Summer 2010 Small Town South News

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

Microsoft to Locate $499 Million Data Center in Rural Virginia

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on August 27 that Microsoft Corp. will invest up to $499 million to locate its latest generation data center (Gen4) in Mecklenburg County, Va., in what will be the largest economic development investment in Southern Virginia history. Using modular technology and advanced cooling mechanics, the center will be Microsoft's most advanced data center. The project will create 50 new jobs and Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina and Texas to secure the sought after facility.

Florida Launches Rural Development Web Site

The State of Florida has launched a new Web site designed to help the state's rural communities attract more economic development. The site, www.florida-redi.com, is managed by the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), which is coordinated by the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. Visitors to the site will find information about economic development incentives and programs focused on rural communities in The Sunshine State.

Texas Economy Surges

According to a report by Houston-based private equity firm Sigma Bleyzer, Texas industrial production was up in July driven primarily by mineral fuels exports that increased by 64 percent. In the first half of 2010, exports of goods from Texas rose by nearly 30 percent to $97 billion compared to the first half of 2009. The total represented 16 percent of all U.S. exports.

Virginia "Vulnerable" to Defense Policy Shift

Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads will both experience significant blows to their economies if the Defense Department carries out Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' proposal to close the U.S. Joint Forces Command and slash the Pentagon's budget for military contractors. Stephen Fuller, director of the Center of Regional Analysis at George Mason University said in a Washington Post article in August that "Virginia is more vulnerable to this kind of policy shift than any other state." The closure of the U.S. Joint Forces Command would eliminate over 6,000 military, civilian and contractor jobs in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. 

Virginia Cited as Top Pro-Business State

The Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business State ranking for 2010 came out in the summer quarter. The ranking evaluates and ranks states based on 31 factors including taxes, human resources, Right-to-Work legislation, energy costs, state economic development efforts and other factors. Virginia was ranked the No. 1 pro-business state followed by Utah, Wyoming, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, Alabama and Missouri.

Louisiana FastStart Named Best State Workforce Training Program

Business Facilities magazine recently named Louisiana FastStart the nation's best state workforce training program. Louisiana FastStart edged out other top five finishers -- Georgia, New Mexico, Florida and North Carolina -- for the top spot.

German Investment in Arkansas Grows

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe's administration has made a special effort to recruit companies from Europe and it is paying off. The number of German-owned companies operating in Arkansas has increased from 17 in 2008 to 29 at the end of 2009. The newest German-owned company that has set up shop in Arkansas is Nordex. The Hamburg-based company is finishing up a $100 million wind turbine components plant in Jonesboro, Ark. that will house 700 workers.

Nucor to build $3.4 Billion Louisiana Pig Iron Plant

In the last summer quarter, Nucor, the nation's largest steelmaker, announced it will build a multi-phased $3.4 billion iron and steel plant in Convent, La. The project could employ as many as 1,200 at its peak. Nucor had already purchased the 4,000-acre property and secured the state air quality permit for the plant, which will provide raw materials for mini-steel mills throughout the South.

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.

Arkansas to Get $102 Million Broadband Grant

Described as "Arkansas' largest-ever grant," the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences announced in August a $102 million grant to expand broadband throughout the state. The grant is regarded as the largest monetary awards given to an Arkansas school of higher learning.

Texas Towns to Form Economic Development Alliance

The economic development organizations of the South Central Texas markets of New Braunfels, Schertz and Seguin, are set to merge some areas of their economic development activities and market themselves as the regional "10/35 Economic Development Alliance" to site selectors and prospects. The genesis of the name stemmed from the location of the three cities located on or near Interstate 35 and Interstate 10.

Jobs and Investment in Georgia Increase in 2010

Outgoing Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue announced in August that both jobs and corporate investment increased in Georgia during the state's fiscal year 2010. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, companies invested $3.75 billion in Georgia communities in FY10, a 46.7 percent increase from FY09. Those companies created 19,462 jobs, an increase of 14.7 percent.

ThyssenKrupp Rolls Out First Coil of Steel at Alabama Plant

German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp rolled out its first coil of steel at its new steel plant in Calvert, Ala. in August. The first product manufactured at the massive, $5 billion facility comes 38 months after TK chose its Alabama site in 2007.

Whirlpool Building $120M Plant in Tennessee

Whirlpool Corp. announced in September it will build a 1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Cleveland, Tenn. A 400,000-square-foot distribution center is also planned. The $120 million investment in the two facilities is being made to produce built-in premium cooking appliances. The project is expected to add 130 new jobs to its 1,500 Cleveland employees.

A Good Sign: Transportation Job Sector on the Move

According to Indeed.com, transportation jobs are up 73 percent from a year ago, including 20,000 new jobs created by the sector from April to June. The new jobs are primarily those in truck driving, stocking, warehousing and other freight-related positions.

$310 Million for Broadband Deployment in W.Va.

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia recently approved the sale of Verizon West Virginia's landline assets to Frontier Communications. The deal paves the way for Frontier to begin work on a $310 million project to deploy broadband throughout the state. 

Virginia Establishes First Motion Picture Tax Credits

In the summer, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell signed into law Virginia's first-ever tax credit legislation for the motion picture industry. The incentives will go into effect in January of 2011.

ALABAMA

Alabama Call Center Adding 250 Jobs

Ryla Inc. announced in the summer it is adding 250 workers at its Saraland, Ala. call center. The expansion will boost employment at the Mobile-area center to more than 700.

Pipe Manufacturer to Land in South Alabama

Lakeside Steel announced this summer it will build a pipe manufacturing facility in Thomasville, Ala. that will initially house 120 workers. The company is headquartered in Ontario.

Mercedes Bringing 400 Temporary Jobs Back to Alabama Plant

Mercedes-Benz announced in September it is bringing back 400 temporary workers to its Vance, Ala. plant to help manage the peaks and valleys of vehicle demand. The German automaker has seen rising demand for its Alabama-made vehicles so far this year. Mercedes eliminated its temporary work force during the sales slump last year.

Kia Supplier Glovis Announces Major Expansion in East Alabama

Glovis, a top-tier supplier to Kia's assembly plant in West Point, Ga., announced in August it is expanding into the former WestPoint Stevens textile mill in Chambers County, Ala. The Korean company already operates a 558,000-square-foot plant adjacent to the Kia plant across the border in Georgia. The project is expected to create 200 new jobs initially.  

Viper Motorcycle Relocating to Alabama

In the summer Minnesota-based Viper Motorcycle Co. announced plans to move its headquarters and manufacturing operations to Auburn, Ala. The high-performance motorcycle maker will build a 63,000-square-foot facility in Auburn Technology Park West. The project should generate about 100 jobs. 

Mercedes Opens New Body Shop at Alabama Plant

In the late summer quarter, Mercedes-Benz marked the completion of a 200,000-square-foot expansion of its body shop at its Vance, Ala. factory. The $150 million body shop expansion will accommodate future generations of the vehicles currently built at the plant. The work is part of an overall project valued at $290 million, which also included improvements in assembly and paint operations. Mercedes employs 2,800 workers in Vance where the M-Class, R-Class and GL-Class models are assembled. The C-Class sedan model will be built at the Alabama plant in 2014. For more information on the South's automotive industry, go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com.

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 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 in Cullman, Ala. The company is adding $4.6 million in new equipment and adding 15 new jobs.

Supplier Adding 200 Jobs in Small Town Alabama

SL Alabama, which currently employs 520 at its facilities in Alexander City, Ala., is adding 75,000 square feet in a $23 million expansion. The automotive parts supplier will add 200 employees in the deal. For more information on economic development in the rural South, go to www.SmallTownSouth.com.

Another Supplier Expanding in North Alabama

Ohio-based Sanoh America announced in the summer it will add 40 to 50 workers at its plant in Scottsboro, Ala. The $3.5 million expansion will increase production of brake and fuel tubing assemblies. Sanoh is a supplier to Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai and other automotive OEMs.

ARKANSAS

Green Motor Manufacturing to Hire 55 in Rural Arkansas

SN Tech announced in August it has formed a partnership with ElectroCraft to produce a "green" motor at ElectroCraft's Searcy, Ark. plant. The motors will be used in household and commercial heating and air conditioning units. The deal will create 55 new jobs.

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.

Kimberly-Clark Adding Jobs in Arkansas

The Kimberly-Clark Corp. announced it is investing $25 million at its Conway, Ark. plant, while hiring 40 more workers. The plant, which currently houses about 500 employees, produces feminine hygiene products.

GEORGIA

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.

German Automotive Parts Supplier Announces New Georgia Plant

Germany-based plastics manufacturer Moeller Tech announced in the late summer quarter it will locate a manufacturing plant in rural Elberton, Ga. The project is expected to create 75 new jobs and represents a $9.75 million investment. The new plant will provide plastic injection molding for BMW. For more information on the South’s automotive industry, go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com. 

Great Dane to Open Plant in Statesboro, Ga.

In mid-August, Great Dane Trailers announced that it will build a new manufacturing facility in Statesboro, Ga., investing $33.5 million and creating more than 400 jobs. The 450,000-square-foot facility, which will open in 2012, will manufacture refrigerated trailers. The company has seven other manufacturing plants in the U.S.

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.

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. 

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.

KENTUCKY

Bowling Green Racking Up the Deals

SCA North American Personal Care is expanding its plant in Bowling Green, Ky., where it makes incontinence care products for retail and health care institutional markets. The company is investing $50 million and adding 65 jobs.

Magna Car Top Investing in Kentucky

Magna Car Top Systems, a division of Magna Steyr, is investing about $1 million to expand its plant in Bowling Green, Ky. The expansion is a result of a new contract Magna earned to produce soft tops for the Chevrolet Camaro. The deal will create 30 new jobs.

Bruss Cuts Ribbon on NA Headquarters in Kentucky

In September, Germany-based Bruss North America celebrated the expansion of its corporate headquarters in Russell Springs, Ky. The company invested $10 million in the expansion and is in the process of adding more than 100 new jobs. Bruss specializes in the manufacturing of sealing systems for transmissions and engines.

Another Automotive Supplier Expands in Bowling Green

NHK of America Suspension Components (NASCO) announced in the summer it is investing $10 million in its Bowling Green, Ky. plant, allowing the company to upgrade its equipment and maintain its existing 206 employees. Established in 1986, NASCO manufactures suspension coil springs and truck lid torsion bars.

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. For more information on economic development in the rural South, go to www.SmallTownSouth.com.

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.

Owensboro, Ky. Sees Big Day

U.S. Bank announced on July 1 it will expand its home mortgage servicing center in Owensboro, Ky. The $14.1 million deal will create 500 new jobs. On the same day, Pinkerton Tobacco, a subsidiary of Swedish Match, announced it will upgrade its facility in Owensboro, retaining 296 jobs. 

Sun Products Building 1.4-Million-SF Plant in Bowling Green

The Sun Products Corp., a provider of laundry-care products, announced in the summer it is investing $10.77 million to construct a 1.4-million-square-foot distribution center in Bowling Green, Ky. The company, which currently employs nearly 1,000 people in Bowling Green, plans to consolidate its nine existing facilities into a single, larger warehouse and distribution center.

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. 

Automotive Supplier Expands in Kentucky

Corvac Composites, a maker of plastic parts for the automotive industry, is investing $8.1 million to expand its operations in Butler County, Ky. The new 93,750-square-foot plant will assemble and ship parts currently produced in the company's existing plant to Toyota, Honda and GM. The company will hire 75 people as a result of the expansion.

LOUISIANA

SNF Flopam Breaks Ground on New $350 Million Louisiana Facility

In August, SNF broke ground on a $350 million water-soluble polymers manufacturing facility in Iberville Parish in South Louisiana. The company will produce acrylamide monomer and polyacrylamide powders. The products are used to assist in removing impurities from water and are also used in oil and natural gas drilling. The project will create about 500 new jobs.

CQMS Razer Announces Expansion in Rural Louisiana

Australia-based CQMS Razer, a provider of consumable high-wear parts to the extraction and processing operations within the world's mining industries, is expanding the capabilities and product lines at its facility in Mansfield, La. The project will create more than 200 new jobs.

MISSISSIPPI

Texas Company Investing $500 Million in Five Mississippi Biofuel Plants

KiOR, a Pasadena, Tex. biofuels company, announced in the late summer quarter that it is locating five biofuel production facilities in Mississippi. In total, KiOR will invest more than $500 million in its Mississippi facilities and has committed to create at least 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state. The company uses a catalytic conversion process to convert biomass, including feedstock, wood products and agricultural waste, into a high-quality renewable crude oil known are Re-Crude.

Toyota Starts Hiring at Delayed Tupelo Assembly Plant

Gov. Haley Barbour and officials from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi announced in late August that the company is resuming hiring at its Blue Springs, Miss. plant. "I am so pleased that Toyota is moving forward with its hiring process and is creating so many high-quality jobs for the residents of Mississippi. Today is a great day for not only north Mississippi but for the state as a whole," Gov. Barbour said. In 2008 Toyota announced a delay in its plans to start producing vehicles in Blue Springs due to market conditions and a weak economy. In June Toyota announced its plans to resume preparations for production at the plant, where it will begin assembling the Corolla model in the fall of 2011. The Japanese automaker is committed to creating 2,000 jobs at the facility.

BorgWarner Drivetrain Expanding Mississippi Plant

Auburn Hills, Mich.-based BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems, a global power train supplier, has announced the expansion of its operations in Water Valley, Miss. The expansion will create approximately 120 new jobs. The company plans to introduce a new generation of transmission controls, known as mini direct-acting solenoids, to the production line at the Mississippi facility.

Tier 1 Toyota Supplier to Restart Operations in Mississippi

Auto Parts Manufacturing Mississippi (APMM), the U.S. operations of Toyota Auto Body Co., announced in August it will move forward with its plans to provide stamped parts, body weld parts and plastic parts to the Toyota plant at Blue Springs, Miss. The $200 million facility in Baldwyn will employ 300 workers. In June, Toyota announced that it would resume operations at its 10th North American manufacturing facility in northeast Mississippi. APMM was the first Toyota supplier to announce it would build a plant in Mississippi when Toyota picked the Tupelo site in 2007.

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.

Two Steel Processors Locating in Columbus, Miss.

Mississippi Steel Processing and New Process Steel broke ground in August on the companies' new steel processing facilities, which will be located at the Severstal site in Columbus, Miss. Both companies will process steel for Severstal. Together, the companies are investing $25 million and the deal will create about 85 new jobs.

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.

Worthington Cylinders Expanding Mississippi Plant

Ohio-based Worthington Cylinders announced in the summer quarter it will invest $11 million and add 80 workers at its plant in New Albany, Miss. The company is a leading supplier of pressure tanks and pressure cylinders. 

MISSOURI

Big River Adding 70 Jobs with $24.4 in Stimulus

Big River Telephone Co. of St. Louis announced it is adding 70 workers after receiving $24.4 million in stimulus funding from the federal government. The company will extend high-speed Internet service to seven counties in rural southeast Missouri.

Steel Equipment Manufacturer Hiring in 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.

NORTH CAROLINA

CAT Plans North Carolina Expansion

In addition to new plants announced this summer in Winston-Salem and Victoria, Tex., Illinois-based Caterpillar announced it is expanding its manufacturing facility in Lee County, N.C. The deal will generate 325 jobs. A Caterpillar supplier is also expected to locate 160 workers at the Lee County site. 

Ethan Allen Expansion Generates 90 New Jobs in Rural North Carolina

Furniture manufacturer Ethan Allen Operations, Inc., part of Ethan Allen Interiors, will expand in Old Fort, N.C. The company plans to create 90 jobs. Ethan Allen employs about 1,300 in North Carolina.

Michelin Investing $11M in Rural N.C.

Stanly County, N.C. and two municipalities are offering Michelin $900,000 in incentives for the promise of adding 70 jobs to the company's aircraft tire plant that is located in rural Northwood, N.C. The company has received 1,100 applications for those 70 jobs.

Hatteras Yachts Adding 350 Workers in 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.

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.

Celgard Closes on 20 Acres in North Carolina

Celgard, a supplier of microporous separators used in electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries, purchased a site in the International Business Park in Concord, N.C. The company will build a 150,000-square-foot facility on the site. It is also expanding its existing space in nearby Charlotte. Together the two deals will create about 200 jobs.

Magna Announces Big Expansion in North Carolina

Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International announced June 15 that it is adding 327 jobs and investing $10 million at three plants it operates in Lenoir, Salisbury and Newton, N.C. The plants are part of the Magna Composites division, which produces plastic exterior and interior components. Magna currently employs 360 people at the three plants. North Carolina successfully recruited the projects over competition from sites in Mexico, Georgia, Kentucky and Indiana. For more information on the automotive industry in the South, go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com.

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.

Jade Apparel to Begin Operations in Tarboro, N.C.

New Jersey-based Jade Apparel is moving into the old Glenoit Fabrics facility in Tarboro, N.C. The facility will produce apparel for the military. About 250 jobs are expected to be created in the $2 million deal. 

OKLAHOMA

Wind Tower Manufacturer Plans New Oklahoma Plant

Eagle Claw Fabrication has announced plans to build a 150,000-square-foot facility specifically designed for the construction of wind turbine towers at the Port of Muskogee, Okla. The company plans to create 175 jobs in the $28 million project.

Citi Trends Announces Distribution Center in Oklahoma

Citi Trends, an apparel retailer, announced plans to open a 425,000-square-foot distribution center in Roland, Okla. The Savannah-based company will create 200 jobs in the deal.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Palmetto Synthetics Investing $7 Million in Rural South Carolina

Palmetto Synthetics, a producer of a variety of fibers and polymers, announced in the summer it is investing $7 million at its Kingstree, S.C. plant. The deal will result in 75 new jobs.

Maverick Equipment Locating Plant in South Carolina

Maverick Equipment Manufacturing, a maker of hydraulic hammers and components, announced it will locate a new facility in Dorchester County, S.C. The project, a $1.5 million investment, will create 71 new jobs.

TB Kawashima Announces S.C. Expansion

TB Kawashima, a provider of textiles used by the automotive industry for car interiors, announced in August it will invest $9 million in its Kershaw County, S.C. facility. The deal is expected to create 50 new jobs. The company has contracts with Nissan, Honda, Toyota and GM.

Big Deal Goes Down in Laurens County, S.C.

So far this year the South Carolina Upstate region has landed several large manufacturing operations, including Proterra and First Quality Tissue. You can add one more to that list. Germany-based ZF Group announced in the mid- summer quarter that it will expand its operations in South Carolina. The company plans to invest approximately $350 million in a new manufacturing facility in Laurens County, S.C. to produce fuel efficient automatic transmissions for the passenger car and light truck market. The project will generate 900 new jobs, making it the largest single infusion of new jobs in the history of Laurens County. ZF is a worldwide automotive supplier with 123 plants in 27 countries.

TENNESSEE

VIAM Investing $4 Million in Tennessee

VIAM Manufacturing announced plans in the summer to expand the company's headquarters facility in Manchester, Tenn. The expansion will provide additional manufacturing capabilities for automotive interior products and create 34 new jobs.

Automotive Parts Supplier Announces Project in Tennessee

SMW Automotive, a Tier 1 supplier of automotive chassis and suspension parts, will open a production facility in Shelbyville, Tenn. The 131,000-square-foot plant represents a $26 million investment and will create 170 new jobs. The Michigan-based company produces parts such as brake and chassis components for Nissan and Volkswagen in the Southern Automotive Corridor.

Nissan Opens Tennessee Parts Redistribution Center

In the summer quarter, Nissan opened its Nashville area parts center. The 712,000-square-foot facility in Wilson County distributes service parts to dealers throughout North America as well as Puerto Rico and the Middle East. The facility also serves as a production parts distribution center to plants worldwide including those in Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Thailand and Spain. 

TEXAS

Caterpillar Picks another Site in the South for a New Plant

On the heals of its July 30 announcement that it is building a new $426 million, 392-job plant in Winston-Salem, N.C., in mid-August Caterpillar revealed plans that it will build a $150 million, 600,000-square-foot, 500-employee facility in Victoria, Tex. The new plant will produce hydraulic excavators. Once operational in 2012, the plant will triple the current capacity of hydraulic excavators produced in the U.S.

VIRGINIA

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.

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.

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 for the meat snack food company in Henry County since 2009.

WEST VIRGINIA

Hino Expanding in West Virginia

Hino Motors is expanding its work force in Williamstown, W.Va. as it increases its output of trucks from eight a day to 20 vehicles per day. The Japanese company that is affiliated with Toyota assembles medium duty class trucks in West Virginia.

NGK Spark Plug Moves California Operations to W.Va.

Japan-based NGK Spark Plugs announced in September it will be consolidating its spark plug manufacturing in the U.S. to its Sissonville, W.V. location. The company plans for the transition of production equipment from California to Sissonville to begin in October and the move means new job creation at the company's Sissonville site. NGK employs about 300 at its West Virginia spark plug plant.

Energy Firm Investing $25M, Creating 280 Jobs in West Virginia

Select Energy Services of Gainesville, Tex. recently purchased Arvilla Well Services in West Virginia. Select Energy plans to invest $25 million, retain 119 employees and create approximately 280 new jobs in the process of developing Marcellus Shale in West Virginia.

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