July 30, 2010

Gallup Ranks Best Job Markets

According to a ranking published in the summer called the Gallup Job Creation Index, eight of the top 13 job markets in the U.S. are located in the South. The ranking created a job creation index using data from January to June 2010 and it showed that Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Maryland, West Virginia, Louisiana and Virginia all were at or near the top of the list of the best job markets. Gallup explained that energy producing states and those that benefit from locations near D.C. because of increased federal government hiring are the best states for job creation so far in 2010. Some of the worst job creation states in the ranking were Nevada, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, California, Michigan and New York. For more information on economic development in the South, go to www.SB-D.com.

Hatteras Yachts Adding 350 Workers in Small Town North Carolina

The Brunswick Corporation, a global manufacturer of recreational products and parent company of New Bern, N.C.-based Hatteras Yachts, is adding 350 jobs over the next five years. In 2006, Hatteras acquired Cabo Yachts, based in California. Hatteras plans to move the Cabo manufacturing operation to New Bern to consolidate operations there. The deal represents a $4.7 million investment.

Fruit of the Loom Expanding World HQ in Kentucky

Fruit of the Loom continued its world headquarters expansion in Bowling Green, Ky. in the summer quarter. The expansion includes the relocation of all sales, marketing and management support operations for its subsidiaries of Russell Brands and Vanity Fair Brands from Atlanta and Alpharetta, Ga. and Alexander City, Ala. The expansion/consolidation is expected to be finalized next year and will have created an additional 600 jobs and a $47 million investment in Kentucky.

New Medium Security Prison to Create 300 Jobs in Rural Georgia

GEO Group is building a 1,500-bed medium security state prison in Milledgeville, Ga., located in the central portion of the state. Under an agreement with the Georgia Department of Corrections, GEO will finance, develop and operate the $80 million prison. The deal will create 300 new jobs.

New Textile Plant Opening in Rural Virginia

Regitex USA, a manufacturer of made-to-order ring spun and open end yarn, will invest $1.5 million to open a manufacturing operation in Mecklenburg County, Va. The company will acquire and upgrade an existing textile plant, creating 60 new jobs.

Another Deal in Rural Virginia

Virginia-based Intersections Inc., a provider of consumer and corporate identity risk management services, announced in July it will establish a customer care center in Altavista, Va. The project will create 250 new jobs.

Rural Georgia Deal

Pump maker Wilo North America is investing $2.7 million to expand its operations in Thomasville, Ga. According to Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue's office, the deal will create a "substantial number" of new jobs. 

Grenada Stamping Growing in Mississippi

Officials from Grenada Stamping and Assembly, supplier of parts to the appliance, automotive, HVAC/R and off-highway markets, announced in late July the company is expanding its operations in Grenada, Miss. The project represents a $500,000 investment and will create 25 new jobs. For more information on the South's automotive industry, go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com.

Evatran Investing in Virginia Electric Vehicle Parts Plant

Evatran LLC, a subsidiary of MTC Transformers and the manufacturer of the world's first hands-free electric vehicle supply equipment, will invest $3.5 million in a new facility in Wytheville, Va. that will manufacture Plugless Power charging technology for electric vehicles. The deal will create 84 new jobs.

Steel Equipment Manufacturer Hiring in Small Town Missouri

G.S. Stainless, a manufacturer of steel equipment for the chemical, petro and energy industries is investing $1.2 million in a facility in Sparta, Mo. The project will create 24 new, full-time jobs.

Tech Aerospace Adding 100 Jobs in Missouri

Tech Aerospace Group, a Kansas City airplane parts manufacturer, announced in July it plans to build a $17.5 million, 75,000-square-foot plant in Washington, Mo. The deal is expected to create 100 new jobs.

CNBC Names Texas Top State for Business

In the summer, CNBC named Texas as "America's Top State for Business." CNBC scored each U.S. state using publicly available data to determine the rankings, including data on costs of doing business, workforce, education, quality of life, cost of living and transportation among other categories. Virginia placed second and North Carolina and Georgia made the ranking's top 10.

Henry County, Va. Lands Big Deal

Monogram Food Solutions, a Memphis-based manufacturer of value-added processed meals, will invest $4 million to expand its operation in Henry County, Va., creating 150 new jobs. This is the second large expansion fpr the meat snack food company in Henry County since 2009.

Volkswagen Official Confirms Engine Plant Site Search

In July, Jochem Helzmann, a member of the board of German automaker Volkswagen, confirmed that the company is searching for a location in North America for an engine plant that will supply plants in both Chattanooga and Puebla, Mexico. As of July 20, no decision on the plant's location had been made. In early May, SouthernAutoCorridor.com reported that VW was checking out sites within a 60-mile radius of its new plant that is under construction in Chattanooga, Tenn. For more information on the South's automotive industry, go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com.

Automotive Trim Manufacturer to Bring 53 Jobs to Rural North Carolina

C.M.I. Enterprises, a supplier of automotive soft-trim materials, will locate a new manufacturing facility in Rutherford County, N.C. The company plans to move its Florida plant to Rutherfordton, creating 53 jobs and investing $697,000 including lease payments. The company is based in Miami.

Parts Supplier Adding Jobs in Kentucky

A. Raymond Tinnerman Manufacturing Flemingsburg announced the expansion of its large stamping operation in Flemingsburg, Ky. The company produces window channel guides, sunroof and other structural components for the automotive industry. The expansion, which will add 28 workers, will enable the company to expand into the solar and building industries. 

West Georgia Lands Automotive Supplier

The Hanil E-Hwa Co. announced in the summer it is moving into an existing 180,000-square-foot facility in Troup County, Ga. Hanil is based in Seoul, Korea and is a supplier to the Kia plant in West Point, Ga. The $8.45 million project will create 173 new jobs and should begin production in October.

Briggs & Stratton Investing in Kentucky Plant

Briggs & Stratton announced in the summer it is investing $35.5 million in its plant in Murray, Ky. The plant produces gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment.

CertainTeed Gypsum to Locate in Rural North Carolina

CertainTeed Gypsum, a manufacturer of construction materials, will build a wallboard manufacturing facility in Person County, N.C. The company is investing $160 million in the project, which will generate 89 jobs initially.

Medical Device Company Creating Jobs in Rural North Carolina

Becton Dickinson (BD) announced plans in July to open an East Coast distribution center in the Johnston County, N.C. town of Four Oaks. BD will be the first tenant at a 400-acre industrial park at exit 87 just north of where I-95 and I-40 intersect. The New Jersey-based medical device manufacturer has operated in nearby Research Triangle Park since 1972. The company is also building a manufacturing facility in Wilson, N.C. that will house 90 workers.

Totally Awesome Creating 300 Jobs in Rural Arkansas

California-based Totally Awesome, a manufacturer of laundry detergent, ammonia and grill and oven cleaners, is moving an operation to Marked Tree, Ark. The deal will create 300 jobs.

Manufacturer Relocating to Kentucky from N.J.

In the summer quarter, Vogelsang Corp. announced it will relocate its manufacturing operations from Lakewood, N.J. to Georgetown, Ky. The new 97,500-square-foot operation will house 43 full-time workers. Vogelsang is a manufacturer of steel-based products.

Dennen Steel Locating Operation in Iuka, Miss.

Dennen Steel Corp. announced in the summer quarter that it is locating manufacturing operations at Yellow Creek Port in Iuka, Miss. in order to better serve customers in the southeastern United States. The project represents an investment of more than $7.4 million and will initially create 50 new jobs in northeast Mississippi. The company is a supplier to Toyota and produces parts for the Toyota Corolla and Camry, as well as parts for computers, refrigeration units and trucks.

New Distribution Center Being Built in Alabama

Illinois-based Medline Industries announced in July it is building a 350,000-square-foot distribution center in Prattville, Ala. The $12.5 million project will create 40 new jobs. Medline is the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies and services.

Yutaka Expanding Again in Small Town Alabama

Yutaka, which manufactures torque convertors, exhaust systems, catalytic converters and other products for Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, is undergoing its third expansion in seven months. The company is adding $4.6 million in new equipment and adding 15 new jobs.

International Electronics Company Hiring 400 in Georgia

Systemax, the parent company of Tiger Direct, Comp USA and online retailer circuitcity.com, announced in July it is opening a 459,160-square-foot facility in Jefferson, Ga. The distribution center will house about 400 workers.

Spirit Opens Kinston, N.C. Plant

In the summer, Spirit AeroSystems officially opened its new plant at the Global TransPark in Kinston, N.C. The 500,000-square-foot facility is producing center fuselage and front wing spar for the Airbus 350XWB. 

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