Southern Business & Development Magazine Winter 2025

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Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Ala., led by President Dr. Vicki Karolewics, was recognized with the prestigious 2025 Rising Star Award by the Aspen Institute. Please join us in celebrating the College’s success and the students, faculty, staff, community partners, supporters and friends who make Wallace State one of the Top 3 community colleges in the nation.

Meeting of the Economic Development Minds

The 2025 Southern Economic Development Roundtable and the 2024 Southern Automotive Corridor Summit events

Ten People Who Made a Difference

Ten Southern Markets That Have Been Economically Transformed Almost Overnight

Ten+ Powerful Startup Markets That You Might Not Know About

Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame

The first installment of SB&D’s look at those who have taken the South to incredible heights over the last 70 years

Under 50 to Watch

Young economic development professionals in the South that are turning heads with their capture of job- and investment-generating projects

SouthBound

The editor’s column

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

Southern Auto Corridor News from the South’s auto industry

Ten Top Deals

The ten largest employment deals announced in the last quarter

On the Cover

Row 1: Gov. Ned Ray McWherter; Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller

Row 2: Greg Wingfield; Neal Wade; Bob Goforth

Row 3: Gov. Carroll Campbell; Peggy Smith; Dennis Cuneo; George Swift; Mac Holladay; Mark Heath

Row 4: Harry. A. Martin; John Bradley, Larry Hayes, Wayne Sterling and Roger Cook

SOUTHBOUND

By Michael Randle, EDITOR

Tariff This

Kind of wild out there, huh? Been to Walmart lately?

After less than six months, many are tired (for legal reasons, I am not, of course) of hearing from this administration’s supporters that “Maybe what this administration plans to do is to finally fix the economy and the supply chain for the long-run. Fix it for good, dammit!”

“Maybe?” “Long-run?” “Fix?” “For good?” “Dammit!” Reinventing worldwide supply chains in less than four years or in a final term? Whoa! Good luck with that.

“Tired?” Yes, just months into this administration’s rule, I am tired; tired of uncertainty. And believe me, talking to prospects wanting to relocate to the South (our specialty), they are tired, too.

There ain’t much “good” to write about out there, as job- and investment-generating deals have taken a nosedive so far this year in the South, the “World’s Third Largest Economy.” How the South goes, goes the nation, bucko!

But wait, wait, over at Walmart, plenty of “good” is happening for Coinstar kiosk owners when this issue dead-lined. We extended it a few weeks because we were not going to miss the migration of millions descending on Coinstar kiosks across the land after “Liberation Day,” Wednesday, April 2nd.

Two days later, by Friday, April 4th (this writing), some had lost up to 30 percent of their life-long savings in three days, only to rediscover their furnishings are vaults full of Coinstar riches!

I mean, before you sell your sofa to drum up some cash in tough times, you double-check every crevice for anything you might be giving away to the new owner.

By now, and over the course of mere months, Coinstar machine owners have been sitting on the beach in Costa Rica, earning 13.9 percent on chump change from tens if not hundreds of thousands of recently fired workers.

Coinstar owners don’t even have to work. They have robot cashiers that are earning more than your 401k earns right now.

After all, Coinstar’s marketing lines are pretty catchy: “Would you choose a $50 bill or a jar of random coins? Not so sim-

ple. The coins could be #MoreMoneyThanYouThink.” Note the hashtag. Cute. And yes, in times like these, we could all use #MoMoney.

Yes, we are tired and we are all barely making the walk up to Walmart right now, where Southern hospitality, cheap gas and super-easy coin conversions are king in this brave new world order!

You can even bring your loot in a burlap bag while wearing a burlap bag if that’s all you got left after “Liberation Day.” No one will notice at Walmart.

“Maybe?” That’s a chump word. And we are the chumps.

“Maybe” the dingo ate your baby. “Maybe” your 401k in 120 days is now “chump change,” all in an effort to “fix” the economy in the “long run.” Nope, this is more like a dash to “cointo-dollar” bliss in the “short-run,” with a 13.9 percent Coinstar tariff off the top.

Fix? Fix what?

In the last 14 years, the value of manufacturing production in the U.S. has skyrocketed after essentially evaporating soon after free trade laws were signed a quarter century ago. In over 40 years, until the last three years, I had never heard of a $5 billion “automotive supplier plant.” Ten years ago, $5 billion would buy you two final assembly plants. Dang inflation.

The manufacturing comeback began in 2011 when Hal Sirkin of the Boston Consulting Group and I promoted his book titled, “Made in America, Again.” Manufacturing peaked in 2015 in the South and again in 2022 and 2023, when massive battery and EV plants planted their flags in the region. Read Sirkin’s book! It focuses on the reasons why the U.S., and especially the South and Mexico, have become so competitive, even some years, beating the pants off China in FDI.

Apparently this administration has not read “Made in America, Again.” This administration’s policies are right out of the Ross Perot playbook of the early 1990s. That would have worked then. Not now.

So much has changed since then in positive ways, and the supply chains are pointing in the South’s and Mexico’s favor. . .which

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 1992-2025. Southern Business & Development TM 1997. Southern Auto Corridor and Southern Automotive Corridor TM 2003.

WHY CHOOSE CHESTER?

While at Walmart today (April 4, 2025, at 1300 hours), I observed a “chump change infantry charge” to the Coinstars at the front of the store. No one could get there fast enough. There were more people lined up at Coinstar than in the store shopping.

I asked one person in line at the kiosks what all the fuss was about.

Bob from Bessemer explained, “I had a job with the federal government. I got fired. Then I got rehired because my job was not on the termination list. Then I got fired again when they eliminated my entire department. All in one week.”

Me: “Bob, what do you think of Coinstar’s tariffs of 13.9 percent to exchange coins for bills in a crisis? I mean, you told me you already lost your job of 34 years.”

Bob from Bessemer: “We are so lucky that we don’t live in Madagascar.”

Me: “Madagascar?” Bob: “Those poor people are paying 47 percent tariffs and by God they should! Madagascar has been ripping off ’merica for hundreds of years.”

The lines at the Coinstar machines were so long that I gave up.

So, I bought two gallons of gas with quarters, dimes and nickels and took my burlap bag holding the remains of my 401k back to the office, where I immediately began in earnest the selling of my media properties after 44 years of one owner (me) before they are closed and erased by this administration or devoured by a “dingo.”

In 2011, one of the most horrible natural disasters in world history occurred. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, which occurred on March 11, 2011, at 14:46:24 JST (05:46:24 UTC) with a magnitude of 9.0 to 9.1, triggered the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (tsunami).

Days after that disaster, which disrupted supply chains all over the world, CEOs in

the U.S. began to talk: “So, tell me? Why are we making things for North American consumption on the other side of the world?”

And while we “fix” 100 years of world order that this nation has benefited and profited from through two world wars where we came out smelling like a rose from East to West. . .yes, the “long runs” to the Coinstar machine at your local Walmart have commenced in earnest.

This is my first job. I started this company at age 24. I am now 69.

I have covered every recession since 1981, and this is not a recession. Recessions are not purposely planned.

April 2nd, Liberation Day, was it for me, too. I have worked too hard to retire on “chump change.”

And I won’t. “Dammit!”

Editor’s note: This is Michael Randle’s oped piece. He can be reached by email at michael@sb-d.com J

THE

Around SOUTH

The South sweeps top five high growth states in the U.S.

Five Southern states — South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee — rank No. 1 through No. 5 in U-Haul’s annual growth ranking that came out in mid-January. U-Haul Growth ranked these states in the South in its index compiled from more than 2.5 million one-way U-Haul truck, trailer and U-Box portable moving container transactions that occur annually across the U.S. and Canada, according to the company. U-Haul's data analyzed oneway customer transactions during the past year and ranked growth states according to net gain or loss.

D/FW metro ranks No. 1 for one-way moves in 2024

According to U-Haul, Dallas/Fort Worth was the hottest place in the country for one-way moves last year. Austin ranked No. 5 among the top U.S. growth metros in 2024, and Houston ranked No. 9. Texas was the No. 2 state for move-ins — bested from the top spot after three consecutive years by South Carolina.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area was followed on the recent list by Charlotte, N.C. (No. 2); Phoenix (No. 3); and, Lakeland, Fla. (No. 4).

Texas was the No. 2 state for move-ins but was beat-out by South Carolina, which is having its best in-migration according to data released by the Census.

REGIONAL

Eli Lilly plans at least $27 billion in new U.S. manufacturing investments Eli Lilly announced in the winter quarter that it will invest $27 billion to add capacity through the building of four new manufacturing plants in the U.S. The company is responding to demand to its weight loss and diabetes injections which are soaring in sales. Eli Lilly operates several manufacturing plants in the South. The company is currently in negotiations with several states and welcomes additional interest in the four new plants with additional plants already underway in North Carolina.

Huntsville, Raleigh, Austin and other Southern markets rank at the top for Southern tech hubs

Huntsville, Ala.; Washington, D.C.; Austin, Texas; Raleigh, N.C., and Dallas round out the top five in the South in a report conducted and published by CommercialCafe. The five markets were ranked by measuring factors like tech job density, median earnings and quality of life. Washington, D.C., was named No. 1.

The Carolinas are attracting workers and companies at a fast pace North Carolina and South Carolina remain two of the fastest growing states in the U.S., according to new data from the Census. North Carolina added 164,800 people between 2023 and 2024. With the addition of Northern migrants and companies, the additions bring North Carlina’s population to just over 11 million, or the ninth-largest state ahead of Michigan and Georgia.

South Carolina has attracted all kinds of companies and people from “up North.” At 1.7 percent population growth, the Palmetto State grew faster than North Carolina from 2023 to 2024, and its population is nearing 6 million people. Florida and Texas remain at the top of state population growth in the U.S.

And the tech talent keeps flowing to Florida, Texas and elsewhere in the South

According to a study by CommercialCafe, the American South was the choice destination for innovation in its 2024 top 20 Southern metros report. The study ranked 2024’s top Southern metros with populations of more than 200,000. Also factored are technology job density, median earnings and overall quality of life. Some of the markets in the top 20 will surprise you.

Top Southern tech clusters

Washington, D.C.

Austin, Texas

Houston, Texas

Dallas, Texas

Jacksonville, Fla.

Orlando, Fla.

Tampa Bay, Fla.

Palm Bay, Fla.

Crestview, Fla.

Raleigh, N.C.

Durham, N.C.

Huntsville, Ala.

Fayetteville, Ark.

Charlotte, N.C.

Wilmington, N.C.

Richmond, Va.

Charlottesville, Va.

Roanoke, Va.

Atlanta, Ga.

Source: CommercialCafe

ALABAMA

Alabama Port Authority kicks off Montgomery rail facility project

The Alabama Port Authority, in partnership with CSX, broke ground on the Montgomery Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) in March, a state-of-the-art facility that will enhance freight mobility and stimulate economic growth in the region.

Located on a 272-acre site with direct access to Interstate 85 and U.S. Highway 31, the Montgomery ICTF has a throughput capacity equal to 30,000 shipping containers and will provide seamless rail and truck connectivity between central Alabama and the Port of Mobile.

“The Montgomery ICTF is a game-changer for freight movement in Alabama and beyond,” said John Driscoll, Director and CEO of the Alabama Port Authority. “This facility will provide businesses with seamless access to global markets, driving economic growth and strengthening our state’s supply chain infrastructure.”

CSX, a key partner in the $94 million project, will serve the facility, ensuring efficient rail connectivity between the Port of Mobile and inland markets.

Alabama exports total $26.8 billion in 2024, reaching 200 countries Companies based in Alabama exported goods and services

This rendering depicts Diageo’s $415 million manufacturing and warehousing facility now completing construction in Montgomery, Ala. Over 750 jobs were created during the construction phase.

Montgomery stays red hot Rarely does a quarter go by now without a significant announcement made in Alabama’s capital city. In the winter quarter of 2025, Diageo North America announced a $415 million manufacturing plant in Montgomery.

Premium drinks company Diageo North America announced plans to open a new manufacturing and warehousing facility in Montgomery with 100 jobs as the company moves to build an increasingly resilient and efficient supply network.

The 360,000-square-foot facility will have a multi-million case annual production capacity for Diageo’s leading beverage alcohol brands. This site will enhance the company’s North American supply chain operations and support future growth for the company’s export business.

The new facility, which will be referred to as “Diageo Montgomery,” will provide a new point of operations closer to the company’s beverage distributors in the Southern U.S. region. The site’s strategic location is expected to reduce required road travel, significantly helping to further mitigate carbon emissions associated with logistics operations.

Around SOUTH

The “Work Here. Live Here” housing incentive program in Mississippi County, Ark., recently celebrated its 100th home. The milestone represents a significant achievement in the mission to provide quality housing options for Mississippi County’s growing workforce.

worth more than $26.8 billion in 2024, down slightly from the previous year, but still ranking as the second-highest annual tally for worldwide shipments from the state, Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair announced in February.

The value of last year’s exports dipped 2 percent from the previous year’s record total of $27.4 billion, according to data from the Alabama Department of Commerce.

The 2024 total was nearly 30 percent higher than the figure for 2019, indicating strong growth from pre-pandemic levels.

Alabama’s agriculture, food products sector surges with major investment projects

When the J.M. Smucker Co. celebrated the opening of a $1.1 billion manufacturing facility in McCalla, it

came the 15th employer to participate in WHLH.

The program offers up to $50,000 toward the cost of a new home and up to $25,000 toward an existing home. Since the program launched in 2023, it has generated $36.1 million in new home value and facilitated 122 home purchases, according to a news release announcing Hybar’s investment.

will create 100 to 200 jobs, including subcontractors, and about 40 full-time jobs to support the service once operational.

GEORGIA

Atlanta officials consider even more restrictions on data centers

marked another milestone in a long-running growth spurt that’s energizing Alabama’s key agriculture and food products sector. Since early 2021, more than 50 growth projects in this sector have launched statewide, paving the way for more than $3.5 billion in new investment and creating more than 2,500 jobs, according to Alabama Department of Commerce data.

ARKANSAS

Hybar Steel invests $500K in Mississippi County’s Housing Incentive Program

Hybar Steel has joined the “Work Here. Live Here” (WHLH) housing incentive program in Mississippi County, Ark., as an industry partner. The company is investing $500,000 to help its employees purchase homes in the county. Hybar be-

Hybar is nearing completion of its state-of-the-art steel rebar mill in Osceola, which is designed to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy, making it the most environmentally sustainable facility of its kind. The company currently employs more than 100 people, with plans to expand to 200 direct employees and 50 to 60 indirect workers. Along with steel workers, Hybar’s career opportunities also extend to employees in human resources, marketing, IT and logistics.

FLORIDA

Wire 3’s $200 million in fiber going up in North Florida

Wire 3, a Daytona-based fiber optics company, plans to invest $200 million to expand its services to Lake County, Fla. After working with LEAD (Lake Economic Area Development) Partnership, Wire 3 CEO Jia Ramachandaran connected with the Ocala Metro Chamber about services in Marion County. The former agricultural communities in the area have seen much growth, and local businesses will benefit from the fiber optics. Wire 3 expects that construction of the line

Atlanta officials are considering additional restrictions on data centers after banning them in and around the Beltline. A special-use permit for data centers is now required, and they are prohibited from building in neighborhood commercial districts like Little Five Points.

All kinds of rules are being drawn up to slow data center growth in the Atlanta mega-market, including one that requires permit applicants to show their project’s impact on natural resources and the environment, including a water consumption plan, water conservation and sustainability plan, energy consumption plan, transmission line impact assessment, tree preservation and reforestation plan, and a storm water management plan.

Class A office occupancy success in Atlanta after a few years of post-pandemic “seethroughs”

What is a “see-through?” Easy. Look at a new office building and if you can see through to the other side of windows without obstruction, well, there ain’t anyone in there. New construction in Austin, Atlanta, D/FW, NOVA, Charlotte, even Nashville, has waned as of late after a surge under the Biden administration. Generally, a good thing as folks

come back to the office in droves four years later.

But Atlanta seems to have come back strong from the emptying out of high-rises during and after the pandemic. As of February, metro Atlanta’s new space brought to the mega-market $14 million square feet built from 2016 to 2021 — those office buildings were 92 percent occupied, according to commercial real estate giant JLL.

Georgia breaks export records, rises in total trade

Gov. Brian Kemp joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in announcing that the State of Georgia surpassed $53.1 billion in exports, a

year-over-year increase of 6.4 percent that outpaced the national average of 2.3 percent. The state also moved up a rank to sixth in the United States for dollar value of trade, serving as a global gateway to facilitate more than $198.7 billion in trade to 222 unique countries and territories.

Exporting to 219 unique destinations in 2024, Georgia retained its No. 12 ranking in the U.S. for dollar value of exports. Civilian aircraft and ancillary parts also remained the state’s No. 1 export, followed by motor vehicles, data processing machines (computers), electrical apparatus for line telephony (telephone sets), and medical devices.

#KYMAKES WHAT THE WORLD WANTS

Wire 3, a Daytona-based fiber optics company, plans to invest $200 million to expand its services to Lake County, Fla.

Around SOUTH

Meta has selected northeast Louisiana for a $10 billion artificial intelligence optimized data center. Gov. Jeff Landry calls the investment, with its 500 or more jobs,“a new chapter” for the state.

Georgia swamp sets up for mining rare metals

Georgia’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been nominated to join the United Nations’ World Heritage List, the feds announced in December. The designation is a step forward to bring recognition to the swamp (the largest black-water swamp in North America), just as a titanium mining operation is preparing to start in the Okefenokee.

KENTUCKY

Kentucky sets back-toback exports record with over $47 billion in products shipped globally

Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Kentucky once again set an all-time record for products shipped globally, with $47.7 billion in exports in 2024. The commonwealth broke the record set in 2023 with an 18.7 percent increase over the previous year. “The global demand for Kentucky-made prod-

Louisiana region. The company estimates 5,000 construction workers at peak of construction on the 2,250acre former Franklin Farm megasite that sits between the municipalities of Rayville and Delhi, about 30 miles east of Monroe.

LSU Center for Energy Studies releases 2025 Gulf Coast Energy Outlook

technology equipment. The campus will also create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Compass Datacenters builds single-tenant, hyper-scale data center campuses. The large-scale campuses built by Compass are designed to last for more than 100 years and create economies of scale to support local businesses and jobs.

ucts, made by hard-working Kentuckians right here in the commonwealth, has never been higher,” said Gov. Beshear.

LOUISIANA

Meta selects northeast Louisiana as site of $10 billion artificial intelligence optimized data center

Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta announced it will build a $10 billion artificial intelligence data center in northeast Louisiana, a transformational investment that cements the state’s status as a major innovation hub and puts this picturesque rural community on the leading edge of a global digital revolution.

Meta projects the data center will support 500 or more new direct new jobs in Richland Parish. LED estimates the project will result in the creation of more than 1,000 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 1,500 potential new jobs in the northeast

Researchers at the LSU Center for Energy Studies have released their 2025 Gulf Coast Energy Outlook, and the takeaway is clear: a balanced, all-of-the-above approach to energy supply and decarbonization presents a generational opportunity for Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. The numbers are large. By 2030, the Gulf Coast region is projected to see:

• $219 billion in liquefied natural gas investments

• $151 billion for chemical and refining industries

• $107 billion for energy transition projects

MISSISSIPPI

Compass Datacenters project generates $10 billion investment in Lauderdale County Dallas-based Compass Datacenters, a multinational data center developer, is locating its next hyper-scale data center campus in Meridian. The campus will consist of eight data centers that will be constructed over an eight-year period.

Upon occupancy, Compass Datacenters’ campus will represent an investment of $10 billion, including future tenants’ information

NORTH CAROLINA

Which North Carolina metro is the fastest growing in the state?

Hint: It is not Raleigh or Charlotte

Charlotte and Raleigh have been two of the fastest growing metros in the U.S. for decades. Charlotte is now a mega-market by our methodology (2.5 million population or more) and the Triangle is well on its way.

But neither of the dynamos in the Tar Heel State was the fastest growing market in 2024. . .Wilmington, N.C., took that honor over the last four years. Wilmington is among the top 10 metro areas for population growth between 2020 and 2024, according to new numbers by the U.S. Census Bureau. That metro grew by more than 13 percent over the period. Raleigh’s growth was 10 percent last year and Charlotte was at 8 percent.

North Carolina-based Boom Supersonic validates quiet supersonic flight

In the winter quarter, Boom Supersonic said that results from its successful sound-barrier-breaking flight of its demonstration plane indicate that faster-

than-sound flight without an audible sonic boom is technically possible with its technology. The company expects to build “no sonic boom” airliners next at its complex at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C. The Denver-based company said that specialized arrays of microphones under the flight path of the XB-1 test plane on January 28 confirmed that sonic booms did not reach the ground during the plane’s repeated periods of flights above Mach 1.

Amazon workers reject union in vote at North Carolina warehouse Amazon workers at a facility near Raleigh overwhelmingly voted against unionizing in January. Of the 3,276 ballots cast, there were 2,447 votes opposing the union and 829 in favor, according to the National Labor Relations Board. There were 77 challenged ballots, a gap that’s too narrow to change the outcome of the election. The results still need to be certified by the NLRB. That clawback feeling California company Smart Wires moved to North Carolina pledging 250 jobs. Now the state is pulling its incentives. North Carolina has terminated millions in incentives set for the cleantech company that moved its headquarters to Durham from California with plans to create hundreds of local jobs. In 2021, the company, which partners with electric utilities to help maximize grid capacity, chose Durham over a competing site in Austin for a new headquarters.

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.

$1B investment

Establishing operations in York County

Served by York Electric

Expanding operations in Pickens County

Served by Blue Ridge

$15M investment 53 new jobs

Establishing operations in Lee County

Served by Black River

$29M ivestment

200 new jobs

Establishing operations in Claredon County

Served by Santee Electric Cooperative

Powered by South Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

Mississippi’s Gov. Tate Reeves was on hand as Dallas-based Compass Datacenters announced its next hyperscale data center campus in Meridian, Miss. Upon occupancy, the campus will represent an investment of $10 billion and create thousands of jobs.

Wolfspeed’s massive

North Carolina chip plant enters final phase

Wolfspeed’s $5 billion semiconductor factory is nearing completion in Chatham County, N.C. The new facility features complex chip production processes. The electric vehicle market is the target sector for the company’s technology and employees will start moving in as early as June.

The $5 billion project fell into one of President Biden’s initiatives aimed at reshoring chip plants in the United States, and President Trump wishes to carry that forward.

The 1,800-acre site near Siler City was one SB&D walked in 2014 with landowner Tim Booras.

Massive facilities from some of the world’s largest drug developers soon to be operational in the Research Triangle North Carolina is one of the South’s major hubs for bio-manufacturing, specifically in the Triangle and just outside of it to the west and east, such as Durham, Wilson County and elsewhere. The Triangle’s largest project underway is Novo Nordisk’s $4.1 billion expansion in Johnston County. The Danish drugmaker began building a new facility that will bring 1.4 million square feet of production space online, and promises to create 1,000 new jobs Other projects going up in and near the Triangle include Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnol-

ogies, which is finishing its multi-billion project in Holly Springs, among several others underway.

Triangle’s Wake County loaded with prospects in the winter

According to Michael Haley, executive director of Wake County Economic Development, the area he serves had 37 project requests, and if all the deals are captured, they would equal 13,000 jobs and $7.6 billion in capital investments. Most of the working projects from Wake are in advanced manufacturing, the life sciences, office deals and headquarters.

OKLAHOMA

Commerce celebrates groundbreaking of

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 proving ground, the International Transportation Innovation Center, there’s good reason why it’s all systems go at SCTAC.

$1.2 billion lithium refinery in Muskogee

In the winter quarter, representatives from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce were on hand in Muskogee to celebrate the groundbreaking of one of the largest lithium refineries in the United States. Stardust Power Inc. is building the facility on a 66-acre site near the Port of Muskogee, which will eventually be able to produce up to 50,000 metric tons per annum of battery-grade lithium.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Capital investment by existing industry accounts for $5.38 billion of total investment in South Carolina

The South Carolina De-

partment of Commerce released its 2024 industry recruitment results, with an announced total capital investment of $8.19 billion from January to December 2024. Existing industries reinforced their commitment to South Carolina by reinvesting in the state through expansion projects, accounting for $5.38 billion of all announced capital investment last year. “The capital investment and economic development activity announced in 2024 reinforces South Carolina’s position as a competitive destination for businesses across many sectors,” said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey, III.

Around SOUTHTHE

In 2014, SB&D’s Shelly Jacobs and Michael Randle along with landowner Tim Booras (pictured center) walked the 1,800-acre site near Siler City that would be chosen by Wolfspeed for its $5 billion semiconductor factory currently nearing completion in Chatham County, N.C.

Around SOUTH

In-N-Out Burger is moving its headquarters out of Irvine, Calif., to Nashville. The $126 million relocation will create 275 jobs.

Tech giant Google has walked away from a 1 million-square-foot lease north of Fort Worth after spending over $20 million retrofitting space at the massive Northlake 35 Logistics Park.

Virginia-based Dominion Energy is preparing for the rash of data centers and growth in general by investing over $50 billion over the next five years.

TENNESSEE

Whoa! Another fast food giant moves its headquarters to the South

In-N-Out Burger is moving its headquarters out of Irvine, Calif., to Nashville, following KFC’s move to Texas. By 2029, the popular restaurant will operate from two hubs — a western headquarters in its original home of Baldwin Park, Calif., and an eastern headquarters in Franklin, Tenn., according to The Press-Enterprise, citing a news release. The $126 million relocation will create 275 jobs.

TEXAS

Surely not! KFC takes its HQ to Texas

KFC U.S. is leaving Kentucky and landing in Dallas-Fort Worth. Louisville-based parent company Yum Brands announced in February that it is relocating KFC’s corporate brand headquarters to Plano, north of Dallas, and combining it with the Pizza Hut brand headquarters already located in the city. Roughly 100 corporate roles in Louisville are affected, with relocations happening over the next six months.

Startup wants to power Texas data centers with small nuclear reactors

A startup developing small modular nuclear reactors wants to power energy-hungry data centers in Texas. Last Energy has secured approval to build 30 mini-reactors in the plains of North Texas. The company announced in March it has obtained “site control” to build its reactors in Haskell County, three hours west of D/FW. No jobs

were given by the Washington, D.C.-based company.

After spending millions to outfit a 1 millionsquare-foot facility in Texas, Google walks away from the deal Tech giant Google has walked away from a 1 million-square-foot lease north of Fort Worth. Google signed for space at the massive Northlake 35 Logistics Park in Northlake, Texas, and spent over $20 million retrofitting the space. The project was part of Google’s $1 billion investment in data centers and cloud center infrastructure in Texas. The leasing company was told that at this time, Google did not need the extra capacity. The space is now completed and back on the market.

Texas’ Permian Basin booms

The Texas Oil and Gas Association recently came out with its annual energy and economic impact report showing recording-breaking industry numbers for 2024. And yes, the Permian Basin is booming again.

Texas saw mass crude oil production this past year, with new records set in the last six of the past 12 months. In October, the state produced 5.86 million barrels per day of crude oil. This is the highest total ever and accounts for 44 percent of the nation's total.

Texas becomes the top-rated state for solar installations in the U.S.

A new report by the Solar En-

ergy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie reported that Texas is the top-ranked state for solar capacity installed in 2024, with 7.9 GWdc through Q3. Texas is also leading the way with more solar and wind jobs than any other state, passing California and Florida in 2024.

Samsung finished with CHIPS ACT incentives. Investments in two Texas semiconductor facilities lower than expected South Korea-based Samsung Electronics is downsizing its investments in two chip plants in the Austin MSA. The company’s federal incentives paved the way for Samsung to expand its long-time plant in Austin and start up a new one just up the road

in Taylor. Samsung officials confirmed total investments of $37 billion in the two plants, down from initial estimates of $45 billion. Still, both projects will rank high in the top 10 investment deals in calendar year 2024.

VIRGINIA

Richmond-based Dominion Energy to spend $50 billion to increase capacity Dominion Energy is preparing for the rash of data centers and growth in general by investing over $50 billion over the next five years. Dominion said data centers contracted 88 percent more power capacity, or 19 gigawatts (GW), in December as compared to July.

1. Discover Adventure at Explore Park

Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, this 1,100-acre park attracts 250,000+ visitors for hiking, camping, Twin Creeks Brewpub, Treetop Quest, and the dazzling Illuminights holiday display with 650,000+ lights.

2. Reach New Heights

Hike Roanoke County’s iconic trails, including Dragon’s Tooth and McAfee Knob, the Appalachian Trail’s most photographed spot!

3. Enjoy Premier Amenities

Explore 6 libraries, 30 parks, 2 recreation centers, dozens of miles of greenways and trails, and 27 pickleball courts.

4. Access Top-Tier Schools

Ranked #11 in Virginia by Niche.com for 2024, Roanoke County Public Schools will also soon be home to a new state-of-the-art $80 million Career & Technology Center.

5. Find Your Next Opportunity

Grow your career in Roanoke County’s diverse economy spanning healthcare, tech, manufacturing, tourism, and more!

WHERE MOUNTAINS MEET ADVENTURE

Around SOUTH

a 500,000-squarefoot manufacturing and assembly plant at the Daytona Beach International Airport creating more than 1,000 jobs.

DEALS AT DEADLINE

Hartsfield-Jackson holds on to “world’s busiest”

Data from Airports Council International in April shows that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport defended its top position as the busiest airport by passenger volume in 2024. Over 108 million passengers traveled through the massive terminals in calendar year 2024. The totals were up 3.3 percent from 2023, but down 2.2 percent from 2019. Atlanta has ranked as the busiest airport in the world for decades except for 2020, when the airport lost out to the airport in Guangzhou, China.

GROWING POWER

New industrial and tech institute forming in Texas

A group of major players in the industrial and defense tech sectors are getting together with venture capitalists, universities and policymakers to launch a new institute in Texas that focuses on assisting the U.S. with innovation that keeps the nation ahead of places like China.

The Endless Frontiers Institute will have offices in Austin and at Baylor University in Waco. It is part of a 10-year plan that will be driven, in part, by a consortium that includes the Council on For-

eign Relations, the University of Texas, Rice University, Texas A&M and Baylor, as well as Austin-based venture firms 8VC and Overmatch Ventures, and Arlington-based America’s Frontier Fund.

Big aerospace deal in Volusia County, Fla. Aura Aero Inc., the French designer and manufacturer of next-generation aircraft, has announced its intent to build a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly plant in Volusia County at the Daytona Beach International Airport. The facility will create more than 1,000 high-paying jobs in the area. J

Meeting of the Economic Development Minds

The 2024 and 2025 Southern Economic Development Roundtables and the 2024 Southern Automotive Corridor Summit events are now crossed off our to-do list. We might have another event for younger folks in the fall, and we are moving SEDR to December because of one thing: Snow. At.The.Beach. Unheard of for the Florida Panhandle.

Attendance for the last two SEDRs@RosemaryBeach@ThePearlHotel were affected by snow and cold. In 2024, there were 55 attendees (sold out), but snow (and the pandemic) in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee caused 22 to cancel.

This January, it was not snow in those states, but snow on the beach at Rosemary! We lost 23 out of 55 (sold out again) at SEDR2025@ThePearl, some of which were in Florida, just 50 miles away.

Yet, most who flew through Atlanta had a tough time getting to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, as it was closed the first day of the meeting. Some got to Atlanta and had to head back home. Some were held up at airports in addition to Atlanta, including Charlotte, Nashville, Dallas and elsewhere in the region.

At SEDR2025@Rosemary, we also lost six keynote speakers, including Hall of Famers George Swift, Neal Wade, Dr. Walter Kemmsies (look him up), Mark Vitner (chief economist), John Hull (Va.), Sean Malott (Fla.), Cliff Brumfield (N.C.), Roger Cook (Tenn.), Mark Heath

and James McClain (Va.) among others.

But not all was lost. Gray Swoope and Laura DiBella (Fla.) presented, along with former Port of South Carolina CEO Jim Newsome, Chris Berryman, James Chavez, Ed Castile, Matt Kisber, Connie Bainbridge, Kyle Spurgeon, the SC-Connection George Kosinsky, John Truluck, Chuck Whipple and Robert Long (they are all killing it), and young guns Shelby Stringfellow, Mallory Darby, Justice Smyth and several others were called up to speak and/or lead discussions who were not on the docket.

And Glenn McCullough was there presenting, as was Dr. Kemmsies via video from Savannah, Ga. Walter Sprouse (a longtime friend of SB&D) was in attendance, however, Raul Peralta didn’t make it and he would walk to SEDR or SEDC if he had to. Not in two feet of snow.

All in all, the 34 or so who were there had a wonderful Friday with snow on the beach, day-long discussions and the reception at The Pearl that night.

The 2024 Southern Automotive Corridor Summit in Greenville, S.C., at the Grand Bohemian Lodge was close to a sellout, too, like both SEDRs the last two years. That event last summer featured Alan Amici, CEO of the Center for Automotive Research, and Dr. Joachim G. Taiber. Taiber, an Austrian, came over with BMW in 1992 to help launch the BMW plant in the Greenville metro. Also, Greenville Mayor Knox White, who is in this issue’s Southern Economic Devel-

opment Hall of Fame, was our luncheon speaker. We will be back in Greenville at the Bohemian. Outstanding hotel.

Here is what one person said about our Southern Automotive Corridor Summit in the economic development mecca city of Greenville.

“Michael, Thanks for putting together the Southern Auto Corridor Summit in Greenville, S.C., at the Grand Bohemian. The event totally surpassed my expectations, and I feel lucky to have attended. I am an investor in the Southeast, and found the information to be incredibly helpful, however, to be frank, it was such a dynamic room with so many heavy hitters that I just felt lucky to be in the room where it happened. So, thank you for allowing me to attend. I am reaching out to say thank you.”

Jason Sippey, Logic Capital

Here is what one attendee said about the Southern Economic Development Roundtable:

“As for what I’d like to say to the SEDR group — this is by far the absolute best think-tank event for economic development leadership on earth! I could also say this is by far better than any other economic development conference, but honestly, there simply is NOT another like it, period.”

Cliff Brumfield, Lincoln Economic Development Association

1: Robert Long, Chester County Economic Development; Walt Sprouse, Cooper-Sprouse; Chris Berryman, H&M Company; Gray Swoope, VisionFirst Advisors 2: Glenn McCullough, Hinds County EDA; Ed Castile, Alabama Department of Commerce/AIDT 3: Chris Berryman and Glenn McCullough

4: Jim Newsome, JimNewsome3 5: George Kosinski, Clarendon County Economic Development 6: Walt Sprouse, Gray Swoope and Chris Berrymen 7: James Chavez, SC PowerTeam 8: Connie Bainbridge, Central Alabama Electric Cooperative; Justice Smyth, Tuscaloosa EDA 9: John Truluck, Dorchester County Economic Development

2 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

10: Will Williams, Western South Carolina EDP 11: Scott McLain, McLain Development; 12: Ed Castile

13: Nancy Windham, Texas Forest Country Partnership; Connie Bainbridge 14: Mallory Darby, Mississippi County Economic Development 15: Gray Swoope

16: Laura DiBella, Adams & Reese

17: Kyle Spurgeon, Greater Jackson Chamber; Chris Berryman 18: Chris Berryman; Matt Kisber, Silicon Ranch

19: Shelby Stringfellow, Montgomery Area Chamber

20: Walt Sprouse 21: Connie Bainbridge, Shelby Stringfellow and Justice Smyth 22: Robert Long 23: Michael Smith, Chatham County EDC 24: Jay Smith, Mallory Darby, Laura DiBella, Chris Berryman, Shelby Stringfellow, Chuck Whipple and Jim Newsome 25: Chuck Whipple, ECS Southeast 26: Walt and Cookie Sprouse, John and Nancy Truluck, Ellen and Will Williams 27: The gang from ECS Southeast makes a pitch to hold the next SEDR in Charlotte, N.C.

SB&D’s

Speaking at

Southern Auto Corridor Summit in Greenville, S.C., were 28: Mark Herbison, Tipton County Community Development Council 29: Jody Bryson, South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center; Mayor Knox White of Greenville 30: Alan Amici of the Center for Automotive Research 31: Douglas Scarboro, The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis J

Relocations EXPANSIONS&

Steelmaker

ArcelorMittal is planning a $1.2 billion expansion near AM/NS Calvert in Mobile County, Ala.

A European steel manufacturer announced it is proceeding with plans to build a $1.2 billion advanced, non-grainoriented electrical steel plant in Mobile County. Construction start is expected later this year. The deal will create 200 full-time jobs and an estimated 1,300 construction jobs.

ALABAMA

Federal government aviation partner Science and Engineering Services celebrates expansion in Huntsville

Science and Engineering Services LLC (SES LLC), an aviation partner to the U.S. government and more than 30 foreign military partners, marked the official opening of a new 111,000-squarefoot facility at Huntsville International Airport as it expands its capabilities. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Huntsville, SES LLC is a recognized industry leader in system development, maintenance, modification, reset, integration, training and contractor logistics support for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.

Bama spending $2 billion on Tuscaloosa stadium

For reference, The Alabama Crimson Tide is investing $2 billion in upgrades at

Saban Field in Tuscaloosa.

The Crimson Tide football program was responsible for $140.6 million in revenue and $113.8 million in expenses in the 2024 fiscal year.

Longtime Birmingham manufacturer invests $45 million in neighboring Walker County Nelson Brothers, a maker of explosives chemicals for the mining industry, is investing $45 million in its plant near Parrish in Walker County. The deal secures the current workforce of 55 and will add five jobs.

ARKANSAS

Key Tronic Corporation executes new lease to expand domestic operations in Arkansas Key Tronic Corporation, a provider of electronic manufacturing services, is expanding its clean-tech manufacturing operations in Arkansas, establishing its flagship manufacturing and research and development location in Springdale. The company anticipates investing more than $28 million in the new facility and expects to create over 400 new jobs in the next five years.

Messer expands presence in the South with new air separation unit in Berryville Messer, a leading industri-

al gases company, has announced a strategic investment of over $70 million to construct a state-of-the-art air separation unit (ASU) in Berryville, Ark. The new facility will address the growing demand for industrial gases in the southern part of the U.S., reinforcing Messer’s commitment to supporting expanding industries in the region. Messer’s site in Berryville will create quality career opportunities, will employ more than 20 people and provide temporary local jobs during the construction phase of the project. This new ASU will also complement the company’s existing facility in Lewisville, Ark., enhancing production capacity to meet the increasing demand for essential gases.

L3Harris breaks ground on solid rocket motor “factories of the future” in Arkansas

In February, L3Harris Technologies marked the beginning of construction on four new solid rocket motor production facilities at the company’s Camden site, hosting Department of Defense officials, industry customers and state and local dignitaries at a ceremony in the winter quarter. The expansion is part of a $215.6 million cooperative agreement with the Defense Department.

The new facilities will incorporate modern equipment and processes.

FLORIDA

Charles Schwab expands in Maitland

Charles Schwab & Co., one of the nation’s leading financial services firms, will expand its presence in the Orlando region with a major investment. This economic development project marks the 200th company announcement since the inception of the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) in 2017. Schwab already employs over 1,200 people in the area and recently acquired four office buildings in Maitland.

Jacksonville Jaguars break ground on $1.4 billion stadium redo

The home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 Alltel Stadium Place, began its $1.4 billion renovation in early January, a team spokesperson said. Current work includes driving test piles to ensure they’re strong enough to support the weight of loads. Such work was approved through a foundation permit in December.

GEORGIA

Seventeen-billion-dollar data center campus proposed in West Coweta County

Atlas Development has filed plans with the state for

“Project Sail,” a $17 billion, 13-data-center development in Coweta County in West Georgia. Each data center could consume 72 megawatts of power, according to a site plan submitted to the county. This could mean the project would require more electricity than all of the county's households.

Aerospace company opens North American HQ in metro Atlanta

PBS Aerospace will establish its North American headquarters in Roswell, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. The small turbojet engine manufacturer’s deal will include the headquarters and manufacturing and research and development operations. The company is investing $20 million and will create 95 jobs. Aerospace products were Georgia's top export in 2023.

CONTINUED

Georgia-Pacific announces $90 million investment in Arkansas Georgia-Pacific is investing $90 million at its Crossett, Ark., mill to continue growing its retail consumer tissue business. The investment at the Crossett mill will add 50 new jobs and will increase converting capacity for high quality bath tissue, including Georgia-Pacific’s valued Angel Soft® brand. Initial production from this investment is expected in 2026. By the end of this project, Georgia-Pacific will have invested more than $250 million at Crossett since 2019.

Duracell to relocate from Connecticut; invests $56 million into R&D center near Georgia Tech Chicago-based Duracell will invest $56 million into a new research and development headquarters in Atlanta. The company will place the new hub at Georgia Tech’s Science Square, creating 110 jobs. It’s set to open in summer 2026, and will be part of the Science Square Labs. Duracell is relocating the R&D facility from Bethel, Conn., said a company spokesperson.

Relocations EXPANSIONS&

Buffalo Trace finishes $1.3 billion distillery expansion in the capital city of Frankfort, Ky.

In early January, a 10-year, $1.3 billion expansion plan completed at Buffalo Trace’s distillery in Frankfort. The company recently added eight fermenters, at 93,000 gallons each, giving it 32 total on the campus.

Irving Tissue expanding in Georgia to the tune of $600 million

In the fall quarter, Gov. Brian Kemp announced that Irving Tissue will add 100 new jobs as part of a nearly $600 million expansion at its facility in Macon, Ga.

KENTUCKY

Churchill Downs unveils $920 million new Kentucky Derby experience

Churchill Downs announced in the winter hundreds of millions in capital projects (stretching out over multiple years) to "enhance and expand the Kentucky Derby experience." The Louisville-based company projects are, collectively, the largest expansion and renovation undertaken in the 150-year history of the storied racetrack.

UniFirst expanding in Owensboro

UniFirst Corp., a North American leader in provid-

ing customized business uniform programs, facility service products and first aid and safety services, will expand its existing facility in Owensboro with a nearly $28 million investment.

Nitto to locate new multi-million-dollar facility in Frankfort, creating 220 manufacturing jobs

Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Nitto, a global developer of state-of-theart technology and provider of products and services for automotive, electronics, aerospace and other industries, will open a new facility in Frankfort, creating 220 full-time jobs.

“The economic momentum Kentucky is seeing is a direct result of tremendous growth among our largest and most vital industries, and manufacturing, automotive and aerospace are at the center of that growth,” said Gov. Beshear.

den-based producer of green fertilizer, plans to locate a new $109.2 million production plant in Christian County, a project that will create 65 new full-time jobs. The company will construct a new facility and the operation will recycle waste salt from battery production at the nearby Ascend Elements facility to produce low-carbon fertilizer. New jobs created at the facility will include, among others, process operators, warehouse personnel, process engineers and general administration.

Kitchen Food Co. investing $69 million to build world-class facility in Hopkinsville, creating 925 Kentucky jobs

Governor Andy Beshear recently announced one of the largest job-creation projects in the commonwealth of Kentucky since the start of his administration. Kitchen Food Co., a premium ready-meals business originally founded in Australia, will locate a new world-class prepared foods facility in Hopkinsville with a $69 million investment creating 925 quality ongoing for Kentucky residents. This represents the single largest job-creation announcement in Christian County in over 20 years, and the fifth largest job-creation project statewide under the Beshear-Coleman administration.

Cinis Fertilizer to build $109.2 million green fertilizer production plant, creating 65 jobs in Hopkinsville

Cinis Fertilizer, a Swe-

Next-generation agritech facility represents a $50 million investment in Pulaski County

Bosch Berries, an international grower of bell peppers, strawberries and blackberries, celebrated the grand opening of its new $50 million greenhouse operation in Pulaski County. Kentucky has captured several of these high-end greenhouses of late. Twenty-eight jobs are being created.

Chick-fil-A Supply to set up $100 million distribution center in Kentucky

Chick-fil-A Supply is building a new $100 million distribution center in Kenton County, Ky. The deal will create 178 jobs and will support about 150 Chick-fil-A retail locations.

Stellar Snacks cuts ribbon on largest economic project in West Louisville in over 20 years

In the winter, Stellar Snacks, a mother-daughter-owned pretzel company based in Carson City, Nev., joined

Kentucky officials to cut the ribbon on the company’s newest operation, a $137 million investment set to create 350 full-time jobs.

DHL Express to build $292 million plant in Northern Kentucky German shipper DHL Express broke ground on a large facility in the fall quarter. The aviation maintenance operation will create 300 new jobs across the river from Cincinnati.

LOUISIANA

Climeworks proposes $50 million investment to expand hub into Southwest Louisiana

The direct air capture

(DAC) technology developer Climeworks recently announced plans to build a facility in Southwest Louisiana as part of the “Project Cypress” DAC Hub. Climeworks will mobilize an additional $50 million in private investments to match the initial $50 million in DOE funding. The company will hire 140 in the deal.

Packaging maker investing $35 million to enhance and upskill its workforce at its plant in Hammond

Graham Packaging, a leader in design and manufacturing of sustainable packaging, is investing $35 million to expand its production facility in Tangipahoa Parish.

The expansion will modernize equipment and upskill its workforce of 100.

MISSISSIPPI

Southeastern Timber Products investing more than $120 million in Choctaw County

Southeastern Timber Products is expanding its operations in Ackerman. The project represents a corporate investment of $123.4 million and will create 40 new jobs.

Mississippi-based Southeastern Timber Products is a family-owned-and-operated manufacturer of southern yellow pine lumber, timber and decking products. The company is expanding

Massive facilities from some of the world’s largest drug developers soon to be operational in the Research Triangle North Carolina is one of the South’s major hubs for biomanufacturing, specifically in the Triangle and just outside of it to the west and east, such as Durham, Wilson County and elsewhere. The Triangle’s largest project underway is Novo Nordisk’s $4.1 billion expansion in Johnston County. The Danish drugmaker began building a new facility that will bring 1.4 million square feet of production space once online. Other projects being built in and near the Triangle include Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, which is finishing its multibillion project in Holly Springs, among several others underway.

Stark Aerospace expanding in Columbus, Miss.

Global aerospace and defense company Stark Aerospace is expanding in Lowndes County, Miss., as it has won a new U.S. Navy contract. The deal will create 96 jobs. Investment totals were not available.

Relocations EXPANSIONS&

A $99.6 million investment will create jobs in the Palmetto State

Cardiff Products, a beverage packaging company, has selected Lexington County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation. The $99.6 million investment will create 94 new jobs.

its Ackerman sawmill to increase production capacity from 120 million board feet per year to 300 million board feet per year.

Yancey Engineered Solutions locating operations in Panola County Generator enclosure and fuel tank manufacturer Yancey Engineered Solutions, a division of Yancey Bros. Co., is locating operations in Batesville. The project is a $20.8 million investment and will create 250 jobs.

ROCKWOOL expanding operations in Marshall County

ROCKWOOL is expanding its operations in Marshall County. The project represents a corporate investment of more than $100 million and will create approximately 30 new jobs.

ROCKWOOL, the world’s leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly stone wool insulation, has been operating in North America for over 35 years. The company’s Marshall County fa-

better serve its customers, Koch Foods is expanding its processing and distribution operations and rehabbing its facility in Morton.

NORTH CAROLINA

Norwegian outerwear manufacturer adding jobs at HQ in North Carolina

Helly Hansen, a Norwegian outerwear and workwear brand, is adding jobs in Greensboro, N.C., at Kontoor Brands’ headquarters there. There are a yet-to-beknown number of new jobs announced in the deal.

jobs in Davie County, N.C. The newly created company says it will invest more than $70 million to establish its first North American furniture production facility in Mocksville.

cility, which has been in operation since 2014, produces a range of residential, commercial, industrial and roofing stone wool insulation.

Chemical manufacturer to invest $540 million in Harrison County

PCC GulfChem Corporation is locating manufacturing operations in DeLisle. The project represents a corporate investment of at least $540 million and will create at least 84 jobs. In addition to the direct jobs being created by PCC GulfChem, hundreds of contractor and construction jobs also will be created during the project’s initial phases.

Koch Foods expanding in Mississippi Food production and distribution company Koch Foods is expanding in Scott County. The project is a $145.5 million investment and will create 128 jobs. Founded in 1973, Koch Foods is a U.S.-based retail, wholesale and industrial food-service provider that stands out as one of the nation’s largest poultry processors. To

Hendrick Motorsports expanding its racin’ HQ in North Carolina

The NASCAR team is investing $65 million to expand its presence in Concord, N.C. No jobs reported.

MetOx International to create 333 jobs in Chatham County

MetOx International, a pioneering manufacturer of high-temp superconducting wire, will build a major production facility in Chatham County, creating 333 jobs. The company will invest $193.7 million in North Carolina. Met-Ox, with headquarters in Houston, Texas, is a leader in High Temperature Superconducting technology (HTS) and the company is dedicated to advancing new energy solutions and establishing a resilient HTS manufacturing base in the United States.

Finnish furniture maker

SBA Home announces first North American manufacturing facility

SBA Home, a furniture manufacturer, will create 250

SBA Home is the largest division of SBA Grupe UAB, a Lithuanian conglomerate that exports furniture to 50 different countries around the world. After more than 20 years, the company has grown to employ more than 3,000 employees in four manufacturing facilities and a distribution center in Lithuania. This new location will be a 500,000-square-foot innovative production facility to manufacture and distribute trendy furniture products to meet the demand of its U.S. customer bases.

Carolina Panthers secure as much as $800 million to improve Bank of America Stadium

The Panthers are spending as much as $800 million on updates to their Charlotte stadium. The stadium opened in 1996.

Vanguard buys Centene’s office in Charlotte Pennsylvania-based Vanguard has purchased what was to be Centene Corp.’s East Coast headquarters in Charlotte. Vanguard is consolidating its Charlotte operations and 2,400 employees to its new office digs.

Triangle’s Wake County has worked “lots of prospects in the winter”

According to Michael Haley, executive director of Wake County Economic Development, the area he serves has about 40 project requests, and if all the deals are cap-

tured, they would equal 13,000 jobs and $7.6 billion in capital investments. Most of the working projects in Wake are in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, office deals and headquarters.

OKLAHOMA

Lufthansa Technik to expand component workshop in Tulsa

In the winter quarter, Lufthansa Technik announced its plans to expand its component workshop in Tulsa during a groundbreaking ceremony. The groundbreaking ceremony marks the next phase of a multi-million-dollar investment aimed at further solidifying Lufthansa Technik’s position as a premier partner for aircraft component services in the Americas. The expansion will increase the facility’s total size to over 140,000 square feet, with an additional 25,000 square feet of new space. Overall, 90 new workstations will be created to accommodate the

facility’s expanded operational needs.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Eastern Engineered Wood Products selects Anderson County Eastern Engineered Wood Products (Eastern), a wholesale distributor of engineered wood products, announced it has selected Anderson County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation. The $18.7 million investment will create 31 new jobs.

Founded in Pennsylvania in 1998, Eastern supplies engineered wood products to building materials dealers and lumberyards across the East Coast.

Eaton expands its South Carolina footprint with new facility in Union County

Eaton, a global leader in intelligent power management technologies, announced it is growing its South Carolina footprint with new operations in Union County.

The company’s $340 million investment will create 700 new jobs and establish a new manufacturing facility for three-phase transformers, critical to the nation’s power grid across multiple industries. A longtime South Carolina employer, Eaton provides intelligent power management solutions for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, res-

idential, aerospace and mobility markets. The company serves customers in more than 160 countries.

Project anticipates creating over 250 new jobs in South Carolina HII, a global defense provider, announced it has selected Berkeley County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation through the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of W International SC, LLC and Vivid Empire SC, LLC (collectively, “W International”), a South Carolina-based complex metal fabricator specializing in the manufacture of shipbuilding structures, modules and assemblies. Through its investment, HII anticipates creating over 250 new jobs. Headquartered in Virginia, HII manufactures naval ships and defense technology solutions for customers including the U.S. Navy.

TENNESSEE

West Star Aviation to expand in Hamilton County

West Star Aviation will create 200 new jobs and invest nearly $32 million in Hamilton County. West Star Aviation has been operating in Chattanooga for the last decade. The announcement marks the company’s third expansion in Tennessee. AAON to establish operations in Memphis AAON has selected the

former American Snuff facility in Memphis to house its new HVAC production operations. Through the project, the company plans to create 828 new jobs and invest $238 million in Shelby County over the next five years.

The expansion to Tennessee will position AAON to better serve its customer base, and upon completion, the 787,000-square-foot facility will produce various types of thermal management equipment for data centers under the BASX brand, including air-cooled systems, computer room air handlers, direct evaporative coolers and liquid cooling distribution units. Based in Tulsa, Okla., AAON, Inc. is a global leader in HVAC solutions, employing nearly 4,000 people worldwide.

TEXAS

Scheduled: Over 1,000 acres of data center projects in Dallas/Fort Worth in the bag (almost) North Texas has captured new proposed data center developments, and plans have come to light for new data center developments on a little more than 1,000 acres spread across North Texas. Four large data center campuses are proposed in Red Oak, Grand Prairie, Lancaster and Garland over the next few years. D/FW is already a huge data center market.

Charms LLC to expand in Tipton County, Tenn. Charms will invest $97.7 million and create 62 new jobs to expand its manufacturing plant and distribution center near Memphis in Tipton County. Established in 1912, Charms is the manufacturer of Blow Pops™ and has been manufacturing candy in Covington since 1973. The company was acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries in 1988. Upon completion of the project, Charms will employ nearly 500 people in Tipton County.

Relocations EXPANSIONS&

Washington-based software giant Microsoft announces two massive Texas data centers in Medina County Microsoft is planning two new massive data centers in Medina County, according to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Dubbed “SAT93” and “SAT94,” the two structures will be 245,000 square feet each, and rise at a parcel of land the firm owns north of the County Road 381 and 385 intersection. The two projects combined are estimated to cost $700 million, though those estimates are subject to change. The greater San Antonio region has attracted a number of data center players over the years.

Semiconductor supplier expanding in Texas

Korean semiconductor supplier Samsung Electronics is investing $110 million at its facility in Killeen, Texas. The deal will create 24 new jobs.

Texas Biomedical Research Institute expanding in San Antonio

Texas Biomedical Research Institute has launched a major expansion of its West San Antonio campus. The com pany is spending $210 mil lion to expand its 200-acre campus where it conducts research and development. It is looking to leverage the gains made through its involvement in efforts to combat COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The company is recruiting scientific talent at this time.

Electronics giant Delta picks D/FW for 1,500-employee plant Taiwan-based Delta Electronics is expanding its manufacturing capacity at its campus in Plano, Texas. The company focuses on developing smart energy-saving products and solutions for artificial intelligence and cloud data centers, telecom networks, electric vehicle charging and more. The project will create 1,500 new jobs.

VIRGINIA

Serioplast to open manufacturing site in Shenandoah County

veloper of prosthetic devices that use humanoid robotics technologies, has announced its new U.S. headquarters in Loudoun County, Va.

Oasthouse Ventures to open sustainable indoor farming operations in Carroll County

Oasthouse Ventures Ltd., a leading sustainable business development firm in the United Kingdom specializing in low-carbon greenhouses, will invest $104.8 million to construct its first U.S.-based controlled environment agriculture operation in Carroll County. Over the next three years, the company will produce and package over 45 million pounds of tomatoes for distribution to major retailers throughout the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest United States.

With a focus on sustainability, the company plans to source more than 31,000 tons annually of Virginia-grown hardwood residuals from local sawmills to heat its greenhouses. The project will create 118 new jobs.

Nearly 6,000 acres on the fringe of Dallas-Fort Worth are slated for data center development As 5,900 acres have gone up for sale in Southern Dallas-Fort Worth, sales pitches to data center operators have begun on several sites near Midlothian, Texas.

Serioplast, a global manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging, will invest $25,725,000 to occupy a 140,000-squarefoot industrial facility in Shenandoah County. The company is headquartered in Seriate, Italy, and provides packaging for companies like Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser and more. The project will create 45 new jobs.

Japanese prosthetic leg maker sets up U.S. HQ in NOVA

BionicM, a Japanese de-

“Oasthouse Ventures’ decision to locate its U.S. operations in Virginia is a testament to the advantages that make the Commonwealth the best location in the country for Controlled Environment Agriculture,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This project is a technological leap forward and helps solidify Virginia as a leader in the agriculture and technology industries. I am pleased to welcome Oasthouse Ventures to Virginia and look forward to their growth.”

J

SouthernAutoCorridor

Big, new and unexpected automotive projects still rolling in the Southern Automotive Corridor

Following the Scout Motors announcement last year of its plant to reintroduce what amounted to the first SUV built in history near Columbia, Isuzu has selected Greenville County, S.C., to establish its new U.S. production base. A supplier of commercial vehicles, Isuzu’s $280 million investment will create more than 700 new jobs. A subsidiary of Isuzu Motors Limited, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of mediumand heavy-duty trucks, Isuzu supplies commercial vehicles for the United States and Canadian markets.

Isuzu trucks entered the North American truck market in 1984, and the company sold 44,000 units in the last fiscal year, its highest total ever. Isuzu has purchased a 1 million-squarefoot facility, on over 200 acres of land on Augusta Road in Greenville County, which it is converting into a state-of-theart assembly plant to expand Isuzu’s vehicle supply capabilities in North America.

The new plant will include a variable-model, variable-volume production line that produces both internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles. When completed, the plant will produce the company’s N-Series Gas, N-Series Electric and F-Series Diesel trucks, and will have a production capacity of 50,000 units annually.

REGIONAL

Failures from the surge in next-generation clean mobility investments are mounting up

The failed Freyr Battery project in Coweta County, Ga., might turn out well for both parties. Norwegian battery company Freyr announced plans to build a $2.6 billion battery factory in Coweta County, Ga., in November 2022. However, in February 2025, Freyr announced that it was canceling the project and is putting up for sale a large swath (368 acres) of woodlands it owns.

The property sale in Coweta County could garner $50 million. The company will use part of that to pay back about $27 million it has already received in incentives for the project. The property is at Interstate 85 and Bethlehem Church Road, south of the Newnan-Coweta County Airport. Freyr was set to receive a total of $358 million in grants and incentives for its clean energy tech project.

ALABAMA

Hyundai opens new care center for 4,000 team members in Montgomery Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) celebrated the grand opening of its new Care Center in the winter quarter. The $14 mil-

lion facility is designed to enhance the health, wealth and well-being of its 4,000 team members.

Located at a new central site on the southwest corner of the general assembly building on the HMMA campus, the automaker said the Care Center represents its commitment to its Alabama workforce.

Said Chris Susock, HMMA’s President and CEO, “This new facility is more than just a place for enhanced medical services. It’s a resource for wellness, fitness, physical therapy, fire prevention and emergency response. It’s why we are calling it our Care Center.”

GEORGIA

Hydrogen fuel and equipment supplier to invest $33 million for new facility in Savannah

HydroFleet announced it will build a production and fueling station for heavy-duty trucks in Pooler, Ga., near the Port of Savannah and Hyundai’s massive new plant there. HydroFleet’s facility will be able to refuel about seven to 14 trucks a day. The company plans to eventually expand this to 50 trucks a day. HydroFleet provides fleet solutions including forklifts and heavy-duty trucks, such as Hyundai Class 7 and 8 trucks, and hydrogen-powered charging.

Rivian’s federal loan for $6 billion hangs in the balance

A nearly $6 billion federal loan, granted under the Biden administration, should help Rivian restart construction on a $5 billion, 7,500-job project east of Atlanta in Covington. Rivian’s announcement, while precarious at best since its stock has tanked, represented the largest development project by value in Georgia history.

KENTUCKY

Toyota to build $922 million advanced paint facility at its plant in Georgetown Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) announced in the winter quarter it will build a new advanced paint facility at its massive assembly plant in Georgetown, Ky. Gov. Andy Beshear said, “Kentucky and Toyota have formed a winning partnership over the last 40 years that has been transformational for families throughout the commonwealth.”

The new $922 million facility will add 1 million square feet of capacity while decreasing carbon emissions by 30 percent. The project, scheduled to open in 2027, follows a $1.3 billion investment announced in 2024 at the Georgetown site to bring assembly of an all-new, threerow electric SUV to the U.S. market in 2026. Both plants directly support Toyota’s goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing announces largest project in Shelby County history

In the winter quarter, Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing announced the largest project in Shelby County (Louisville MSA) history in the form of a state-or-the-art, 6-gigawatt-hour battery cell and module plant in an existing 1 million-square-foot building in Shelbyville. The $712 million plant will house almost 1,600 new workers.

Murakami Manufacturing expanding in Kentucky

Murakami Manufacturing USA, a supplier of side-view exterior mirrors and automotive components, has announced plans to expand the company’s operation in Taylor County with a $3.4 million investment.

NORTH CAROLINA

Toyota is close to opening its $14 billion North Carolina battery plant

Toyota’s third-quarter financial report, provided by Chief Financial Officer Yoichi Miyazaki, showed that the Japanese automaker expects to open its battery plant in Randolph County, N.C., by the summer quarter. The 5,000-employee plant is Toyota’s 11th manufacturing site in the United States and the first to make batteries for hybrid, plug-in hybrids, and battery all-electric vehicles in the United States, Miyazaki noted.

Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp is unsure if Rivian will still receive its $6.6 billion federal loan under the Trump administration.

TENNESSEE

Tracking Ford’s EV sales prior to its opening of BlueOval near Memphis

The West Tennessee Ford plant being built near a site between Memphis and Jackson, Tenn., is still two years away from opening. So, since electric pickups will be assembled there along with battery manufacturing, where are Ford’s EV sales prior to BlueOval City’s opening?

Ford electric vehicle (EV) sales got off to a strong start in 2025, continuing to improve year over year after a record 2024. The Michigan-based behemoth sold

more than 5,600 EVs in January 2025, a 24 percent increase from the same month a year prior. The company also sold more than 13,000 hybrid vehicles, a 19 percent jump YOY. Ford classes EVs and hybrids as “electrified” vehicles.

The numbers show that within two years, the Ford plant will have plenty of demand from consumers. Blue Oval SK’s Kentucky One plant should come online this year, and its Tennessee facility is scheduled to come online near the end of this year. Those facilities are expected to significantly increase Ford’s EV production capacity. J

TOP PHOTO: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky will build a new advanced paint facility at its massive assembly plant in Georgetown, Ky.

BOTTOM PHOTO: Numbers show that within two years, the Ford plant will have plenty of demand from consumers.

10People Who Made a Difference

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear

A native Kentuckian, Andy Beshear grew up in Fayette, Franklin and Clark counties. He is the son of Steve and Jane Beshear, the 61st Governor and First Lady. On the economic front, Gov. Beshear has captured more than $35 billion in private sector investments, landed more than 900 projects and created in his first term nearly 50,000 full-time jobs. The state has seen double-digit wage growth and record low unemployment under Gov. Beshear’s two terms.

Continuing its long history with Ford Motor Co., Beshear helped guide the automaker to the former Glendale Megasite in Hardin County where Ford’s BlueOval SK Battery Park is being built, a $6 billion investment that will create 5,000 jobs.

While Gov. Beshear’s accomplishments rival his father Steve’s two terms as governor, it is the same bipartisan approach that Andy brings to his politics that impresses us.

During his acceptance speech after winning his second term, Andy Beshear said the election was about choices. “It was a victory that sends a loud, clear message, a message that candidates should run for something and not against someone. I think what you saw last night was a rejection of anger politics, of attempting to divide us and of gross partisanship,” said Beshear. “People are tired of the constant bickering, of seeing the world in red or blue or Team D or Team R. I think everybody who runs for office ought to come with the very best ideas about how to move us forward.”

Bill Cork, Mississippi Development Authority

Bill has only been the executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority since December of 2023. It is no coincidence to us that Mississippi landed two of its biggest projects in history shortly after; AWS, a subsidiary of e-commerce giant Amazon, and the joint venture to make electric batteries by Daimler, PACCAR and Cummins. Both projects combined represent a total investment in the two projects of over $12 billion.

GET MIGHTY. Mississippi’s $12 Billion Momentum

Business moves faster in Mississippi. This year, we announced two high-tech, high-velocity projects worth $12 billion. Amazon Web Services is investing $10 billion to open two data centers that will employ 1,000 Mississippians. Amplify Cell Technologies is breaking ground on a $2 billion electric vehicle battery facility that will create 2,000 high-paying, highly-skilled jobs. Another $1.5 billion in new projects are taking advantage of our streamlined MFLEX incentive program.

Thanks to the pro-active and pro-business vision of Governor Tate Reeves and Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director and Chief Economic Development Officer Bill Cork, Mississippi has cleared a path for forward-thinking companies to move even faster. From site selection to permitting to workforce development, our leaders and municipalities come to the table together and get it done quicker so you get to market in record time.

Mississippi is empowering businesses, our economy and our people. Get on board. Get mighty. Mississippi.org

BILL CORK

GOV. TATE REEVES

10People Who Made a Difference

Ellen McNair and Ed Castile, Alabama Department of Commerce

We put these two together because the transition from former Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield to new secretary Ellen McNair has been seamless. And Ed has been a constant at AIDT and the Alabama Department of Commerce for decades. Alabama is in fine shape at the top with these two.

Greenville, South Carolina Mayor Knox White

Have you been to Greenville lately? Specifically, downtown Greenville? In less than two decades and under the leadership of Mayor Knox White, the central business district in Greenville is one of the finest we have seen. (We recently held the Southern Auto Corridor Summit at the Grand Bohemian Lodge that sits on top of the Reedy River and its rapids that run through the heart of downtown Greenville.)

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp

Southern Business & Development has named Georgia “State of the Year” in our annual SB&D 100 for three straight years now. The record for consecutive years of “State of the Year” is held by both Alabama and Louisiana with four each since 1993. We will see in the next issue whether Georgia can make it a four-peat.

Pat Wilson, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Economic Development

Working directly with Gov. Kemp, Pat Wilson has recruited some of Georgia’s biggest deals in state history. The first that comes to mind is Hyundai and its $7.5 billion investment in the Savannah region, specifically Bryan County. Job creation just from that one deal, counting suppliers, will be in the tens of thousands.

IN MEMORIAM

Wayne Sterling

On September 16, 2024, one of the godfathers of economic development in the South, the great Wayne Sterling, passed away. Wayne headed up the Virginia Economic Development Partnership in the 1990s, and was Secretary of the South Carolina Department of Commerce twice.

Some of Wayne’s captures in Virginia include three semiconductor plants, Volvo, Hewlett Packard, Motorola, IBM and others. In South Carolina, Wayne’s fingerprints were all over deals done by BMW, Fujifilm, Michelin, Bayer and Caterpillar, to name a few.

In Wayne’s obituary, SB&D was included, labeling Wayne as a “Southern treasure” for his “tenacity and commitment to job creation.” Wayne’s strategy at follow-ups with prospects was known throughout the region as “legendary.”

Bob Goforth

Bob Goforth got his start in economic development as a specialist with the Bureau of the Indian Affairs, living on the Cherokee Reservation. The state of North Carolina noticed his skills and recruited him to the North Carolina Division of Commerce and Development. After a successful career there, Bob transferred to the private sector with CRS Sirrene and became an international presence in the economic development world. At the age of 65, he found himself with the opportunity to open his own consulting firm with Robert Leak, Sr, his longtime friend and associate. This partnership continued for 20 years until the “national treasure of economic development” retired. Bob passed away on August 29, 2024.

Mississippi’s Pro-Business Approach Spurs Unprecedented Economic Growth

Under the leadership of Governor Tate Reeves and Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director and Chief Economic Development Officer Bill Cork, Mississippi is shaping the future of industry — one impressive economic development win at a time. Globally renowned companies are increasingly relying on the Magnolia State to keep them ahead of the competition, and it’s the pro-business mindset of Gov. Reeves and the Mississippi Legislature that inspires their substantial investments throughout the state. Mississippi prioritizes eliminating the barriers and bureaucratic red tape that hinder economic growth so companies can streamline their operations and go from investing money to making money in record time. In turn, companies like Amazon Web Services and Amplify Cell Technologies are locating in the state. In fact, these two companies alone are investing a combined $12 billion in their Mississippi operations, a sterling example of how Mississippi’s pro-business policies attract some of the most innovative, high-tech companies in the world.

Programs like the Mississippi Flexible Incentive Program have been instrumental in offering adaptable solutions to meet the unique needs of businesses across industries. In 2024 alone, companies representing a total of more than $1.5 billion in new investments have leveraged MFLEX to grow in Mississippi. By focusing on initiatives like MFLEX that reduce friction and promote economic growth, Mississippi is driving job creation and building a vibrant economy that appeals to new and established companies. Find your place in Mighty Mississippi.

Learn more at mississippi.org or contact: Bill Cork (601) 359-5769 bcork@mississippi.org

PICTURED ABOVE: State officials and Amazon Web Services executives celebrate the groundbreaking of AWS’s new data center complexes in Madison County, Miss.

10People Who Made a Difference

Trip Tollison, CEO, Savannah Economic Development Authority

Tollison completes the trio with Gov. Kemp and Commissioner Wilson as the local contact that helped recruit Hyundai’s EV metaplant that was announced in spring of 2022. The $7.5 billion plant, which is aided by suppliers that also have spent billions, is about to begin EV production less than three years from its announcement.

John Bradley, Senior VP of Economic Development, TVA

There has been one constant in the recruiting of companies to the Tennessee Valley and that would be the work of John Bradley and his cohort, Heidi Smith. If you recall, it was then TVA Chair, Glenn McCullough, Jr., John Bradley, Heidi Smith and the former site consulting firm McCallum Sweeney that came up with the certification of megasites in TVA’s territory.

Since then, almost all of TVA’s megasites are now home to major corporations like Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Mazda Toyota in North Alabama, Ford’s BlueOval City north of Memphis and more in Mississippi, including Steel Dynamics in Columbus and Toyota near Tupelo.

Brent Christensen, CEO, Greensboro, N.C. Chamber of Commerce

Few economic developers have experienced more success than Christensen, who took over the top role as CEO of the Greensboro (N.C.) Partnership in 2015 after a stint as Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority. Brent is credited with landing Boom Supersonic to Greensboro and Toyota in neighboring Randolph County.

Sometimes economic development is foretelling. SB&D’s Michael Randle walked a site in the town of Liberty with the late North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Jim Fain III and the retired site guru for Toyota, Dennis Cuneo, more than 20 years ago. That site search was for the Toyota plant that went to San Antonio. And 20 years later, Toyota is now completing its battery plant on that very same site.

Harry Lightsey, III Secretary, South Carolina Department of Commerce

Under Lightsey’s leadership that started in the summer of 2021, South Carolina has landed some of its best projects, including Volvo with its first-ever assembly plant in the Western hemisphere. He also assisted in multi-billion-dollar deals like that of AESC in Florence and Redwood Materials in Berkeley County.

10 Markets That Have Been Economically Transformed Almost Overnight

Savannah/Bryan County, Ga.

The loss of the Volvo deal in 2014 hurt. That project went to the larger market that is Charleston-North Charleston. But landing Hyundai’s massive multi-billion-dollar EV and battery production in the Savannah region, including Bryan and Chatham County, Ga., will create so many more jobs than Volvo.

Lake Charles, La.

Quietly, yet, in dominating fashion, Southwest Louisiana has earned “Small Market of the Year” 12 times in the last 15 years. That is based on a points system we have used for more than 30 years giving five or 10 points to deals of $30 million or more and/or 200 jobs or more. What George Swift and his team have done is truly remarkable as George hangs up his hat this year. Southwest Louisiana has not been the same since George began. Lots of prosperity created there.

Williamson County, Texas

There is an industrial surge happening right now north of Austin in Williamson County, Texas. There, in the city of Taylor, Samsung is investing $17 billion. The plant will produce advanced logic chips for mobile, 5G, high-performance computing (HPC), and artificial intelligence (AI). The plant is part of Samsung’s increased investment in Central Texas, which is expected to total $40 billion.

Mississippi County, Ark.

This county in the Eastern Arkansas Delta is where more steel is made than any county in America. Going from “Cotton-to-Steel” has not been easy for this area of the Mississippi Delta.

But like any automotive cluster formed since Toyota picked Kentucky in the 1980s, followed by BMW and Mercedes-Benz in South Carolina and Alabama respectively in the early 1990s, the steel cluster created in Mississippi County, Ark., is unsurpassed by any in the country. And they have a great team there: CEO Clif Chitwood and Mallory Darby are similar to the team George Swift has built in Southwest Louisiana. Both are rural areas for the most part, where literally tens of billions have been invested in the last 20 years.

Haywood-Tipton-Lauderdale Counties, Tenn.

Talk about economically transformed overnight, this area of the West Tennessee Mississippi River Delta and the TVA megasite (that was available for 20 years) have been filled by a massive player. Who took that site before all of the services to the site were in place? It was one of Ford’s most important investments in the history of the company — to build EV components and electric pickups. The plant has been delayed, but is essentially complete.

10 Markets That Have Been Economically Transformed Almost Overnight

Chatham County, N.C.

Chatham’s Wolfspeed semiconductor deal, its Research Triangle location, the possibility of a new EV assembly plant by Vietnamese startup VinFast, along with some really big real estate developments, have all transformed this county almost overnight. However, Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast recently announced it is halting the production of its Chatham County facility until 2028.

Dalton-Whitfield County, Ga.

This area of Northwest Georgia is known as the “Flooring Capital of the World.” During the Great Recession of 2007-2009, this community was in trouble as the housing crisis shut down many in the flooring cluster, but has now greatly recovered.

Randolph County, N.C.

The $14 billion Toyota EV battery project is something Randolph County has never come close to landing. Then again, that is not entirely true. Toyota’s Dennis Cuneo and the late North Carolina Commerce Secretary Jim Fain III walked that Liberty, N.C., site over 20 years ago when Toyota wanted it the first time. How interesting is it that Toyota came back to the site with one of its largest single investment deals 20 years later?

Hardin County, Ky.

Similar to the West Tennessee megasite where Ford has invested billions, the Glendale, Ky., megasite was empty for 20 years or more. Ford took that site, too, and has built a monster complex to build electric batteries. Former Kentucky Cabinet of Economic Development Secretary Larry Hayes once called when SB&D omitted the site from a Ten Top 10s ranking around 2011. He said the Glendale site was the best megasite in the entire country. So, we visited the site with Rick Games of the The Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation (EHCIF), about 10 years ago (see adjoining photo). With Ford, that site is now packed with new square footage when it was just a field 10 years ago when the photo that was taken.

Limestone County, Ala.

First the outflow from the growth of Huntsville spread west to Madison County. Now, Huntsville’s growth has spread to Limestone County in a big way with Mazda Toyota. We have not met the leader of economic development in Limestone County yet. Bethany T. Shockney has been with LCEDA since March 2019, bringing 32 years of experience in various roles in workforce and economic development in both Alabama and Tennessee. She is probably one of the busiest practitioners in the South.

AT T H E C E N T E R O F I T A L L

Chatham County, located in the center of North Carolina within the Research Triangle and Piedmont Triad regions; offers robust business opportunities, including 1,350 acres at the Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing site (CAM), where Wolfspeed is located, and 360 shovel-ready acres at Triangle Innovation Point (TIP) West, adjacent to VinFast. Apex Gateway Park is currently under development with +/- 1,042,100 square feet of Industrial space, including

2 new shell buildings available by early 2025 Pittsboro’s Chatham Park will provide over 20 million square feet of commercial space and 22,000 residential units, including Disney's Asteria community, while Mosaic at Chatham Park will be a premier entertainment and lifestyle destination.

Business Friendly Environment: Skilled workforce and strong momentum.

Strategic Location: in Central North Carolina

Sustainability Focus: Eco-friendly developments like Chatham Park and Wolfspeed drive smart, sustainable growth

Growing Workforce: 40,000+ annual graduates, and 8,000 exiting military from Fort Liberty

Quality of Life: Where people dream of living.

Powerful Startup Markets That 10

Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.

This area of North Carolina is one of the South’s most educated regions. Within a small radius, Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina are surrounded by some of the finest universities in the South, including Duke University. Additionally, Chapel Hill has one of the finest public school systems in the American South. In Chapel Hill, building permits have increased exponentially in commercial building over the last 15 years. Durham, home of Duke University, is also called the “City of Medicine.”

Louisville, Ky.

With a high quality of life and low cost of doing business, Louisville offers a vibrant startup scene with resources like LEAP and several innovation centers. Like Memphis with its FedEx hub, Louisville is home to UPS’ Worldport. Also home to Humana and the University of Louisville, Kentucky’s largest market is a dream for startups.

Lexington, Ky.

Lexington is a fantastic startup market and home to the University of Kentucky. We have known Bob Quick as long as he has been the CEO of Commerce Lexington, which started in 2001. As for his No. 1 cohort in recruitment, we have known Gina Greathouse, EVP of economic development for what was the Lexington Chamber and now Commerce Lexington, for almost her 30-year career in Lexington. Both make a great team.

Plano, Texas

When you successfully capture Japanese automaker Toyota’s North American headquarters, which Plano did in April of 2014, you better be an outstanding startup market.

Oklahoma City, Okla.

We have already named Oklahoma City as a great place for California companies to relocate their headquarters in the South. Yet, OKC is a fine location for startups and is a vibrant tech hub. In 2023, 120 startups were launched in OKC representing $4.2 billion to the local GDP.

You Might Not Know About

Huntsville, Ala.

This recognition for Huntsville as one of the South’s best startup markets is a given to me. After all, for all practical purposes, rockets in the early 1950s and all kinds of “Secret Squirrel Stuff” was practically invented in Huntsville.

Midland, Texas

Midland has emerged as a thriving tech hub with a 17.7 percent rise in tech job growth. Midland, Texas might sound like a random spot for a tech hub, but this city is in the middle of the Permian Basin and is seriously blowing up with innovation and startup activities. In 2021, Midland ranked in the top 10 metro areas nationwide for tech job growth, led by deals from Microsoft, Amazon and Google.

Chattanooga, Tenn.

Considered one of the South’s most progressive and active startup markets, Chattanooga began long ago recruiting creatives through housing incentives, and it worked. Paducah, Ky., and Chattanooga were forerunners in knowing that economic development and community development are essentially merging with equal importance. That is certainly the case today.

In the age of a dearth of workers, Chattanooga has successfully created a great startup market by being one of the first to understand that these days; you cannot have economic development with a population that is not growing. Here is an ex ample: One day in 2022, over 10,000 U.S. citizens turned 65 while only 1,000 turned working age (16).

Bentonville, Ark.

Like some small markets in the South, Bentonville is home to one of the largest employers in the world, and that would be the world’s largest retailer, Walmart. Bentonville is part of the thriving Northwest Arkansas scene, which includes Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas.

New Orleans, La.

Known for its port on the Mississippi River, this old town caught our attention shortly after Hurricane Katrina. Back then SB&D made a commitment to participate in not only helping New Orleans, but also Lake Charles, which, three weeks later was hit by Hurricane Rita. New Orleans Inc., headed up by Michael Hecht, launched in 2004. Hecht and GNO Inc. have turned New Orleans around through landing some really large innovation projects.

Lafayette, La.

This startup market is in the center of Cajun Country. Gregg Gothreaux was CEO at the Lafayette Economic Development Authority for 26 years and built a nice beachhead of tech companies there. Today, Mandi Mitchell is CEO of LEDA and has picked up where Gregg stopped with his recent retirement. J

By Michael Randle

Introducing Volume I

A note to readers from the SB&D staff: The following individuals are being named in the first volume of the Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame. A second and third volume will be published in July and again in November.

Methodology: In 40-plus years, SB&D owner Michael Randle has visited over 1,300 different communities and counties in the South (or all 12 of the Southern states and D.C. that it covers), from El Paso to Richmond.

Randle formed many relationships, and those visits on his own dime are the basis of our first “Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame.” Randle has a story about almost every person on the list and he does not need notes.

Michael always said, “I can tell if the local economic developer is on a long rope, short rope or no rope at all in less than five minutes. I always found those on little or no rope held by their board were the ones I could learn from. And I did.”

So, this attempt to recognize over the next three or four issues those who have taken the South to incredible heights over the last 70 years (1955 to 2025), was something that we thought was badly needed.

From a backwater, dirt-poor South in the 1950s to the third largest economy in the world in 70 years. . .these are the people who did it! They built a massive beachhead for industry in the American South that has no peer over the last 70 years.

You can still nominate your favorites for the next two or three Hall of Fame issues. Just send your nominees to Michael at michael@sb-d.com and Stacy at stacy@sb-d.com.

Please note, all comments are from Michael Randle, and trust us, all of it comes from the top of his head. He needs zero notes.

Pictured opposite from left to right:

Row 1 Elmer Harris; Bob Goforth (kneeling) and Nancy Windham (standing behind him) in the early 1990s; Michael Randle and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear; Nancy Windham and Michael Olivier at SEDR@WaterColor

Row 2 George Swift; McKinley “Mac” Conway, the founder of Site Selection; Mark Herbison (center); Glenn McCullough and Bobby Morgan of Atmos Energy

Row 3 Mark Heath and Gray Swoope; Greenville, S.C. Mayor Knox White; Larry Hayes; Peggy Smith

Row 4 Jim Degennaro of Central Florida Development Council; Gray Swoope, David Rumbarger and Randy George; North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt; Neal Wade

Row 5 All three Tenn-Tom administrators: Mitch Mays, Agnes Zaiontz and Don Walden; Randy George and Greg Canfield; David Rumbarger and Glenn McCullough; Lynn Pitts

George Allen

Governor and Senator of Virginia

I met Virginia Gov. George Allen at his going-away party at the Bull and Bear Club in Richmond in the fall of 1997. He was nearing the end of his first and only term (Virginia governors can only serve one). Wayne Sterling sent me the invite and he was with Gov. Allen and lots of other powerful folks from Blue Blood Richmond and beyond at a fine celebration.

I got in the kiss-the-ring line to meet Gov. Allen, and when I was nearing the front of the line, I thought, “I just have to find something that he will remember about me.” So, I greet him and while shaking hands, I told Gov. Allen, “Governor, I am Michael Randle, owner of Southern Business & Development, and we are naming you as one of the top five governors in the South for economic development in our fifth anniversary issue.” (I just made that up on the spot.)

Gov. Allen: “Who are the other four?” Me: “Uh, let’s see, let’s see, Gov. Jim Folsom of Alabama, Ned Ray McWherter of Tennessee, Jim Hunt of North Carolina, uh, uh. . .and George Bush of Texas.” Allen: “George Bush of Texas? You stay after the reception. We need to talk.” We ended up running the “five best economic development governors over the last five years.”

He didn’t have nice things to say about George W. Bush, who had invited me to Austin several years before. I had no idea Gov. Bush and Gov. Allen were running against each other for the Republican primary.

Sherry Vance Allen

Butler Snow; Louisiana Economic Development; Oklahoma Department of Commerce; Mississippi Department of Economic & Community Development

Jim Anderson

Northeast Tennessee Valley RIDA

Peter Arnoti

Greenwood County, S.C. EDA; Colleton County, S.C. Economic Alliance

Connie Bainbridge

Central Alabama Electric Cooperative; Prattville, Ala., Chamber of Commerce

Andy Beshear

Governor of Kentucky

Steve Beshear

Governor of Kentucky

I was lucky enough to get a seat on the Kentucky Governor’s Derby Train in 2013, and Orb won in the mud that day. The Derby Train is just fantastic, the finest red carpet the South offers in my opinion.

So, we spent an entire day riding the train from Frankfort to Louisville to attend the Derby. After all the races and festivities were over, the group walked back to the train.

As we walked through the first car, I found Gov. Steve Beshear, who was running his own Karaoke dance contest. Gov. Beshear was giving it his best, but it was pretty lame.

Next, we entered the entertainment car featuring a flute player, and that’s it! There is a full band, but only the flutist was playing some kind of ambient music which was even more lame than Gov. Beshear and Karaoke.

I looked at the situation, stuffed some cash in the tip jar and yelled, “Play Brick House!” Immediately, the familiar song was playing and just about everyone (including Gov. Beshear) danced all the way back to Frankfort.

Kathleen Babineaux Blanco

Governor of Louisiana

John Bradley

Tennessee Valley Authority; Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce

We have known John Bradley and Heidi Smith for decades. I cannot think of two people in the same company that have done more for the South than Heidi, and John. . .and TVA in general. Going back to 1955, this is one federal program that worked almost to perfection, which is tough to achieve.

Phil Bredesen

Governor of Tennessee

Pictured above: Gov. George Allen; President George Bush and Gov. Kathleen Blanco; Alan Bridwell; Clif Chitwood

Alan Bridwell

Northeast Tennessee Valley RIDA

I was first introduced to Northeast Tennessee, a dynamic manufacturing region that bridges the South and the Northeast U.S., by “Big Jim” Anderson, who also made this list.

Jim was really something else to me. You know, the type who demands you listen, and that was all I wanted to do when I spoke with him. He was a wealth of information when I was trying to learn about the world I had just entered.

Alicia Summers and Alan Bridwell took over from Big Jim, and the longest economic development agency name in the South — the Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association — continues on after Jim. I would name all those towns up there — Johnson City, Erwin, Kingsport, Bristol and others — “Certified Factory Towns.”

Cliff Brumfield

Lincoln Economic Development Association, N.C.; Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber, Miss.; Greenwood Leflore Carroll EDF, Miss.

George W. Bush

Governor of Texas; President of the United States

The Bush administration in the mid1990s invited me to Texas to meet Gov. Bush. They flew me out there and I was shuffled and shuttled fast to Gov. Bush’s conference room. There was Jack Campbell of Alabama, who had just assumed the head economic development job for the state of Texas.

So, Gov. Bush appears through a side door, shakes my hand and says he wanted me to meet his new economic development team. Jack had never been in economic development before, but he was the new boss for the state.

Jack leaned over to me and whispered, “So, Mike, we hear you know a lot about economic development.” Me: “Just starting out, sir.” Jack: “We are really glad you are here to help us. What is this economic development thing, anyway?” I swear that happened!

SHERRY VANCE ALLEN CONGRATULATES

ON BEING NAMED TO SOUTHERN BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT’S 1ST ANNUAL SOUTHERN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HALL OF FAME

Jim Byard, Jr

Byard Associates LLC; Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs; Mayor of Prattville, Ala.

Carroll A. Campbell Governor of South Carolina

Greg Canfield

Alabama Department of Commerce; Burr Forman

Ted von Cannon

Birmingham Metropolitan Development Board

Randy Cardoza

Georgia Department of Economic Development

Dale Carroll

North Carolina Department of Commerce; Sanford Holshouser Economic Development Consulting; Progress Energy/CP&L; AdvantageWest (N.C.)

Bob Cassell

Southern Economic Development Council

Ed Castile

Alabama Department of Commerce; Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT)

Clif Chitwood

Cotton-to-Steel, Mississippi County, Ark.

Brent Christensen

Greensboro, N.C. Chamber of Commerce; Mississippi Development Authority; Gainesville (Fla.) Area Chamber of Commerce

Bill Clinton

Governor of Arkansas; President of the United States

Martha Layne Collins

Governor of Kentucky

Jack Connor

Georgetown-Scott County, Ky.

McKinley “Mac” Conway

Conway Data; Site Selection

When I sold the Birmingham Business Journal, I was dead-set on a “Southern Forbes” type of magazine, you know, general reach like a business journal, which I had just sold.

So, I traveled the South for nine months before I started Southern Business & Development to simply figure out my niche. I looked at my competition and met this man named Mac Conway.

It was clear to me the competition was tough, and Site Selection was far and away superior, therefore I had to be that, too.

We are still competitors, but I think we are the only real economic development media properties based in the South. I mean, do you really want to do business with an economic development magazine based up North?

Mac Conway, to me, was one of the most important people driving the South’s growth, even though his company is global in reach.

Al Cook

City of Opelika Economic Development; Alabama Development Office

Roger Cook

H+M Companies

Glenn Cornell

NationsBank; Bank of America

Jim Degennaro

Central Florida Development Council

David Dodd

DADCO Consulting, Inc.

Jim Fain, III

North Carolina Department of Commerce

I loved Jim Fain, a long-time banker who ran the North Carolina Department of Commerce at a critical time in the early and mid-2000s.

About 20 years ago, Toyota was searching for a site for its new pickup truck plant that eventually went to San Antonio. In the process, they looked at the site in Liberty (Randolph County, N.C.) where they are currently finishing up their multi-billion-dollar battery plant.

When I got word that Toyota was considering North Carolina for an assembly plant, I went to walk the site myself in about 2003.

I found the site, but also found a house that overlooked the center of the land. I knocked on the door and a woman (who has never wanted to be named) answered. I asked, “Have you seen anyone in the land your deck overlooks?” She said, “No.” So, I said, “You are about to!”

I told the lady, “Here is a camera I bought you at Best Buy. Keep it. If you see anyone, take multiple photographs and send them to me.”

And behold! That lady sent me multiple photos of Toyota’s Dennis Cuneo and Commerce Secretary Fain walking the property. I was so excited! Serious guerrilla journalism. So stoked!

I emailed the photos to Cuneo and Fain. Me: “Hey, Cuneo, Fain, is that you walking the Liberty, N.C., site?” Needless to say, they were baffled. Fain said, “How did you find us?” Cuneo (good friend by then) said, “Mike!? Dammit!? The only place we were seen was this little BBQ

Pictured above: Jim Fain; Fred Harris; Mark Heath; Mark Herbison and John Bradley

joint and no one was in there but us.” Gotcha!

Ernie Faucett

Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas

Charleigh Ford

Golden Triangle Development LINK

Gary Fuller

Mayor of Opelika, Ala.

Jay Garner

Garner Economics; Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

Fred Gassaway

SC Power Team

Charlie Gatlin

Georgia Department of Economic Development; Electric Cities of Georgia

Randy George

Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce

Clark S. Gillespy

Duke Energy; Google

Margaret Peake Grissom Gittner

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce; Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development; Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership; Peake Consulting

Dr. Angeline Godwin

Patrick Henry Community College, Martinsville, Va.; Liberty University; Area Development Partnership, Hattiesburg, Miss.; Innovate Mississippi

Bob Goforth

Leak and Goforth, Jacksonville, Fla.

John L. Gornall Jr

Arnall Golden Gregory

Christopher R. Grissom

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Maria Haley

Arkansas Economic Development Commission

Elmer Harris

Alabama Power

Fred Harris

Nashville Chamber of Commerce

Fred Harris was a kind, nice, true gentleman. And Nashville would not be Nashville today without Fred.

If you recall in the late 1990s, the new-fangled economic development trend was “growth management.” Really? Miami started a sewer moratorium because of “too much growth.” Of course, after the Dot.com bust, the words “growth management” went away.

That stuff wasn’t for Fred. Fred was far from “new-fangled.” Fred was the truth.

In the late 1990s, he called me and demanded to be interviewed for some big reason. I asked him, “What’s the hurry, Fred?” “Mike, I have never seen it before in this town. It is a major achievement. My shining hour as a sendoff into retirement.” Me: “What is it, Fred?” Fred: “We have people who are working who don’t even want to work.”

Bill Haslam

Governor of Tennessee

Larry Hays

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development

Mark Heath

Martinsville-Henry County EDC; Charlotte Regional Partnership; Danville Development Council; Roanoke Valley EDP; Lake Norman Regional EDC

Okay, so I get to write about Heath. First thought is, “Move off to the side and let the man go through.” Everywhere Heath has been has had a masterfully planned strategy of both community and economic development. From the formation of the Charlotte Partnership to Martinsville, this skeptic practitioner is about as good as they get.

Jimmy Heidel

Mississippi Development Authority

Oh, my. Jimmy and Joanna Heidel? They did a lot for Mississippi.

Mark Herbison

Tipton County, Tenn.; HTL Advantage; Greater Memphis Chamber; Nashville Chamber of Commerce; Rutherford County, Tenn. Chamber of Commerce

Bobby Hitt

South Carolina Department of Commerce; BMW Manufacturing; Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough

Roger Cook H+M Companies

For over 40 years, Roger Cook has been a driving force behind H&M Company’s Sales and Marketing department. Since joining H&M in 1982, Roger has played a key role in shaping the company’s growth and reputation, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues and clients alike. His personality and quick wit have fostered strong relationships with many industry leaders, making him not only a trusted professional but also a valued friend to many.

Before H&M, Roger played and coached football at Mississippi State University, coached at Vanderbilt, coached at the University of Tennessee under Johnny Majors, and later served as a Project Manager for the Mississippi Development Authority. He was also a founding member of the Southern Economic Development Roundtable, created in partnership with Southern Business & Development Magazine, highlighting his commitment to economic growth.

Under Roger’s leadership, H&M has grown from a regional contractor into a national force, expanded its industrial market reach and strengthened both its design-build approach and build-to-suit lease market for industrial projects. His understanding of economic trends and market strategy has been instrumental in the company’s success.

Beyond his professional achievements, Roger has built a talented sales and marketing team, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration. His impact on H&M will leave a lasting legacy.

H&M is proud to celebrate Roger’s well-deserved induction into the Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame. Please join us in congratulating him on this remarkable honor. Here’s to celebrating an outstanding career and the next exciting chapter ahead.

Cheers to you, Roger!

Mac Holladay

Market Street Services; North Carolina Department of Commerce; South Carolina Department of Commerce

Joe Hollingsworth

The Hollingsworth Cos.

Hollingsworth is the author of the book, “The Southern Advantage,” which Trisha Ostrowski and I helped write. It was good timing. The book sold well.

Gov. James E. Holshouser

Governor of North Carolina

Fred Humes

Aiken-Edgefield; Western South Carolina; Humes & Associates

James B. Hunt

Governor of North Carolina

Brian Kemp

Governor of Georgia

I don’t know Gov. Brian Kemp, but what he has accomplished in his time as governor of Georgia. . .well, no governor in the South in the last four years has captured more in non-oil-related deal projects in both categories — manufacturing and service. Georgia’s economic development prowess under Kemp is the best I have seen in over 40 years. This dude arrived and Georgia blossomed. So much more efficient than the governors of Georgia in the past that I have known.

Paul Latture, Jr.

Rutherford County, Tenn. Chamber of Commerce

Paul Latture, Sr.

Port of Little Rock

Robert Leak, Jr.

Whitaker Park, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Winston-Salem Business, Inc.

Bob Leak, Jr. and Winston-Salem Business Inc. became Southern Business & Development’s first advertiser in 1991. I will never forget that.

Right after I sold my first ad (a halfpage), I asked Leak how to get to High Point, my next appointment. Leak: “Just go down this highway (I-74 was not finished then) and when you start seeing the trailers and folks out front with no

teeth, you are in High Point.” (Man, I miss that brutal competition back in the day.)

Robert Leak, Sr. Leak-Goforth Company

Michael Lehmkuhler

Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Harry M. Lightsey, III

South Carolina Department of Commerce

Christopher Lloyd McGuireWoods Consulting

Mike Lott

NationsBank; Bank of America

Raymond Edwin Mabus Governor of Mississippi

Jerry Mallot

JAXUSA

Harry A. Martin

Community Development Foundation, Tupelo, Miss.

Steve Mayberry

Florida Department of Commerce

Mitch Mays

Tenn-Tom Waterway Authority; Franklin County, Ala. Development Authority

Ed McCallum

McCallum Sweeney Consulting (MSC)

James McClain

Martinsville-Henry County EDC; Southwestern Virginia Gas

Glenn McCullough

Tennessee Valley Authority; Mississippi Development Authority; Mayor of Tupelo, Miss.

Bill McDermott

Central Florida Development Council

Ellen McNair

Alabama Department of Commerce; Montgomery Chamber

Ned Ray McWherter Governor of Tennessee

Now, this guy was old school. He was still talking “farm-to-market roads” in 1993. Farm-to-market roads, curbs on state highways in the middle of nowhere, Ned Ray was the first governor I met when we first started.

Pictured above: Bob Leak, Jr.; Ellen McNair and Michael Mullis; Jim Newsome; Michael Olivier

One day I answered the office phone and it was Gov. McWherter. “Mike, I hear you have a car (Have a car?) and will travel anywhere and everywhere to see different communities in Dixie (Dixie? But I liked it). I want you to see Tennessee, Mike.”

I told the governor, “Gov. McWherter, I can do that. And we have others who can, too.” McWherter: “Mike, I don’t think you heard me correctly. I want YOU to get to know Tennessee.”

The next day, I received a facsimile from the governor’s office of 96 places to go see in Tennessee. I visited the economic developer in every single place he put on that fax in six weeks. The only place I was stood up was Crockett County, but to be honest, I don’t think they had an economic developer and the city manager was probably 23.

That was our first real statewide marketing thingy in that Gov. McWherter prepaid for everyone I met to participate in the Tennessee section he wanted to publish, so all advertising was 75 percent off for them. Brilliant by Ned Ray. It was a 96-page section published that fall of 1993.

Melissa Medley Enterprise Florida; VisionFirst Advisors

Stephen Moret

Virginia Economic Development Partnership; Louisiana Economic Development

Jim Newsome

South Carolina Ports; JimNewsome3 LLC; Hapag-Lloyd (America)

Michael Olivier

Harrison County (Miss); Louisiana Economic Development; Louisiana Committee of 100

Olivier was instrumental throughout my career. I first met him when he was working the Harrison County Development Commission job. He was one I visited in those nine months of figuring out what my angle would be with this new publication. Olivier solved it for me.

“Here is what you do, Michael. Write and cover the South’s economic devel-

opment scene and send the publication to CEOs up North and to all the site consultants in the South,” Olivier said. So, I did.

John Malcolm Patterson

Governor of Alabama

Willie Paulk

Dublin-Laurens County, Ga. Chamber of Commerce

Billy Payne

Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games; Masters at Augusta

Ernie Pearson

Sanford Holshouser Economic Development Consulting, LLC; Maynard Nexsen

Raul Peralta

ECS Southeast; Southern Economic Development Council

Mike Philpot

West Tennessee Industrial Association

Jim Pickens

Arkansas Economic Development Commission

Robert Pittman

Janus Institute for Community & Economic Development

Lynn Pitts

Florida Power & Light; Georgia Power

Penny Pritzker

U.S. Secretary of Commerce

Bob Quick

Commerce Lexington, Ky.

Ann Richards

Governor of Texas

Steve Rieck

Nassau County Economic Development Board; Georgia Department of Economic Development of Industry, Trade & Tourism

Bob Riley

Governor of Alabama

Joe Riley

GEMC, Atlanta, Ga.

Thom Robinson

Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corporation; Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce; Chamber/Southwest Louisiana

Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller

Governor of Arkansas

Dr. Bob Rohrlack

Tampa Chamber of Commerce

Bob Rolfe

Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development

John Rucker

Oktibbeha County, Miss. Economic Development Authority

Way back, I go see Mr. John Rucker at Mississippi State University at this research park in Starkville. “Research park” was still kind of a new phrase then.

So, Rucker has this little Mac with a tiny screen and he said, “Soon, I will be able to send this promotional graphic of Oktibbeha County and our research park to millions of people in real time.”

I responded, “No way! You are going to fax that to millions of people?” Rucker: “No, Randle, it’s called the Internet.”

Me: “Oh, I know about that. But how are you able to fax it to millions at the same time? Our fax machine doesn’t work that way.”

David Rumbarger

Community Development Foundation (Tupelo, Miss.)

Chandler Russ

Natchez, Miss. Inc.; TVA; Mississippi Development Authority

Steve Rust

Sumter County (S.C.); Fayetteville, Ark. Chamber

Ed Schons

University of Central Florida; Interstate 4 High Tech Corridor

Steve Sewell

EDPA

Heidi Smith TVA

Lamar Smith

Alagasco; Spire

Peggy Smith

Cullman (Ala.) Economic Development

John Smolak

Sanford Holshouser Economic Development Consulting; AEP

Leland Speed

Mississippi Development Authority

Rocky Springer

Southern Industrial Constructors; Emcor

Walter Sprouse

Randolph County, N.C. EDC; Chattanooga Chamber; Augusta Chamber; Monroe, N.C.

Ron Starner

Site Selection Magazine

Wayne Sterling South Carolina Department of Commerce; Virginia Economic Development Partnership; MartinsvilleHenry County EDC; Greater Paducah Economic Development

Gene Stinson

Southern Economic Development Council; Cleveland-Bradley Chamber of Commerce; Springfield-Robinson County, Tenn. Chamber of Commerce

Marvin E. “Gene” Strong Jr. Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development

Wes Stucky Ardmore (Okla.) Development Authority

Holly Sears Sullivan

Amazon; Rutherford County, Tenn. Chamber; Nashville Chamber

Linda Swann

Alabama Development Office; Alabama Department of Commerce; EDPA

We loved the late Linda Swann. Everyone did.

Few knew that Linda was the backbone of Alabama’s job-generating surge postMercedes-Benz in a leadership role with organizations like the Alabama Development Office (Alabama Department of Commerce) and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.

Neal Wade (her boss) and former Alabama Gov. Bob Riley did some awesome things during Riley’s two terms — Alabama’s most competitive long-streak of big deals, winning five-straight-years of SB&D’s “State of the Year” during those eight years, and Linda Swann had a lot to do with that.

Linda would be the first one to tell you that she did a lot of things that had to be done. Case in point — gopher tortoises!

Linda told me around the ThyssenKrupp announcement in the 2000-oughts, “Michael, I have been tasked with finding 24 gopher tortoise burrows on the site and relocating them to the state park.

“I have personally checked each one of the burrows and found not a single gopher tortoise, much less ‘partners.’ I even climbed into a tortoise burrow to the very back. . .I crawled in the darn thing. Believe me! No one was home!”

Then Linda said, “I really think these gopher tortoises have high-rise condos in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. That is the only answer I have because I have already named and checked all 24 burrows.”

Mark Sweeney

McCallum Sweeney Consulting (MSC); South Carolina Department of Commerce

George Swift

Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance

I first met George Swift at the SEDC automotive conference in 2004. Once I finished my presentation, I sat next to George and one of his co-workers. Another speaker started and I overheard George ask his employee, “I guess the first thing we need to do is figure out what ‘OEM’ means.” I knew I was dealing with an honest man.

From Selma, Ala., to Lake Charles, La., George Swift’s career has been phenomenal. I would guess, without looking at the data, that more billions have been spent by heavy industry in Southwest Louisiana since that SEDC conference than any multi-county-region anywhere in the country.

For example, LNG, petrochemical, oil and gas, all of that stuff was converging on Southwest Louisiana at the same time, it seemed. I called George and he told me, “Mike, I know. There are so many of them. . .if it isn’t a $2 billion or larger deal, we don’t have the time to send out a press release.”

Pictured above: Ernie Pearson; Gray Swoope and Heidi Smith; Walt Sprouse; Gene Stinson and John Gornall

Gray Swoope

VisionFirst Advisors; Enterprise Florida; Mississippi Development Authority; Butler Snow; Area Development Partnership; Arkansas Industrial Development Commission

Mary Swoope

Duke Energy; Florida’s Great Northwest; Mississippi Economic Development Council

Ralph Thomas SC Power Team

Lee Thuston

Burr & Forman

Mark Vitner

Piedmont Crescent Capital; Wells Fargo

Mark Vitner and I go back 40 years as we spoke many times together and in several different states. We still do.

Neal Wade

Economic Development Partnership of Alabama; Alabama Department of Commerce

As one person called him, “The Godfather of Economic Development in the South.” Shoot, that could go to no more than 10 people that I have gotten to know so far. If ever there was a man who shaped the state of Alabama, Neal Wade is that man.

Don Walden

Tenn-Tom Waterway Authority

Larry Walther

Arkansas Economic Development Commission

Alvah Ward

North Carolina Department of Commerce

I got to know Alvah Ward in the early 1990s when the Tar Heel State was breaking up into eight or nine different regions to satisfy the newest economic development word of the day at that time — “regionalism.” That was after, if you remember, the other 1990s economic development cry, “Sorry, we just don’t recruit ‘smokestack industries.’ ”

Since I always walked in with the data, I would sometimes ask, “But your unemployment rate is 19 percent. What’s wrong with smokestacks?”

Sorry, getting into the weeds. So, Alvah and I were talking at lunch after talking for two hours before lunch, and this is what he told me about “regionalism”: “It is the end of economic development as we know it in North Carolina.”

Alvah Ward. Not sure what he meant to this day.

Mark Warner

Governor and Senator of Virginia

Rick Weddle

Site Selectors Guild; Metro Orlando EDC; Hampton Roads EDA

Knox White

Mayor of Greenville, S.C.

Mac Williams

Alamance Chamber of Commerce, N.C.; Sanford Holshouser Economic Development Consulting, LLC

Mark Williams

Strategic Development Group

Nancy Windham

Southern Economic Development Council; Texas Forest Country Partnership; Frisco, Texas EDC; Nacogdoches, Texas EDC

Greg Wingfield

Greater Richmond Partnership; Hampton Roads EDA

I first met Wingfield when he was in Hampton Roads. . .Norfolk, I think. I was always impressed by Greg. He is one of a handful of folks that have captured a chip plant.

One afternoon I was with Wingfield in his office, which I think was on the 14th floor, when a large shadow darkened the entire office. I looked behind me and the superstructure of an aircraft carrier had blocked out the sun.

Agnes Zaiontz

Tenn-Tom Waterway Authority

All three leaders of the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway made our Hall of Fame, including Mitch Mays, Don Walden and Agnes.

The deadline for SB&D’s second volume of the “Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame” is set for June 20, 2025. J

Pictured above: Holly Sears Sullivan; Linda Swann; Michael Randle and George Swift; Mark Vitner

In this issue, SB&D is recognizing the Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame. . .those who have spent many years building the South as we know it today.

But there has been an influx of new practitioners. We have gotten to know many of them 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” features those 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. They are certainly a group to watch. . .

Andrea Anderson

Ardmore (Okla.) Development Authority

Megan Baker Roanoke County, Va.

James Bateman

Greenwood, S.C.

Anita Begnaud Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Mackenzie Bennett

Georgia Department of Economic Development

Richard Blackwell

Agracel

Joseph Burchfield TVA

Andrew Camp

Thomas & Hutton

Lindsey Cannon

Quest Site Solutions, McCallum

Sweeney Consulting

Chad Carping

Electric Cities of Georgia

Tyler Chaffee TVA

Cedric Colbert Global Location Strategies, Alabama Department of Commerce

Nolan Corder Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

Gizelle Curtis Dominion Energy

Kimberlyn Daniel Georgia Department of Economic Development

Mallory Darby

Mississippi County, Ark. Economic Development

Kim Williams Davis Quest Site Solutions

Karen Davison Chester County

Economic Development

Megan Delgado North Louisiana

Economic Partnership

Laura DiBella Adams and Reese

Susan Donkers Strata Platforms Volume III

Meredith Dubree Breckinridge County United

Zachary Dykes Development Authority of Bryan County, Ga.

Dewey Evans Site Selection Group

Power Evans Georgia Department of Economic Development

Eli Falls Moffatt & Nichol

Bryan Farlow Thomas & Hutton

Kelly Forbes Madisonville-Hopkins County, Ky. Economic Development

Brian Gwin Norfolk Southern

Molly Hall Maynard Nexsen

Tray Hairston Butler Snow

Kris Hopkins Greylock Midstream, West Virginia Development Office

Will Johnson Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd

Lee Lilley North Carolina Department of Commerce; McGuireWoods Consulting

John Longshore Newmark

Ben McDaniel Barrow-Braselton Joint EDA

Anthony T.J. Michelic Jorgenson Pace

Scott Poag Yates Construction

Andrew Ratchford Site Selection Group

Kellen Riley CSX

Courtland Robinson Brasfield & Gorrie, Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Harry Schmidt TVA

Anna Walker North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

Jake Weir RJ Corman, Norfolk Southern

Moriah Williams Wichita Falls Chamber

Parker Wyatt Global Location Strategies

Megan Baker Director of Economic Development

Roanoke County Va.

Megan serves as Director of Economic Development for Roanoke County, a position she assumed in October 2022. During her tenure, she has supported several significant expansions totaling over $100 million including Wells Fargo and Mack Trucks. Prior to joining Roanoke County, Megan served in a similar role as President of the Fayette County Development Authority in Georgia. She spearheaded development of a 600-acre business park and oversaw many elements of the community’s rebranding process to enhance business attraction efforts.

Lee Lilley Secretary of Commerce

State of North Carolina

Lee Lilley’s service as North Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce began on January 1, 2025. Appointed to the office by Governor Josh Stein, Secretary Lilley brings extensive economic development experience to the role.

Immediately prior to joining the department, Secretary Lilley served as the Director of Economic & Pandemic Recovery for Governor Roy Cooper. In that position, he coordinated statewide pandemic recovery efforts, served as State Infrastructure Coordinator, and led economic development initiatives for the Cooper Administration. Lee also advised Cooper Administration leadership on strategy and communications.

Mallory Darby Vice President

Mississippi County, Ark., Economic Development

Mallory Darby, currently serving as Vice President of Economic Development for Mississippi County, has amassed a significant track record in economic development since graduating with a BBA in Marketing and Management from Mississippi State University in 2012. Darby has played a pivotal role in facilitating substantial investments and job creation through notable projects from Mississippi to Arkansas totaling investments worth millions and generating thousands of jobs. Her career highlights include Director of Research and Development at the Golden Triangle Development LINK, Project Manager at the City of West Memphis, Ark., and her current role as VP managing grant funding from prestigious bodies such as the Delta Regional Authority. J

A CITY WHERE HISTORY INSPIRES TODAY’S PROGRESS, AND A NEW GENERATION IS WRITING TOMORROW’S STORY.

In 2022, the Montgomery Chamber celebrated a record breaking year with unprecedented economic growth, new investment and world-wide interest in Montgomery.

• 23 Announced Projects

• $1.7B in Capital Investment

DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH TO BUILD A GREATER MONTGOMERY