< Previous86 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION 2023 TOP DEALS — NORTH AMERICA 1. Tesla | Santa Catarina (Monterrey), Nuevo Leon, Mexico $5 BILLION + 5,000 JOBS 2. Toyota Battery Manufacturing, Inc. | Liberty, North Carolina (Greensboro-High Point) $8 BILLION + 3,000 JOBS 3. Hyundai Motor Group/LG Energy Solution | Savannah, Georgia $6.3 BILLION + 3,400 JOBS 4. Volkswagen | St. Thomas, Ontario $5.1 BILLION + 3,000 JOBS 5. Northvolt | Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Quebec $5 BILLION + 3,000 JOBS 6. Tesla | Sparks, Nevada $3.6 BILLION + 3,000 JOBS 7. Ford Motor Co./Contemporary Amperex Technology | Battle Creek, Michigan $3.5 BILLION + 2,500 JOBS 7. Ford Motor Co./Contemporary Amperex Technology | Marshall/Marshall Township, Michigan (Battle Creek) $3.5 BILLION + 2,500 JOBS 8. Scout Motors | Blythewood, South Carolina $2 BILLION + 4,000 JOBS 9. Gotion High-Tech Co., Ltd. | Manteno, Illinois $2 BILLION + 2,600 JOBS 10. GM/Samsung SDI | New Carlisle, Indiana (South Bend) $3 BILLION + 1,700 JOBS 11. FG LA LLC (Formosa Plastics Group) | St. James Parish, Louisiana (Greater New Orleans) $9.4 BILLION + 1,700 JOBS 12. Amkor Technology | Peoria, Arizona (Greater Phoenix) $2 BILLION + 2,000 JOBS 13. Samsung SDI Co., Ltd./Stellantis | Kokomo, Indiana $3.2 BILLION + 1,400 JOBS 14. Integra Technologies | Wichita, Kansas $1.8 BILLION, 2,000 JOBS 15. EMP Shield Inc. | Burlington, Kansas $1.9 BILLION + 1,200 JOBS 16. Texas Instruments | Lehi, Utah $11 BILLION + 800 JOBS 17. Maxeon Solar Technologies | Albuquerque, New Mexico $1 BILLION + 1,800 JOBS 18. Waaree Energies Ltd. | Brookshire, Texas (Metro Houston) $1 BILLION + 1,500 JOBS 19. Eli Lilly and Company | Lebanon, Indiana (Metro Indianapolis) $3.7 BILLION + 700 JOBS 20. Fidelis New Energy | Mason County, West Virginia (Point Pleasant) $2 BILLION + 800 JOBS The Mountaineer GigaSystem™ planned by Fidelis New Energy for Point Pleasant in Mason County, West Virginia, includes “Hyperscale Carbon Neutral Data Centers providing both production and consumption of lifecycle carbon neutral hydrogen.” Rendering courtesy of Fidelis New Energy SITE SELECTION MAY 2024 87 Continuing a trend from the year before, investments in the industry dominate this year’s Top Deals of the Year, determined by a points system driven by corporate facility investment and affiliated job creation as tracked by Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database. The Top 20 Deals of 2023 in North America and Top 20 Deals from everywhere else are presented here in ranked order by total points earned. Project locations are identified by specific community and by metro region where applicable. Intel in June signed a revised letter of intent with the German federal government for a site in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, that will include two wafer fabs and an investment of more than €30 billion ($31.8 billion). Rendering courtesy of Intel88 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION 2023 TOP DEALS — INTERNATIONAL T1. Intel | Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany $31.8 BILLION + 3,000 JOBS T1. NMDC Ltd. | Chhattisgarh, India $3.1 BILLION + 10,000 JOBS T3. Prologium Technology Co., Ltd. | Dunkirk, France $5.5 BILLION + 3,000 JOBS T3. Micron Technology | Sanand, Gujarat, India (Ahmedabad) $2.7 BILLION + 5,000 JOBS T3. Northway Healthcare Group | Vilnius, Lithuania $7.6 BILLION + 2,100 JOBS 6. Avesta Battery & Energy Engineering | Galati, Romania $1.5 BILLION + 8,000 JOBS T7. LG Energy Solution | Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk- do, South Korea $3.1 BILLION + 1,800 JOBS T7. Carbon | Fos-sur-Mer, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France (Aix-Marseille, Provence) $1.6 BILLION + 3,000 JOBS 9. Amara Raja Batteries Ltd | Mahbubnagar, Telangana, India $1.1 BILLION + 10,000 JOBS 10. Mercedes-Benz Group | Jawor, Wojewodztwo Dolnoslaskie, Poland $1.5 BILLION + 2,500 JOBS 11. Texas Instruments | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia $2.2 BILLION + 1,300 JOBS 12. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India $700 MILLION + 100,000 JOBS 13. LG Innotek Co. | Haiphong, Thanh Pho Hai Phong, Vietnam $1 BILLION + 2,600 JOBS 14. Ganfeng Lithium Co. | Salta, Argentina $600 MILLION + 100,000 JOBS 15. Novo Nordisk | Kalundborg, Region Sjaelland, Denmark $6 BILLION + 800 JOBS 16. Eli Lilly and Company | Alzey, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany $2.5 BILLION + 1,000 JOBS 17. Pepper Motion | Punganur, Andhra Pradesh, India $557 MILLION + 8,000 JOBS 18. Ionway | Nysa Zamlynie, Wojewodztwo Opolskie, Poland $1.8 BILLION + 900 JOBS 19. Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola/ Cabinda Oil Refinery | Cabinda, Angola $1 BILLION + 1,300 JOBS 20. Hellas Gold Single Member | Nomos Chalkidikis, Central Macedonia, Greece $845 MILLION + 1,400 JOBS Micron’s plans to invest $2.7 billion and create 5,000 jobs at a new fab in Sanand, Gujarat, India (Ahmedabad), build on a presence in India that includes a global development center in Hyderabad (pictured). Photo courtesy of Micron Technology SITE SELECTION MAY 2024 89 Also rising in prominence — and intricately tied to vehicle manufacturing — are multibillion-dollar investments from the semiconductor sector, whether at fabs in places such as Intel’s planned $ billion site in Magdeburg, Germany, or at locations operated by companies in the supply chain, such as leading assembly, packaging and testing fi rm Amkor’s $ billion, ,-job project in the Greater Phoenix community of Peoria, Arizona. Texas Instruments in June 2023 announced plans to expand its internal manufacturing footprint in Malaysia with two new assembly and test factories in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka. Rendering courtesy of Texas Instruments90 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION A merica’s seaports typically stay out of the limelight until something bad happens. But in the rare event of a horrifi c tragedy such as the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the impact of U.S. ports on global supply chains becomes front-page news. In the case of America’s Gulf Coast ports, all eyes now turn to the aftermath of the tragedy that claimed the lives of six construction workers and upended shipping lanes in and out of the Port of Baltimore in late March. While most shipments will be redirected to other Atlantic ports such as those in Richmond, Norfolk, Charleson, Savannah, New Jersey and Jacksonville, experts contacted by Site Selection say that the Gulf Coast ports of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida may experience after-eff ects as well. “ e collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore will not have a signifi cant impact on trade between the U.S. and Europe or the global supply chain in general since much of its tonnage can be easily diverted to alternate East Coast ports like New York/ New Jersey, Norfolk, Philadelphia and Charleston,” says John H. Boyd Jr., principal with e Boyd Company Inc., a site consulting fi rm based in New Jersey. “However, certain segments of trade that rely heavily on the Baltimore port, like auto imports and U.S. exports of coal and imports of cobalt, will be impacted greatly. I understand that coal export by RON STARNER ron.starner@siteselection.com How LNG Energized the South’s Industrial Base GULF COAST PORTS Port Tampa Bay is a major port for automobiles. The longer the Port of Baltimore is shut down, the more auto volume this port may see. Photo courtesy of Port Tampa Bay Gulf Coast ports usher in an era of resiliency and record-setting deals. SITE SELECTION MAY 2024 91 terminals of CSX and Consol are now blocked, with Wilmington being a close- in option.” One impact, which could benefi t Gulf Coast ports, is what happens next in Mexico. “Mexico is a growing force in auto production,” says Boyd. “Elon Musk is the most recent to announce a major plant near Monterrey for Tesla. Mexican auto imports could be diverted to trucks through the Texas border, particularly via Port Laredo. Gulf Coast ports may play a role here as well.” Other experts see Gulf Coast ports taking on a larger role in the U.S. economy. “Because the Baltimore port may be closed for an extended period, you might see some suppliers reroute to the Gulf Coast, but the logistics suggest that it probably will not be a huge shift,” says Dr. Ray Perryman, a Texas-based economist. Investment Records Set in Louisiana One thing we can expect to see more of is further energy development at or near Gulf Coast ports. An example is the Port of Lake Charles in Southwest Louisiana. On Feb. , Lake Charles Methanol II LLC said it plans to invest $ . billion to build a factory to produce low-carbon-intensity methanol and other chemicals at the Port of Lake Charles. If the company secures all needed approvals, the project will create jobs in Calcasieu Parish at an average annual wage of $ , . More than , construction jobs will be generated during peak building. “ e project will deliver substantial tangible economic benefi ts to local communities while providing an environmentally benefi cial blue methanol product to facilitate the transition to low-carbon chemicals and fuels,” LCM President Don Maley said. e project must fi rst undergo a FEED study and regulatory permitting. A fi nal investment decision is expected by mid- . Construction would take another three and a half years, which would allow for commercial operation to begin in late . e project qualifi es for a Louisiana Economic Development FastStart worker training incentive and a $ million state grant for infrastructure. e company is also expected to apply for Louisiana’s Industrial Tax Exemption and Quality Jobs programs. George Swift, president and CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, calls the project “a welcome addition to our regional industrial base, and the numerous jobs it will create will be another boon for Southwest Louisiana’s workforce.” Swift has seen more than $ billion in port- driven investment in Greater Lake Charles during his -year run as the region’s chief economic developer. “ e LNG [liquefi ed natural gas] industry has transformed several areas along the Gulf Coast, especially in Lake Charles, Corpus Christi and Port Arthur,” he says. “ ere has been a huge shift in manufacturing and interest in being in the South. We have fi ve ports in our fi ve-parish region. Each has its own specialty. Each has a role to play in the Gulf Coast economy.” Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., agrees. “ e biggest port story in Louisiana today is the beginning of the Louisiana International Terminal project that is being built downriver from the main port facility in New Orleans,” he says. “ is is a $ billion project that will enable Louisiana to go back to the future in ports. is is why we purchased Louisiana from Napoleon over years ago.” Because the new Panamax ships are too tall The Port of Lake Charles has been the main driver in Southwest Louisiana landing more than $100 billion in new industrial development. Photo courtesy of Port of Lake Charles This is all about the competition between New Orleans and Mobile. is is about who will serve the middle of the country.” — Michael Hecht, President & CEO, Greater New Orleans Inc., on the planned new Louisiana International Terminal angible es while This is all about the competition between tantial tangible mmunities while ly oduct 92 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION to fit under the Crescent City Bridge, the new international terminal will expedite the transition to containerization. “This is all about the competition between New Orleans and Mobile,” says Hecht. “This is about who will serve the middle of the country. The Port of Mobile a couple of years ago surpassed the Port of New Orleans in container volume. That is why you have seen new Amazon and Walmart distribution hubs opens in southern Alabama.” Hecht says that construction on the new terminal is set to begin in 2025, with the opening of the first berth slated for 2028. “This will result in 18,000 new direct and indirect jobs in Louisiana by 2050,” he adds. “We are in a new industrial renaissance. Many large investment projects are moving toward their final investment decision. We’re seeing tens of billions of dollars in proposed new energy projects in South Louisiana. These include investments into carbon capture technology; biofuels; battery manufacturing; and offshore wind manufacturing.” The largest project on the docket in Greater New Orleans now is Venture Global. At $21.4 billion, this LNG complex in Plaquemine Parish is the largest privately financed energy project in Louisiana history, says Hecht. Not even the Biden Administration’s recent pause on approving any new LNG export terminals is slowing down this investment surge, says Hecht. “We have seen no direct impact of the Biden decision to pause new LNG terminals,” he says. “But it is causing a lot of consternation due to the mixed signals it is sending to the market.” Overall, he adds, “the clean energy transition is real. It is not going away. It is being spurred by investment and regulation. Louisiana is well positioned for this transition.” Swift: You Can Never Have Enough Sites Swift says the region’s ports became a major player in the global economy when Cheniere opened its first LNG plant in Cameron Parish in 2016. “That was a huge win for our region,” he says. “When Cheniere opened and when SASOL started production at its $14 billion ethane cracker here, that’s when our area began its extensive surge in growth.” Swift says the ports along the Gulf Coast work in harmony because each port plays to its own strengths. “The U.S. Department of Commerce has decided what each port will do,” he says. “The Port of Houston does containers. The Port of Lake Charles does not do containers. It is a breakbulk port. Lake Charles does refineries and LNG plants. The Port of New Orleans is different than these too. That is why we formed the Southwest Louisiana Port Network. That helped each port in our region know what their strengths are and how they can work together.” Whatever happens going forward, says Swift, the new energy environment is here to stay. “LNG will drive a lot of the growth in Louisiana and Southeast Texas,” he says. “Despite the current pause, I think that delay will be lifted, and those developments will go forward. The ships and the containers will keep getting bigger. We will see more super-carriers. The South is in great shape; and the Gulf Coast will continue to be an energy-producing area. You cannot produce seafood and energy inland. Every region has something. We have energy and seafood.” When asked what advice he would give to other port communities along the Gulf Coast, Swift says, “We should have emphasized and demanded more infrastructure on industrial sites — rail, water, sewer, utilities, power, etc. An empty field no longer works as a qualified industrial site. We now have 11 certified sites in our region. We could have used 25. I should have pushed for more infrastructure.” At $21.4 billion, Venture Global LNG in Plaquemine Parish is the largest privately financed energy project in Louisiana history. Source: GNO Inc. The Port of Houston recently posted unprecedented February trade volumes. Just-released U.S. Army Corps of Engineers waterborne commerce statistics for 2022 ranked the port the busiest in the nation, with six other Gulf Coast ports in the top 10. Photo courtesy of Port of Houston94 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION How Florida Won the Race for Talent T he great wealth migration to Florida is producing more than rich retirees sipping margaritas in tiki bars on sun-splashed beaches. It’s fueling a high-tech investment surge that’s transforming America’s largest peninsula into Silicon South. Dan Tang knows this trend well because he’s part of it. A former longtime Connecticut resident, Tang decided in 2012 that it was time to venture out on his own and launch an upstart electronic component testing business in the small town of Odessa in Pasco County, about 45 minutes north of Tampa. A dozen years later, Global ETS is cutting the ribbon on its new headquarters in Pasco, hiring more workers and celebrating a successful run that has seen the firm expand its facility footprint both domestically and globally. Tang says it would not have been possible without the business-friendly environment, technically skilled workforce and generous community support he has found in Florida. In a recent interview with Site Selection, Tang detailed the reasons for his company’s success in west-central Florida and explained why he thinks the Sunshine State is poised to attract many by RON STARNER ron.starner@siteselection.com Florida STATE SPOTLIGHT An electrical engineer builds the case for the Sunshine State. Pasco County offers a high quality of life and is a preferred destination for professional talent wanting a nice place to live and raise a family in the Tampa Bay Area. Photos courtesy of Pasco EDCNext >