May 2013

For real-time news on business, politics and economic development in the South, go to www.RandleReport.com. For even more economic development news in the South, including all project announcements, go to www.SB-D.com. For more information on the automotive industry in the South, go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com. 

South lands nine of top 15 U.S. states for auto parts manufacturing

Top States for Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing

Automotive projects in the Southern Auto Corridor slowed in 2012 

Hackleburg, Ala.'s Wrangler plant is back in business

Left behind in Alabama

New Leaf plugging along at Nissan's Tennessee plant

Greening of the fleet

Nissan expanding North American Infiniti production?

Toyota moving Lexus ES production from Japan to Georgetown, Ky.

North Carolina trading land for desperately needed jobs

EPA debunks claims about fracking

Lowndes County, Miss., supervisors clear path for CalStar deal

Manufacturing is tops

GE Aviation opens 300,000-square-foot facility in Auburn, Ala.

Europe finds energy source in Texas mesquite

Surge in U.S. natural gas pushes other countries to diversify

U.S. showing shale technology to the world?

Gun makers aim for greener pastures

GE Capital cuts off lending to gun shops

Canadian company plans $550 million methane plant in Ascension Parish, La.

McConnell focuses on coal jobs

Georgia ranks sixth in exports to China

Nifco America Corp.’s expansion in Shelbyville, Ky., creates 100 new jobs

North Carolina manufacturing jobs increase

Taica Corp. of Japan invests $8 million in Winchester, Ky.

Monsanto to see $56 million in incentives for expansion in Missouri

Novartis set to begin $60 million expansion in Holly Springs, N.C.

Jordan Forest Products Invests $1.4 Million in Biscoe, N.C.

Walmart promotes “Made in America”

GM laying off up to 75 at Spring Hill, Tenn., plant

Georgia Power to buy wind power from Oklahoma

Nissan refocuses on Canton, Miss., plant

Urban Outfitters to open Georgia call center, bring 400 jobs

Solar power produced 100 percent of new energy on U.S. grid in March

Nissan’s new $200 million paint plant at Smyrna, Tenn., expected to reduce energy costs 

Kentucky plant to make fertilizer from coal byproducts

Google spending another $600 million on data center in North Carolina

WhiteWave Foods invests $69.8 million in Mount Crawford, Va.

Enviro Tech expansion to add 120 Helena, Ark., jobs

Alupress AG establishing new facility in Laurens County, S.C.

IMG Academy gets set for major expansion in Bradenton, Fla.

Incitec Pivot’s Dyno Nobel and Cornerstone Chemical announce $1 billion project in Jefferson Parish, La.

Omega Plastics plans $8.2 million expansion of Tennessee headquarters, 80 new jobs

Auto parts industry largest U.S. manufacturing employer

SGL Carbon to invest $26 million in Ozark, Ark., plant

South Carolina jellyfish plant looks for another site

National collection agency expanding in Alcoa, adding 150 Tennessee jobs

Owens Corning to expand Aiken County facility

CBN Secure Technologies to add 25 jobs in Danville, Va.

Tennessee supplier hiring 200 in growing auto cluster

Power equipment company expanding in Martin, Tenn.

Nanotherapeutics, Inc. to invest $127 million in Alachua, Fla.

Commercial Jet to invest $12 million in Dale County, Ala.

South Carolina project is $6 billion over budget and 10 years late

Triple Horse to build Hollywood-style studio in Covington, Ga.

New BMW X4 to be assembled at South Carolina plant

Ply Gem to create 145 jobs in Columbus County, N.C.

Balluff Inc. begins HQ expansion in Independence, Ky.

Nissan to increase pay in Mississippi and Tennessee

German pipe maker expanding in north Mississippi

Caterpillar supplier to locate in South Carolina

Trinity Frozen Foods to open North Carolina processing plant

Belle Foods to hire 300

New rail transfer facility in Washington, Mo., creates more than 300 jobs

Kubota opens expanded Georgia plant 

Indigo oil terminal to bring 200 jobs to Osceola, Ark.

CertainTeed Corporation plans $100 million investment in Jonesburg, Mo.

Health Management Associates to open service center in Fort Smith, Ark.

ARI facility bringing jobs to Brookhaven, Miss.

Sitel Corp. in Bartlesville, Okla., to add 100 jobs

Tool distributor to expand, create 200 jobs in rural South Carolina

Mars expands in Cleveland, Tenn.

Instant meal producer to create 150 jobs in Saluda County, S.C.

GE to build $110 million oil and gas research center in Oklahoma

Clothing manufacturer bringing more jobs to Jesup, Ga.

TaylorMade putting golf ball plant in Pickens County, S.C.

Suddenlink to invest $35 million in West Virginia

Phillips 66 announces plans for new Gulf Coast facility

Phones are ringing at Spring Hill, Tenn., call center

Big deal in rural Georgia 

New project for Paducah 

BancorpSouth establishes Mississippi loan fund 

Rural South Carolina project a record 

Auto parts supplier expanding in Mississippi 

Big poultry deal in Texas 

South lands four on Best Small Towns to Visit 

Manufacturing research center opens in Prince George County, Va.  

Ireland-based food maker expands in Virginia 

Japanese auto parts manufacturer setting up shop in Kentucky 

Medical device manufacturer expanding in Virginia 

Harrah's completes $650 million North Carolina casino expansion 

Florida's unemployment rate falls below national average 

Ralph Lauren expands again in North Carolina 

Mercedes to build logistics facility at Vance plant 

TeleTech plans two Paducah, Ky., centers

Huntsman investing $78 million in Louisiana MDI plant 

Korean auto supplier expanding in Greenville, Ala.  

Metal fabricator expanding in South Carolina  

Bosch Rexroth investing $80 million in South Carolina 

Sawmill expansion in Small Town Mississippi 

Sock manufacturer invests $17.5 million, creates 168 Tennessee jobs

TurboCombustor Technology brings new jobs to Stuart, vows to hire 200 

Wausau Paper celebrates ribbon-cutting on $220 million expansion in Harrodsburg, Ky. 

Spirit Pharmaceuticals establishing new facility in Clarendon County, S.C. 

George County, Miss., lands wood pellet plant 

Oklahoma company first tenant at redeveloped West Virginia site, 400 jobs expected 

Korean business brings manufacturing jobs to Texas 

MVP coming to Kentucky 

Fabricated metal company to create 120 jobs in Lynchburg, Va. 

Tarheel Plastics to add 48 jobs, invest $3.5 million 

U.S. Bank Home Mortgage adds new facility and 332 jobs in Owensboro, Ky. 

Swiss-based ABB expands in Bartlesville, Okla. 

South Louisiana Methanol invests $1.3 billion in St. James Parish 

Toyota to export Kentucky-made Venzas through Georgia port 

Company hiring 800 coal miners in Kentucky and Virginia

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