Spring 2010 Small Town South News

For complete coverage of economic development in the South, go to www.SB-D.com.

Toyota Moving Ahead with Mississippi Plant

In mid-June, officials with Toyota Motor Corp. announced the automaker will finish construction on its assembly plant near Tupelo, Miss. after the facility was mothballed at the height of the recession in December of 2008. The company broke ground on the $1.3 billion, 2 million-square-foot plant in April of 2007. Toyota planned to build Highlander model SUVs at the facility, but soaring gas prices nixed that plan. The company then announced it would build the fuel efficient Prius at the northeast Mississippi facility in the summer of 2008. Less than six months later, one of the worst automotive markets in U.S. history was in full swing and the plant was delayed indefinitely. Toyota plans to build the Corolla model at the Tupelo plant after equipment is installed and improvements to the facility are made. The company closed its California facility it shared with GM earlier this year. That plant produced about 150,000 Corolla models and most of that production was then moved to Japan. Toyota officials plan to tool the Mississippi plant with used equipment and furnishings from other plants in North America, a move that will save the company about $500 million. Production in Mississippi is set to begin in the fall of 2011. Toyota expects to hire 2,000 workers at the Tupelo auto works. For more information on the South's automotive industry, go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com.

Is VW Scouting Sites in Tennessee for an Engine Plant?

Sources who requested that they not be identified have told www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com that Volkswagen officials are scouting sites within a 60-mile radius of Chattanooga, Tenn. for an engine plant to serve the German automaker's assembly facility that it is building there. VW officials have gone on the record as saying engines for cars produced at the Chattanooga plant beginning next year will be imported from Germany, Poland and Mexico initially. Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey said in April that economic developers in Chattanooga are pursuing the possible engine and/or transmission plant and would like for it to be built at Enterprise South Industrial park, the site of VW's 2 million-square-foot assembly operation.
 
Mass Layoff Events Drop Dramatically in the South

A sign that the South's economy has recovered from the Great Recession while other parts of the U.S. continue to struggle can be found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site. In April of 2009 there were 2,663 mass layoff events in the U.S., the third-highest total in the recession, behind only May 2009 and March 2009. Of those, 696 were from companies that operated in the American South, or about 26 percent of all mass layoffs announced in the U.S. in April 2009. One year later, there were 1,856 mass layoffs in the U.S., of which only 369 were in the American South. So, in April of 2010, only 20 percent of all mass layoffs in the U.S. were in the South even though the region is home to 40 percent of the U.S. population.

Mass Layoffs in the South by State

State AL AR FL GA KS KY LA MD MS MO NC OK SC TN  TX VA WV Total

April 2009 27 12 152 50 7 83 27 12 15 46 28 14 60 35 74 42 12 696

April 2010 17 8 118 31 5 40 32 6 5 28 13 5 19 18 73 15 4 369

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Double Whammy for Louisiana's Oil Spill Job Losses

The oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has paralyzed Louisiana's seafood industry, affecting over 20,000 fishery jobs in the state. On top of that the suspension of work at 33 deepwater drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico could affect up to 20,000 jobs in Louisiana if rig operators move their platforms to other waters outside the U.S. Of the 33 rigs that were ordered to temporarily shut down shortly after the spill occurred, 22 are located off the coast of Louisiana. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret told the Times Picayune newspaper in New Orleans that up to 20,000 Louisiana jobs could be lost by a drilling moratorium. On June 22, New Orleans U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman granted a preliminary injunction, halting the deep water (below 500 feet) drilling moratorium imposed by President Obama after the spill.

CEOs Rate Texas as No. 1 for Business

Texas has been ranked the top state for job growth and business development for the sixth consecutive year by Chief Executive Magazine. The survey asked 651 CEOs to rank each state on three general categories: taxation and regulation, quality of workforce and living environment. Other states in the South that made the ranking's top 10 were North Carolina (2nd), Tennessee (3rd), Virginia (4th), Florida (6th), Georgia (7th) and South Carolina (10th).

Georgia Delegation Visits Cuba

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue led a 43-person Georgia delegation on a business mission to explore trade opportunities with Cuba. The group left Atlanta for Havana Sunday, June 6 and returned Tuesday June 8. The mission focused on opportunities in agriculture, medical and the telecommunications industries.

Texas Manufacturing Hits 3-Year High

A report published in June by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas showed that the Texas production index, which measures the state's manufacturing production, climbed to its highest level in three years in May. According to the Federal Reserve, Texas accounts for 9.5 percent of all manufacturing in the U.S., behind only California. 

DreamWorks to Film Major Motion Picture in Greenwood, Miss.

Officials with DreamWorks Studios have announced plans to film "The Help," a motion picture based on Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel of the same title, in Mississippi. The majority of the filming will take place in rural Greenwood, Miss. and the surrounding area. During the six month production period, about 150 cast and crew members will be living and working in Greenwood and Leflore County. Production on the film will begin this summer.

Unemployment in the South a Full Point below U.S.

In May, the unemployment rate in the U.S. (pop. 309,472,354) dropped to 9.7 percent, with 15 million persons unemployed. Of those, about 5.3 million people were unemployed in May in the American South (pop. 118,654,723). The South's unemployment rate in May 2010 stood at 8.7 percent.

Unemployment Rate and Total Unemployed Persons in Southern States

AL AR FL GA KS KY LA MD MS MO NC OK SC TN  TX VA WV Avg.

*Rate 10.3 7.5 11.2 9.8 6.3 10.2 6.2 6.9 10.7 8.8 10.0 6.3 10.4 10.3 8.1 6.7 8.9 8.7

# of Unemployed 215,600 102,200 1,032,900 460,800 94,900 211,300 128,900 202,100 137,200 262,700 455,000 111,000 225,000 310,000 989,600 279,400 69,800 5,288,400

*May 2010 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Automotive Industry Deals Surge in the South

Projects related to the automotive industry have surged to levels not seen in at least 24 months in the Southern Automotive Corridor. For a while there, SB&D had trouble filling two pages of news from the South's automotive industry. It's been slim pickings on the automotive news front as far as new or expanded projects over the last couple of years. As if on cue, the automotive industry is raging back in the South as folks finally trade in their clunkers for new and improved wheels. Check out all of the activity from the automotive industry in the South by going to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com.

Very Strong April in the American South

Following an impressive number of job-generating deals in March, the number of companies announcing projects of 30 jobs or more jumped even more dramatically in April. Southern Business & Development counted 242 significant job generating projects (30 jobs or more) in April, compared to 133 in March, and only 81 in January and February combined. Automotive, general manufacturing and food processing led all industry sectors in the number of projects in the South in April. 

Tennessee Rural Opportunity Fund Wins Award

The Tennessee Rural Opportunity Fund, a $10 million economic development fund providing loans to small businesses in rural Tennessee, has been awarded the 2010 National Community Reinvestment Award from the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. The award recognizes the work of financial institutions that are advancing innovative solutions to the challenges facing lower-income and distressed communities. The Tennessee fund is a public-private partnership between the state of Tennessee, 23 member banks of the Tennessee Bankers Association and Southeast Community Capital Corp. Launched in 2007, the Rural Opportunity Fund is expected to generate $25 million in loans and finance over 350 small, minority and women-owned businesses in small town Tennessee over 10 years. For more information on economic development in the rural South, go to www.SmallTownSouth.com.

Super Site Certified in Kentucky

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear announced in the spring quarter that the 1,551-acre industrial site in Glendale, Ky. has been certified as a CSX Megasite by McCallum Sweeney Consulting (MSC). The Glendale site joins a list of less than 15 industrial sites pre-certified for immediate development by MSC.

Eight of Ten-Lowest Cost of Living States in the South

Eight of the nation's ten-lowest cost of living states are locating in the South according to ACCRA's 4th quarter 2009 report. Oklahoma was the state with the lowest cost of living according to the report. Oklahoma was followed by Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Missouri and Georgia.

Mississippi Poultry Company a Major Economic Force in Eastern North Carolina

Mississippi-based Sanderson Farms, which is building a $121 poultry processing plant in Kinston, N.C. that will employ 1,500 workers, announced in the spring it is considering adjacent Wayne County, N.C. for another $94 million chicken plant that could employ up to 1,100 workers. The surge in chicken processing is a turnaround from two years ago when poultry producers postponed or cancelled projects because of soaring fuel and feed costs. For more information on rural South development, go to www.SmallTownSouth.com.

ALABAMA

TVA Setting up Training Facility in Northeast Alabama

The Tennessee Valley Authority announced in the spring quarter it is setting up a training facility near Scottsboro, Ala. for its nuclear power plant workers. TVA officials said as many as 5,000 workers could be trained at the facility annually.

Canadian Automotive Supplier Investing $16M in Alabama

Windsor, Canada-based Plasman Corp. announced in the spring it is bringing an automotive facility to Fort Payne, Ala. The company will provide plastic injection molding, painting and assembly of exterior parts and tool repair. The $16 million deal will create 200 jobs initially with over 300 expected in three years. Plasman has contracts with Nissan, Honda, Toyota and GM.
 
Rural Alabama Town Gets 50 New Jobs

IKO Industries, a residential and commercial roofing business, is building a high-performance shingle plant in Sylacauga, Ala. The facility will house 50 workers.

Parts Supplier Adding Jobs in Auburn, Ala.

Korean auto supplier Pyongsan America is expanding its Auburn, Ala. operations. The company plans to lease a second manufacturing facility in Auburn and invest $5 million and add 100 new jobs. The company manufactures air conditioning and heater core pipe assemblies.

Korean Auto Parts Supplier Locates in Rural Alabama

Daeil USA, a subsidiary of Korean parts supplier Daeil Precision Co., announced in the spring quarter it is locating a plant at the former Halla Mando Valley building in Chambers County, Ala. The company will provide struts and other parts to the automotive industry in the Southern Automotive Corridor. The deal will create 75 new jobs.

Korean Supplier Breaks Ground on New Alabama Plant

SaeHaeSung, a Hyundai and Kia parts supplier in Andalusia, Ala., broke ground in the spring on the company's new 72,000-square-foot facility. SaeHaeSung is adding a stamping process to its Andalusia welding operations that represents an investment of $10 million and 150 new jobs.

ARKANSAS

Evergreen Celebrates $53M Expansion in Pine Bluff, Ark.

In May, Evergreen Packaging celebrated the completion of a $53 million expansion project at its Pine Bluff, Ark. mill. The company employs over 1,000 workers at the plant. 

New Plant Set for Rural Arkansas

Germany-based Beckmann Volmer announced in May it will locate a new $10 million steel manufacturing facility in Osceola, Ark. The company produces steel components for wind turbines. The deal is expected to result in 300 new jobs.

Cooper Tire Hiring 200 More in Texarkana

In late 2008, the Cooper Tire and Rubber Plant in Texarkana, Ark. was on the brink of closing. Now Ohio-based Cooper Tire has announced that it is hiring 200 more workers at the plant, bringing employment at the facility to 1,500. The plant produces 450 different types of tires after it picked up about 75 tire models when Cooper closed its Albany, Ga. plant more than a year ago. The Texarkana factory has a payroll of more than $75 million a year.

Hino Starts Truck Chassis Production in Arkansas

Japan-based Hino Motors Manufacturing USA officially started production of commercial truck frame rails at is Marion, Ark. plant in the spring quarter. The chassis rails will be delivered to assembly plants in West Virginia and in Canada. Hino also machines connection rods for diesel engines at the plant, which is located just across the Mississippi River from Memphis, Tenn. Hino has been operating in Marion since 2006.
 
Aviation Repair Hiring 300 in Blytheville

Aviation Repair Technologies, which repairs airframes and aircraft engines, is adding 300 workers at its facilities at the Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville. The company already employs 225 workers there. The Arkansas Aeroplex was formerly Eaker Air Force Base.

FLORIDA

Old Cell Phone Co. Adding 863 Jobs in Florida

Old Cell Phone Company, a seller of used cell phones, parts and accessories on eBay, is adding over 450 jobs this year to its facility in Martin Co., Fla. The company operates on a 24-7 schedule and moved to Palm City, Fla. in 2008.

World's Second-Largest Solar Plant Being Built in Florida

On 500 acres of swamplands near West Palm Beach, FPL Group is building what will amount to the second-largest solar energy plant in the world. Over 190,000 solar mirrors are being installed next to FPL's largest fossil-fuel power plant that is fired by natural gas. The hybrid project is being built next to FPL's existing power plant in an effort to reduce costs. Stand alone solar power plants are expensive and building the new facility next to a fossil fuel plant means the company can use its existing steam turbine and high-power transmission lines. FPL says the hybrid plan will cut costs by about 20 percent. The solar facility is expected to be completed at the end of the year.

GEORGIA

Button Maker Comes Back to Georgia from China

According to the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, Georgia has lost 60,400 jobs to China since 2001. Scovill Fasteners was a contributor to that figure when it cut its workforce in rural Clarkesville, Ga. and opened a button factory in Shenzhen in China's Guangdong Province. Recently though, Scovill closed its China plant and brought back jobs to its Clarkesville facility. Scovill's decision to close its China plant also saved 170 jobs at the north Georgia plant.

Solar Energy Company Announces Big Project in Georgia

Germany-based MAGE Solar announced in May it will establish its North American headquarters and invest $30 million and employ up to 350 at a plant in Dublin, Ga. The company manufactures solar panels. MAGE cited Dublin's location, between the port of Savannah and Atlanta, as a factor in the location decision. 

Chicken Plant Reopening in Georgia; 1,000 Workers to be Rehired

In May Pilgrim's Pride announced the reopening of its Coffee County, Ga. plant. The plant was closed in February 2009 eliminating the jobs of 900 workers and 400 chicken farmers, truckers and suppliers. Now the company is reopening the plant and expects to hire 1,000 workers within a year. Once reopened, the plant is expected to process 1.3 million chickens per week at full production.

Wind Energy Facility Will House 215 Georgia Workers

ZF Group, an automotive industry parts supplier, announced in the spring it will invest $90 million and create 215 jobs at a new wind turbine gearbox plant in Gainesville, Ga. The plant will be built near an existing ZF facility that manufactures axle drives and transmissions for passenger vehicles and heavy construction equipment.

LG Hausys Investing $50M in Rural Georgia

LG Hausys, a manufacturer of engineered stone countertops, is opening a new 95,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Adairsville, Ga. adjacent to the company's existing facility. The project represents an investment of $50 million and will generate 80 new jobs.

KANSAS

Denmark-Based Wind Energy Company Announces Kansas Plant

Denmark-based Jupiter Group announced in the spring quarter it will open a new wind turbine components manufacturing facility in Junction City, Kan. The $2.4 million project will create 120 new jobs.

KENTUCKY

Remington Arms Adding 100 Jobs in Hickory, Ky.

Remington Arms, one of the largest and oldest domestic producers of shotguns and rifles, is investing $5 million in its Hickory, Ky. facility. The expansion will help accommodate rifle production lines from a Connecticut facility. The deal will result in 100 new jobs.

Printer Adds 135 Jobs in Simpson County

Worldcolor, one of the world's largest printers of magazines, catalogs and direct mail products, is expanding its plant in rural Simpson County, Ky. The company is investing $9.7 million in the project and is adding 135 new jobs.

Topura America Expands in Kentucky

Topura America Fastener, a manufacturer of automotive and industrial fasteners, announced in June it will add 30 new jobs and invest $9.34 million at its plant in Bowling Green, Ky. The deal will more than double the size of the company's existing plant.

Tier 1 Supplier Expands in Kentucky

Angell-Demmel North America, a Tier 1 manufacturer of decorative trim products for the automotive industry, announced in the spring it will invest $5.8 million and add 52 jobs in Lebanon, Ky. The company was recently awarded a seven-year contract with Mercedes-Benz to produce aluminum trim for door and instrument panels for the M-Class, which is assembled in Alabama. Angell-Demmel has operated in Lebanon, Ky., since 1965.

LOUISIANA

Food Manufacturer Adding Jobs in Louisiana

Bruce Foods will expand one of its two Louisiana-based plants. The company, which makes Louisiana hot sauce, Bruce's Yams and other food products, is adding 43 jobs at its New Iberia facility.

MISSISSIPPI

Twin Creeks Breaks Ground on Solar Panel Facility in Rural Mississippi

On May 28 Gov. Haley Barbour, officials from California-based Twin Creeks Technologies and local officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of Twin Creeks' new solar panel manufacturing facility in Senatobia, Miss. The company will produce photovoltaic solar panels for use in the renewable energy industry at the $175 million facility. The project will create 512 new jobs in two phases.

Furniture Manufacturer Creating 200 Jobs in Pontotoc

Southern Motion, a reclining furniture manufacturer, announced in May it is expanding its operations in Pontotoc, Miss. The company will build a new 180,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its existing 400,000-square-foot plant. The $7 million deal will add at least 200 jobs to the company's current payroll of 701 workers. For more information about rural development in the South, go to www.SmallTownSouth.com.

Lawnmower Manufacturer Expands in Tupelo

MTD, a lawnmower manufacturer, is investing $6.25 million in its Tupelo, Miss. operations. The company is expanding into a 525,000-square-foot building located adjacent to its current facility. The deal will create 107 new jobs. 

Parts Supplier Expands in Mississippi

Grenada Stamping and Assembly, a supplier of parts to the appliance, automotive, HVAC/R and off-highway markets, announced in the spring it is expanding its operations in Grenada, Miss. The expansion will create 40 new jobs.

NORTH CAROLINA

Jobs Return to Distressed N.C. County

Advanced Textile Solutions announced in May it is creating 127 jobs as it takes over the former Protection Products facility in rural Caldwell Co., N.C. The company will produce bullet-proof vests for the military and upholstery for airline seats. Protection Products closed the facility in December.

Forty New Jobs Created in Rural N.C.

Metal Craft, Inc., a metals fabricator, is moving into an existing 35,000-square-foot facility in Rocky Mount, N.C. The project is expected to create 40 new jobs.

Cabinet Manufacturer to Bring 334 Jobs to Kinston

MasterBrand Cabinets, a manufacturer of kitchen and bath cabinets, will expand its plant in Kinston, N.C. The deal will create 334 jobs and represents an investment of $3.75 million.

Company Expands in Monroe, N.C.

Colfax Corp. the parent company of IMO Industries, announced in May it will build a new test facility in Monroe, N.C. Colfax manufactures valves and pumps that are used in various industries including power generation and the defense industry. The company is investing $3.1 million.

Michelin Expanding in Small Town North Carolina

Michelin North America announced in the spring it is expanding its plant in Stanly County, N.C. The company plans to create 74 jobs and invest more than $11 million on the project. South Carolina-based Michelin employs more than 600 workers in North Carolina at facilities in Norwood, Asheboro and Salisbury. 

Parts Supplier Creating 55 Jobs in Rural North Carolina

WhiteRidge Plastics, a supplier of custom-molded parts for the automotive, industrial, agriculture and tool markets, announced in the spring it will expand its operations in Rockingham County, N.C. The company plans to create 55 jobs and invest more than $1.2 million in Reidsville.

Catalytic Converter Recycler Bringing Jobs to North Carolina

VSA LLC, a recycler of automotive catalytic converters, will locate its production plant in Burke County, N.C. The company plans to create 98 jobs and invest $4.5 million during the next two years in Morganton.

OKLAHOMA

Gun Manufacturer Creating 45 Jobs in Oklahoma

Loki Weapon Systems recently announced it will manufacture rifles in Coalgate, Okla. The high powered rifles will be machined and assembled by 45 workers at the new plant.

Motorcycle Manufacturer Hiring 200 in Oklahoma

U.S. Highland Inc. is increasing production at its Mounds, Okla. headquarters. The expansion could include five new buildings to accommodate production lines for motorcycles and engines as well as more space for research and development. U.S. Highland moved to Oklahoma from Sweden two years ago to produce street and off-road sport bikes.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Mohawk Investing $60M in Rural South Carolina

Mohawk Industries, a manufacturer of flooring, is expanding its facility in Marlboro Co., S.C. with a $60 million investment. The deal is expected to add a significant number of jobs to the existing employment of 400 at the plant in Bennettsville.

Nutramax Labs to Relocate in S.C.

Nutramax Laboratories and Nutramax Manufacturing announced they are relocating operations to Lancaster Co., S.C. from Edgewood, Md. The nutraceutical developer for veterinary and consumer markets will invest approximately $12.5 million in the project. The deal will create 203 jobs.

MCA Sign Locates in Aiken County, S.C.

MCA Sign Co. is moving its entire operations, including its headquarters to Graniteville, S.C. in Aiken County. The company purchased the former Avondale Horsecreek building. The $12 million deal will create 125 new jobs.

Caterpillar Adding 500 Jobs in Central South Carolina

Caterpillar announced in the spring quarter it plans to increase capacity for diesel and gas powered generator sets at its plant in Newberry, S.C. The deal, which will increase genset production in the 250-1250 kW range for North American customers, will add 500 new jobs at the plant that is located near Columbia.

Kaydon Expands in Sumter, S.C.

Michigan-based Kaydon Corporation announced in May it will invest $8.9 million and add 75 new jobs at its custom bearing facility in Sumter Co., S.C. The company has purchased a building formerly occupied by Bosch near the campus of its bearings facility, where it produces bearings for a wide range of general industrial markets. Kaydon also operates a wind turbine bearing facility in Sumter. The new facility is expected to open in the fall of 2010.

TENNESSEE

Bridgestone Celebrates 20 Years in Rural Tennessee

In the spring quarter, Bridgestone Americas celebrated the 20th anniversary of operations at its Warren Co., Tenn. facility. The plant was the first tire factory in the world to be awarded the LEED certification for its outstanding environmental building design.

Volkswagen Supplier Expanding in Tennessee

Miniature Precision Components (MPC), a supplier of thermoplastic injection molded, extrusion and blow molded products for the automotive, lawn and garden and commercial industries, announced in the spring it is expanding in Warren Co., Tenn. The company will invest $7.5 million and add 118 new jobs. MPC recently earned a contract to do work for Volkswagen's Chattanooga operations. 

Modine to Double Jobs in Tennessee

Wisconsin-based Modine Manufacturing, which produces air coolers, engine fuel coolers and front-end cooling modules for the commercial vehicle market, announced in the spring quarter it will add approximately 200 new jobs at its manufacturing operations in Lawrenceburg, Tenn. The company will add a brazing furnace to its plant to manufacture aluminum radiators.

TEXAS

Whirlpool Building Big Center in Texas

Appliance manufacturer Whirlpool announced in May it is building a 1-million-square-foot regional distribution center in Wilmer, Tex., south of Dallas. The facility is part of a nationwide consolidation of regional distribution centers.

VIRGINIA

Martinsville, Va. Lands 250 New Jobs

Faneuil announced in May it will establish a customer service center for Dominion Virginia Power in Martinsville, Va. The company is an outsource provider of multi-channel customer contact services. The $2.4 million deal will create 250 new jobs.

Packaging Company Puts First U.S. Operation in Rural Virginia

Phoenix Packaging Group, a family-owned Latin American company, will invest more than $20 million to establish its first U.S. operation in Pulaski County, Va. The company will manufacture plastic packaging and the facility will also serve as its North American headquarters. The project will create 240 new jobs.

Chinese Company Moving HQ to Virginia

Mercury Paper, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based Sinar Mas Group, announced in the spring it is investing $21.2 million to expand its current facility in Shenandoah Co., Va. and relocate its North American headquarters to the site, creating 150 new jobs in the process. The company makes paper towels and tissue products.

Automotive Casting Operation Re-Opens in Radford, Va.

Virginia Casting Industries, a ductile iron components manufacturer for the automotive industry, is reopening the former Intermet New River Foundry facility in Radford, Va. The $9.1 million project will create 300 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed with Michigan to land the project.

WEST VIRGINIA

Power Plant to Generate 100 Jobs in W. Va.

The $2 billion Longview Power plant now under construction in Maidsville, W. Va. is expected to create 100 jobs by the end of the year. The plant, once operational, is expected to be the cleanest and most technology advanced coal-fired power plant in the U.S. 

Mineral Wool Plant Creating 45 Jobs in West Virginia

Armstrong World Industries announced in the spring it will invest $35 million to build a mineral wool plant in Jackson County, W.Va. Mineral wool is used in acoustical ceiling tiles. The deal will create 45 new jobs. 

Piping Firm Opens West Virginia Distribution Facility

Kentucky-based ISCO Industries, a pipe systems solutions company, recently announced it plans to open a distribution hub in Martinsburg, W. Va. The 55,000-square-foot facility will house 50 workers.

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