $790 million.
BOTTOM PHOTO: In August 2023, Press Glass, the largest independent glass fabricator in Europe, announced its plans to invest $155.2 million to expand at the Commonwealth Crossing Industrial Park in Henry County, Va. The company will construct a 360,000-square-foot addition to its existing facility to expand its U.S. presence and manufacture glass for the commercial construction industry. The project will create 335 new jobs.
The talent level of economic development practitioners in the South is truly unmatched anywhere in the U.S., especially those who are in their forties as they hone their craft, with peak careers into their fifties and beyond.
So, Southern Business & Development has put together the second volume of our first-ever “Under 50 to Watch” in economic development in the South. Volume I was published last issue and Volume III will be published in November.
Methodology: In 33 years, SB&D has made thousands of visits to cities and counties from El Paso to Richmond, meeting more than a thousand different economic developers. Many of the most famous and successful from the early days of the profession are gone or retired.
But there has been an influx of new practitioners, and we have the deal data on just about every county in the South in those four decades. We also know many of the personalities through our events like the Southern Economic Development Roundtable (SEDR) and Southern Auto Corridor Summit, and through organizations like state economic development associations and the Southern Economic Development Council.
The “Under 50” will ultimately feature approximately 400 professionals in the South that just turned 50 or are under 50 who have impressed us with their prowess and their capture of job- and investment-generating projects that create wealth in the areas that they serve. Go to SB-D.com and SouthernBusiness.com to see the final results later this year.
Matthew Adkins
Kentucky I-71 EDA
Sherry Alexander
Mid-America Industrial Park, Pryor, Okla.
Tywan Arrington
Team Volusia, Fla.
Megan Baker
Roanoke County, Va. OED
Jon Barganier
Manufacture Alabama
Lacy Beasley
Retail Strategies
Robert Bennett
Savannah River Site Reuse Org.
Chad Berringer
Rutherford County, Tenn. Works
John Blair
Fairfax County, Va. EDA
Beth Bowman
Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber
Dan Bowman
Allen, Texas EDC
Lara Bowman
ECO|RESTORE Restoration Contractors
Anna Bradford
Forcum Lannom Contractors
Terri Bradshaw
Kentucky Association for Eco Dev
David H. Broussard, Jr.
England Airpark, Alexandria, La.
Edward Burch
TNEDC
Justin Burch
Washington County, Miss. Eco Alliance
Patrick Cammack
Rutherford County, Tenn. Chamber
Ginger Cangelosi
Tangipahoa, La. Economic Development
Maureen Carpenter
Glasgow-Barren County, Ky. IDEA
Kyle Clampitt
Alliance Consulting Engineers
Cedric Colbert
Global Location Strategies
Ryan Combs
Research Triangle Research Partnership
Jennifer Conoley
Florida’s Great Northwest
Callie Cook
TNECD
Matthew Darius
SEDC
Sarah Davasher-Wisdom
Greater Louisville Inc.
Lisa Denton
Kilgore, Texas EDC
Laura DiBella
Adams and Reese
Brian Dill
Carroll County, Ga. Tomorrow
Meredith Dubree
Breckinridge County, Ky. United
Jana Dyke
Albany-Dougherty Ga. EDC
Ryan Egly
Lawrence County, Tenn. Chamber
Jason El Koubi
Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Jennifer Emerson
Arkansas EDC
Wil Evans
Maury County, Tenn.
Bryan Farlow
Thomas & Hutton
Rick Farmer
Newberry, S.C. ED
Walt Farrell
Georgia Power
Chris Finn
South Carolina I-77 Alliance
Meryl Fisackerly
Golden Triangle Development LINK, Miss.
Rebecca Fisher
Mount Rogers, Va. Partnership
MaryBeth Flournoy
Norfolk Southern
Kelly Forbes
Madison-Hopkins County, Ky. EDC
Jason Ford
Frisco, Texas EDC
James Frost
Alliance Consulting Engineers
Adam Gawarecki
San Patricio County, Texas EDC
Thomas Gregory
Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll, Miss. EDF
Nichole Hair
Mount Rogers, Va. Partnership
Tray Hairston
Butler Snow
Justin Hall
Marshall County, Miss. IDA
Kreg Haney
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Matthew Harrison
Grenada, Miss. EDD
Verdell Hawkins
Florida Power Light Company
Brooke Hoehner
Oklahoma City Chamber
Gwen Howard
Mississippi EDC
Kevin Jackson
Shoals EDA, Florence, Ala.
Corey R. Johns
Joint ECD Board of Wilson County, Tenn.
Heather Simmons Jones
MRB Group Engineering
J.Alex Kelly
FloridaCommerce
Missy Kendrick
Rome-Floyd County, Ga. DA
Jen Kostyniuk
Dominion Energy
Mallory Lawson
TVA Economic Development
Josh Lewis
Greenville Eastern North Carolina Alliance
Robert Long
Chester County, S.C.
Kate MacArthur
Ascension Parish, La. EDC
Misti Martin
Cherokee County, Ga. OED
Brad Maul
East Tennessee EDA
GT McCullough
The Alliance, Corinth, Miss.
Ryan Miller
Accelerate Mississippi
Chris Moya
Jones Walker
Marc Nelson
City of Roanoke, Va. DED
Jeff O’Brien
Louisville Metro Government
Mike Odom
Knoxville, Tenn. Chamber
Shannon Ogletree
Santa Rosa EDO
Denzel Okinedo
Burr & Forman
Clint O’Neal
Arkansas EDC
Mark Owens
Greater Winston-Salem Inc.
Daniel Parker
Norfolk Southern
Alex Patrick
Birmingham, Ala. Business Alliance
Cori Pena
Brownsville, Texas ECD
Scott Poag
Yates Construction
Anna Powell
Hope-Hempstead County, Ark. EDC
Dani Pugsley
Mountain Home, Ark. Chamber
Cliff Pyron, Jr
Wilmington, N.C. Business Development
Jeff Rent
Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership
Meghan Richardson City of West Point, Ga.
Kellen Riley CSX
David Rogers
Mobile, Ala. Chamber
Chandler Russ Natchez, Miss. Inc
Andrea Schruijer
Valdosta-Lowndes, Ga. IA
Matt Seale
Douglas-Coffee County, Ga. Chamber
Chuck Sexton
Next Move Group
Rachel Shields
GNO Inc., New Orleans/LED
Shelley Short
Arkadelphia Regional EDA, Ark.
Larkin Simpson
Madison County, Miss. EDA
Rob Sitterly
AR/TX REDI
Aaron Stewart
Brownsville-Haywood County, Tenn. EDC
Matt Tackett
SEDC, Fayetteville, Ga.
Ryan Touhill
Arlington, Va. Economic Development
Elan Vallender
Converse, Texas EDC
Colleen Walton
Brand Acceleration
Jake Weir
Norfolk Southern
Jason Wright
NAIDA
Kyle Clampitt
Principal
Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Kyle Clampitt has a 23-year career in Economic Development; Site, Roadway, Water, Wastewater, Storm Drainage, and Solid Waste Design; and Design-Build General Construction in Industrial, Commercial, and Educational Sectors.
A graduate of Purdue University in 2001, Kyle was in the Design Building Construction Industry in Indiana prior to joining Alliance Consulting Engineers in 2008. Since then, Kyle has been a part of key Economic Development projects in South Carolina such as AESC Battery Manufacturing, E&J Gallo East Coast Operations, Mark Anthony Brewing Facility, Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Cirba Solutions, Continental Tire Manufacturing Facility and North American Headquarters, Jushi USA, BOMAG Americas, Samsung Manufacturing, Roseburg Forest Products, and Amazon.com. Serving as Principal at Alliance Consulting Engineers, Kyle looks to continue support of Economic Development Recruitment throughout the Southeast.
James Frost
Senior Vice President
Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc.
A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Jamie serves as Senior Vice President of Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc. from their Headquarters Office located in Columbia, S.C.
Serving on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association, Jamie upholds a reputation as one of the most well-respected Civil Engineers in the state and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that exceeds 27 years in Engineering and Economic Development. Over the last 27 years Jamie has played an instrumental role in the development of over one hundred winning sites including several Mega Sites for the benefit of economic development within South Carolina leading to the recruitment of investments worth billions and job creation well into the tens of thousands.
Tray Hairston Partner
Butler Snow LLP
Tray Hairston, CEcD, Esq., concentrates on public finance and economic development matters, including all types of municipal bond issues, serving as bond counsel for taxable and tax-exempt financings throughout the country. He has served as bond counsel, lender’s counsel and underwriter’s counsel for various cities, counties and financial institutions and worked on more than $2 billion in transactions. One of Tray’s seminal legal publications is The Future of Economic Development, 35 Miss. C.L. Rev. 370 (2017).
Before joining Butler Snow, Tray served as Counsel and Economic Development Advisor to Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. Tray is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council.
In his role as a CEcD, Tray provides economic development consulting advice to communities and site selection consulting to companies throughout the U.S. He has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers® for Government Finance (20162023), Mississippi College School of Law as Young Lawyer of the Year (2013), and Mississippi Business Journal as one of its Top 40 under 40 (2012–2013). J
TOP DEALS
The American South’s 10 largest new or expanded manufacturing and selected non-manufacturing job announcements
