< Previous SITE SELECTION MAY 2024 17 2023 TOP MICROPOLITANS BY NUMBER OF PROJECTS 2023 2022 Micropolitans Projects 1 1 Findlay, OH 25 2 3 Cullman, AL 11 3 9 Angola, IN 10 T4 44 Frankfort, KY 9 T4 3 Sidney, OH 9 T4 44 Pottsville, PA 9 T7 9 Tupelo, MS 8 T7 9 Shelby, NC 8 T7 5 Greenville, OH 8 T10 44 Jefferson, GA 7 T10 44 Defiance, OH 7 T10 44 Wooster, OH 7 T13 17 Richmond, IN 6 T13 — Roanoke Rapids, NC* 6 T13 28 Chillicothe, OH 6 T13 44 Tiffin, OH 6 T17 — Talladega-Sylacauga, AL 5 T17 144 LaGrange, GA-AL 5 T17 2 Thomasville, GA 5 T17 28 Huntington, IN 5 T17 44 Warsaw, IN 5 T17 7 Batavia, NY 5 T17 77 Jamestown-Dunkirk-Fredonia, NY 5 T17 22 Bucyrus-Galion, OH 5 T17 7 Fremont, OH 5 T17 77 New Philadelphia-Dover, OH 5 T17 44 Gaffney, SC 5 T17 77 Moses Lake, WA 5 T29 144 Camden, AR 4 T29 144 Bainbridge, GA 4 T29 44 Douglas, GA 4 T29 22 Dublin, GA 4 T29 — Milledgeville, GA 4 T29 — Mount Vernon, IL 4 T29 77 Marion, IN 4 T29 144 Mason City, IA 4 T29 144 Alexandria, MN 4 T29 144 Amsterdam, NY 4 T29 44 Sandusky, OH 4 T29 144 Roseburg, OR 4 T29 77 Seneca, SC 4 T29 77 Paris, TX 4 T29 144 Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI 4 T44 144 Selma, AL 3 T44 — Torrington, CT 3 T44 — Palatka, FL 3 T44 144 Americus, GA 3 T44 77 Statesboro, GA 3 2023 2022 Micropolitans Projects T44 22 Waycross, GA 3 T44 77 Ottawa, IL 3 T44 144 Pontiac, IL 3 T44 — Logansport, IN 3 T44 28 Salina, KS 3 T44 144 Danville, KY 3 T44 — Henderson, KY 3 T44 28 Murray, KY 3 T44 144 Somerset, KY 3 T44 — Minden, LA 3 T44 — New Iberia, LA 3 T44 144 Big Rapids, MI 3 T44 44 Sturgis, MI 3 T44 144 Traverse City, MI 3 T44 144 Faribault-Northfield, MN 3 T44 28 Columbus, MS 3 T44 — Butte-Silver Bow, MT 3 T44 144 Fremont, NE 3 T44 77 Albemarle, NC 3 T44 77 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC 3 T44 28 Jackson, OH 3 T44 77 Van Wert, OH 3 T44 — Bartlesville, OK 3 T44 144 Durant, OK 3 T44 — McAlester, OK 3 T44 144 Meadville, PA 3 T44 44 Brookings, SD 3 T44 144 Cookeville, TN 3 T44 144 Greeneville, TN 3 T44 77 McMinnville, TN 3 T44 — El Campo, TX 3 T44 — Huntsville, TX 3 T44 — Mount Pleasant, TX 3 T44 28 Danville, VA 3 T44 44 Manitowoc, WI 3 T84 — Enterprise, AL 2 T84 17 Blytheville, AR 2 T84 — Seaford, DE 2 T84 — Calhoun, GA 2 T84 77 Cordele, GA 2 T84 144 Fitzgerald, GA 2 T84 — Thomaston, GA 2 T84 144 Toccoa, GA 2 T84 144 Dixon, IL 2 T84 — Effingham, IL 2 T84 77 Galesburg, IL 2 T84 — Marion-Herrin, IL 2 T84 144 Quincy, IL-MO 2 2023 2022 Micropolitans Projects T84 — Connersville, IN 2 T84 44 Crawfordsville, IN 2 T84 77 Decatur, IN 2 T84 144 Plymouth, IN 2 T84 144 Seymour, IN 2 T84 144 Wabash, IN 2 T84 28 Washington, IN 2 T84 77 Clinton, IA 2 T84 144 Fort Madison-Keokuk, IA-IL-MO 2 T84 — Garden City, KS 2 T84 9 McPherson, KS 2 T84 77 Pittsburg, KS 2 T84 144 Madisonville, KY 2 T84 44 Richmond-Berea, KY 2 T84 — Morgan City, LA 2 T84 77 Ruston, LA 2 T84 144 Cadillac, MI 2 T84 — Owosso, MI 2 T84 — Albert Lea, MN 2 T84 144 Fergus Falls, MN 2 T84 77 Meridian, MS 2 T84 — Moberly, MO 2 T84 — Helena, MT 2 T84 144 Norfolk, NE 2 T84 — Elko, NV 2 T84 77 Pahrump, NV 2 T84 28 Cortland, NY 2 T84 77 Plattsburgh, NY 2 T84 — Forest City, NC 2 T84 144 Marion, NC 2 T84 44 Sanford, NC 2 T84 — Washington, NC 2 T84 144 Jamestown, ND 2 T84 77 Norwalk, OH 2 T84 77 Salem, OH 2 T84 — Shawnee, OK 2 T84 144 Stillwater, OK 2 T84 — Lewistown, PA 2 T84 — Lawrenceburg, TN 2 T84 144 Lufkin, TX 2 T84 — Nacogdoches, TX 2 T84 — Plainview, TX 2 T84 77 Martinsville, VA 2 T84 — Ellensburg, WA 2 T84 — Othello, WA 2 T84 144 Clarksburg, WV 2 T84 77 Point Pleasant, WV-OH 2 T84 — Marinette, WI-MI 2 Source: Conway Projects Database; *orange-coded communities denote new to Top 100 this yearU K Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch welcomed Texas Governor Greg Abbott to London in March to sign a trade pact that “aims to help make it quicker, easier, and cheaper for UK and Texas fi rms to do business by tackling trade barriers, growing investment and driving commerce between the UK and Texas.” e UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) announcement noted that the GDP of Texas (£. trillion or US$. billion in ) was larger than that of Italy. e UK is the Lone Star State’s eighth-largest goods export market and total trade in good between the UK and the state came to £. billion ($US. billion) in . Top products exported to Texas from the UK come in such sectors as nuclear equipment, aircraft and pharmaceutical products, said the DBT. e new arrangement, it said, “is targeted at sectors where the UK and Texas have shared expertise such as new energy solutions — including hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization, and storage; life sciences; and professional business services. e UK seeks to unlock more than , jobs and up to £ billion of investment by in the hydrogen sector. Meanwhile, its ‘BioBridge’ collaboration with Texas Medical Center in Houston has already supported eff orts by more than innovative UK life sciences companies to grow their businesses in Texas, said the DBT. One of them is Paxman Coolers, whose CEO Richard Paxman said, “We are thrilled to hear that the UK and Texas have signed a SMC to enhance trade and economic development ties. We have been working in Texas since , setting up our U.S. HQ in Houston in the heart of the Texas Medical Center. is dynamic state is one of our largest U.S. markets, representing % of our $ million business.” A previous pact was signed in November with Florida. e UK now has signed such pacts with eight states (see map), including Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington State. Altogether those states’ GDPs are greater than that of Japan and equivalent to one- quarter of the U.S. economy. e UK is in active discussions to conclude MoUs with further states, including California, Colorado, and Illinois. In her remarks, Secretary Badenoch noted one aspect surely to be of interest to employers hungry for talent: e pact will support recognition of professional qualifi cations. “Texas is already signed up to the mutual recognition agreement for architects which UK and U.S. bodies concluded last year,” she said, “and there is ongoing work towards a similar agreement for engineering.” UNITED KINGDOM 18 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION Eight States and More to Come by ADAM BRUNS adam.bruns@siteselection.com Photo: Getty Images SITE SELECTION MAY 2024 19 The mutual recognition agreement between the UK’s Architects Registration Board and their U.S. counterpart NCARB includes 44 U.S. states and territories. The forthcoming engineering agreement between the UK’s Engineering Council and their U.S. counterpart NCEES “would open opportunities for individuals and businesses, covering areas such as trade, knowledge sharing and cooperation, as well as helping to address skills shortages in critical areas,” the Engineering Council said in February, anticipating a signing this spring and an official launch in August. Some Data Available, Some Not The most recent data on inward FDI were released in June 2023, showing that in the 2022- 2023 fiscal year, outside of London (528 projects, 20,647 jobs), the West Midlands saw the most FDI projects (181) and related job creation (8,252), followed by the North West with 137 projects and Scotland and the South East with 130 projects each. U.S. companies accounted for 418 of the 1,654 FDI projects that landed in the UK. Those projects are creating 20,434 new jobs and safeguarding another 1,665 jobs, according to the DBT. Asked how many of those projects come from companies based in the eight states with which the department now has trade agreements, a spokesperson said that because the project data is taken from a subscription to fdimarkets.com, even the DBT itself does not have permission to share the data with non-subscribers. The spokesperson further clarified other MoUs and ongoing arrangements, including an MoU between the UK and Medical Alley in Minnesota; an MoU between the UK Department for Transport and the city of Los Angeles on reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and an MoU on clean energy with Maine. UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch Photo courtesy of DBT20 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION WORLD REPORTS by ALEXIS ELMORE alexis.elmore@siteselection.com Brazil Rides with Stellantis B y 2030, Stellantis plans to introduce more than 40 new vehicles and hybrid- fl ex models in Brazil. The company responsible for brands such as Jeep, Dodge and Fiat has committed $6.07 billion over the next fi ve years, marking the largest automotive investment in South America. “This announcement solidifi es our trust and commitment in the future of the South American automotive industry and is a response to the favorable business environment here,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. “As a critical part of our ‘third engine’ growth strategy, South America will take a leading role in accelerating the decarbonization of mobility together with our employees, our supply chain network and our partners.” The investment will equip Stellantis sites with bio- hybrid technology, combining electrifi cation with hybrid engines powered by biofuels on three diff erent levels with plans to produce battery electric vehicles in years to come. Europe’s Top 10 Best Cities 2024 G lobal consulting fi rm Resonance analyzed more than 180 cities throughout Europe and found the top 100 destinations for tourism, residence and business in 2024. Resonance came to these conclusions based on overarching factors such as livability, lovability and prosperity. (See how some of them performed in the Global Best to Invest rankings on p. 53 of this issue.) Doing More in Singapore I n March 2024, biopharmaceutical manufacturer Novartis broke ground on a $256 million expansion of its 22-year old Singapore site. The project brings in new digital and automation solutions that will increase productivity and improve operational effi ciency while providing upskill training to its current workforce. With the extra space Novartis will produce therapeutic antibody drugs as operations begin in 2026. The investment will create 100 new jobs. The investment from Novartis aims to tackle rising demand in the Asian biotherapeutics market. Photo courtesy of Novartis SOURCE: Data provided by Resonance Fiat is Stellantis’ No. 1-selling brand in South America. Photo courtesy of Stellantis EUROPE’S BEST CITIES 2024 1. London, United Kingdom 2. Paris, France 3. Berlin, Germany 4. Rome, Italy 5. Madrid, Spain 6. Prague, Czech Republic 7. Barcelona, Spain 8. Amsterdam, Netherlands 9. Istanbul, Turkey 10. Milan, Italy SITE SELECTION MAY 2024 21 Committed to Decarbonization N orthern Spain’s coastal city of Gijón was selected at the location for a 1.2-megawatt pilot hydrogen production plant that will allow for further research into hydrogen recovery processes. Hydrogen Hub Asturias (H2Asturias), the over $7 million private-public partnership project led by ArcelorMittal, broke ground on its facility in March 2024 and is expected to be operational in 2027. Some of the partners within H2Asturias include H2Vector Energy Technologies, the University of Oviedo and the Carbon Science and Technology Institute. Of the total project investment, a little over $5 million comes from public funding. The “GasLab” will use innovative technology to process and test multiple types of industrial gases with a goal of learning more about decarbonization. New Base For Growth A fter considering several potential sites, semiconductor materials manufacturer Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. decided Japan’s Gunma Prefecture would land its 1.6-million-sq.-ft. manufacturing and R&D project. The $547 million investment will bring a new manufacturing facility and establish a research and development base in Isesaki City for Shin-Etsu’s semiconductor lithography materials business. This site will produce photomask blanks, ArF photoresists and other critical semiconductor components to enable the company to meet rising demand. Construction will take place in several phases, with the fi rst phase to be complete in 2026. Shin-Etsu is expanding its semiconductor materials portfolio with a fourth location in Japan’s Gunma Prefecture. Photo: Getty Images Decarbonization research at this processing facility will be used to inform ArcelorMittal’s steel facilities in Spain. Photo courtesy of ArcelorMittal A First For India O ver the next fi ve years, Indosol Solar is investing $155 million in what the company is calling the world’s fi rst fully integrated quartz-to- module manufacturing plant. The project lands on 30 acres in the village of Ramayapatam within India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Here the company will produce 500 megawatts of fully automated solar PV modules, solar cells and ingot wafers. Of the fi ve phases of build-out, 1A is anticipated to be complete by December 2024, introducing the initial 5MW of capacity. Total capacity will be reached in 2028, creating 800 new jobs. Andhra Pradesh is set to gain the world’s largest quartz-to-module facility. Photo: Getty ImagesSino-Latin Connections Grow Nearshoring to the Americas to depend less on China? Better get there before the Chinese firms do. E ven as U.S.-based multinationals hedge location bets by nearshoring and friend- shoring operations to Latin America and the Caribbean and reducing their reliance on China, Chinese companies are also investing heavily in Latin America. Since January 2021, Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database has tracked 57 major facility investments across Latin America from Chinese companies — 45 of them in Mexico, five in Brazil and a few scattered across Argentina, Chile and Colombia. Meanwhile, countries across the region scurry to negotiate new trade agreements with the People’s Republic. In a February report on China’s outward FDI in the electric vehicle sector, Rhodium Group reported that “EV producers including BYD, Chery and SAIC-owned MG are scouting locations in Mexico.” MG Motor and SAIC invested $19 million last year in a parts distribution operation in San Luis Potosí, and unnamed sources told the Financial Times in December that MG aims to build a Mexican factory with an investment as large as $2 billion, with another unnamed Chinese battery company considering a $12 billion investment. “Production in Mexico could enable Chinese firms to not only become IRA [Inflation Reduction Act]- compliant but also make use of cheaper labor and capital costs to supply the U.S. market,” the Rhodium Group report says. “Investments in Mexico might also face less local political pushback compared to a site in the U.S., where Chinese battery projects have received numerous complaints from local lawmakers for being linked to the CCP or creating by ADAM BRUNS adam.bruns@siteselection.com LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN 22 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION China’ BYD rolled off its 6 millionth “new energy” vehicle at its plant in Zhengzhou, China, in November 2023, but its global growth plans also include strong investment in Latin America. Image courtesy of of BYDcyber vulnerabilities in U.S. critical infrastructure. “The tentative investment plans and large volume of Mexican car imports from China in 2023, mainly internal combustion engine vehicles, have alarmed DC policymakers,” Rhodium said. “To prevent Mexico becoming a backdoor for Chinese companies, the U.S. Treasury Department negotiated an agreement with Mexico in December 2023 to improve Mexico’s investment screening procedures. We will have to wait to see whether such arrangements end up chilling Chinese EV investment in Mexico.” Covering the Territory There’s nothing chilled about Chinese projects across Latin America for now, including Sailun Tire Company’s plans to create 1,400 jobs with a $424 million plant in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, and Ganfeng Lithium’s investment in Lithium Americas’ Pastos Grande lithium brine project in Salta, Argentina. BYD, which delivered its first batch of electric buses to the streets of Mexico City in January, first invested years ago in an electric bus and battery complex in Campinas, Brazil, not far from where, in 2022, the company’s rail vehicles for São Paulo’s Metro Line 17 (Gold Line) SkyRail are being delivered. The company’s HAN EV model first arrived in 2021 in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and the Bahamas. The company’s first foray into South America goes back a decade to 2014, when under the watchful eyes of Chinese President Xi Jinping and then-Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, BYD committed to construct its first iron-phosphate battery factory in South America. BYD also is building a cathode plant in Chile, where fellow Chinese company Tsingshan is investing in a lithium-iron-phosphate plant. Tsingshan is also a partner with Europe’s Eramet on a lithium project in Argentina. China’s CATL seeks to mine lithium in Bolivia. In August 2023, while celebrating rave reviews in Brazil for its BYD YUAN PLUS EV model, BYD announced that, in collaboration with the Bahian government, it will “start operations in three factories simultaneously in Camaçari. One will be dedicated to the production of chassis for electric buses and trucks, a second for hybrid and electric automobiles, and a third for lithium and iron phosphate processing. Over the next several years, these three factories are expected to generate more than 5,000 jobs” with an investment projected to be around $600 million. That same month, the company delivered its first double-decker electric buses to Argentina. South America is central to the company’s growth plans. In celebrating the roll-off of its 6 millionth “new energy” vehicle at its plant in Zhengzhou, China, in November 2023, the company announced it now has entered 58 countries and regions, sold more than 200,000 passenger vehicles and achieved “significant victories in the new energy vehicle market in Thailand, Brazil and other locations.” In March of this year, BYD said it would boost the overall Camaçari investment to $1.1 billion, while also building enough housing to house more than 4,200 employees, according to a report from La Fundación Andrés Bello – Centro de Investigación Chino Latinoamericano, an independent organization dedicated to investigating and analyzing relations between China and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Chinese carmaker Chery is investing $400 million alongside Argentina’s Socma Group in a new manufacturing plant in Santa Fe, Argentina. According to published reports, the plant will be supplied with batteries from Chinese battery maker Gotion High-Tech’s plant in northern Argentina. Chery invested the same amount in a plant in Jacareí, Brazil, in São Paulo State that opened in 2014. But the plant is suspending production until 2025 as it converts from internal combustion to hybrid and electric vehicles. While it doesn’t have manufacturing in the country, Chery also has received a $50 million investment from the Vardí Group to open 10 showrooms and workshops across Colombia that will create over 200 direct jobs. 24 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION The population of Latin America in 2023 reached 652 million people with a labor force of 331 million. Source: ECLAC’s Demographic Observatory 2023 report, March 2024Next >