< PreviousNORTH AMERICAN REPORTS Set To Meet North American Speed F resh rubber is set to hit the road from Yokohama Rubber Company’s new tire manufacturing plant in the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila by 2027. The $380 million, 610,000-sq.-ft. project lands in the city of Saltillo’s Alianza Industrial Park and is set to break ground in Q2 2024. Yokohama plans to produce 5 million tires annually for consumer and light truck vehicles in the North American market, choosing this location for access to road and rail for seamless distribution. “The increased production capabilities will supplement existing global capacity for tires destined for our region,” said Yokohama Tire Corporation President and CEO Jeff Barna. Yokohama’s new investment is in response to increased tire demand. Photo courtesy of Yokohama Tire Corporation Intel’s U.S. locations will play a vital role in strengthening domestic supply of semiconductors. Photo courtesy of Intel CREDIT: Data provided by Solar Energy Industries Association 2023’s Top Five U.S. States For Solar Installations Billion-Dollar Boost For More Intel U pon signing a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms, the U.S. Department of Commerce plans to deliver $8.5 million in direct funding and the option for up to $11 billion in federal loans through the CHIPS and Science Act to Intel. This move will benefi t four of the chipmaker’s fab locations in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and Oregon with the potential to create 80,000 direct and indirect jobs. Intel will use the funding to drive innovation across its semiconductor manufacturing processes and R&D capabilities, in addition to the $100 billion Intel has committed to investing in the U.S. over the next fi ve years. The company plans to benefi t from an Investment Tax Credit from the U.S. Treasury Department, which will cover up to 25% of qualifi ed investments the company will make by 2030. (See Arizona Spotlight in this issue for more.) State 2023 Solar Installaions Total Solar Installed Texas 6.5 Gigawatts 22.9 Gigawatts California 6.2 Gigawatts 46.9 Gigawatts Florida 3.2 Gigawatts 3.9 Gigawatts Colorado 1.6 Gigawatts 4.1 Gigawatts Ohio 1.3 Gigawatts 2.3 Gigawatts 26 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION by ALEXIS ELMORE alexis.elmore@siteselection.comFUJIFILM’s complete expansion includes new lab, offi ce, warehouse and manufacturing space. Photo: Getty Images FUJIFILM’s Investment Increase F or a total investment of $3.2 billion, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies will expand its Large-Scale Cell Culture CMDO Business in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The company announced a $1.2 billion boost in April 2024, which will now create a total of 1,400 new jobs in the region by 2031. The company three years ago announced its original $2 billion investment at the site. As a result of the investment, FUJIFILM adds a new cell culture facility which will bring eight, 20,000 liter mammalian cell culture bioreactors for bulk drug substance. The addition allows for the company to house a number of new projects, and once complete, will make the site rise as one of the largest cell culture biopharmaceutical CDMO facilities in North America. Robotic Fulfi llment I n April 2024, Amazon held a ribbon cutting to mark the opening of its largest Massachusetts warehouse to date. The $400 million North Andover investment occupies more than 4 million sq. ft., featuring 12 miles of conveyor belts capable of processing hundreds of thousands of orders a day. To assist fulfi llment needs, Amazon has installed thousands of robots to replace menial, monotonous and repetitive jobs to ensure effi ciency and safety, but the company still aims to fi ll 1,500 new jobs. As part of this investment, Amazon received a 10-year, $27 million property tax break. The U.S. Census Bureau on April 11 reported that U.S. capital expenditures on robotic equipment totaled more than $12.9 billion in 2022, with the retail sector accounting for 27.4% of that total. Google Hits Missouri N ot only will Google deliver a new $1 billion data center investment to Kansas City, Missouri, but the company will invest over $100,000 in the North Kansas City School District. “We have reached an important infl ection point for tech innovation like AI, and data centers are the backbone of this progress,” said Google Global Vice President of Cloud Supply Chain and Operations Monique Picou on March 20. “Our announcement today is a testament to the resources, talent and welcoming spirit of the Kansas City community. Together, Kansas City and Google will help power America’s digital future and we are excited to contribute to the bright future of the region.” The data center will be located at Hunt Midwest Business Center, where site work already has begun. As for advancing skills of future talent, Google’s investment will support the local school district’s STEAM education center and announced plans to bring the company’s Skilled Trades and Readiness (STAR) program to the region. This investment supports Google’s goal of growing its cloud business and AI innovations. Photo courtesy of Google Human skill meets automation at Amazon’s latest fulfi llment warehouse in Massachusetts Photo courtesy of Amazon SITE SELECTION MAY 2024 27A Texas Economic Artery’s Course Of Treatment I nterstate runs from Duluth, Minnesota, to Laredo, Texas, making it a key north-south artery through the central United States for moving imports and exports to and from Canada and Mexico. Besides the state capitals of St. Paul, Des Moines, Oklahoma City and Austin, I- links Kansas City, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio and the many communities between them. At nearly miles, Texas has the longest stretch of the highway, from the Rio Grande River on the Mexico border to the Red River bordering Oklahoma. e Lone Star State understands the signifi cance of I- to its prosperity. A recent news bulletin from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) says the highway is responsible for $. trillion or % of the state’s GDP. More than higher education institutes can be found along I-, and the agency says it supports nearly , national security sector jobs. Costly but Necessary Improvements Carl Johnson, TxDOT’s director of district operations: “ e corridor directly supports many of the key economic sectors in the state. It includes a supply chain network valued at more than $ billion in trade, and . million jobs associated with more than , establishments in the manufacturing, transportation and warehousing sectors.” TxDOT says of the top most congested highway segments in Texas are on I-, which Austin area residents can vouch for. In , the agency announced the $. billion I- Capital Express Central project that will widen eight miles of the Interstate. Since , says the agency, more than $ billion has been spent on I- projects. “Our seven TxDOT districts [along the I- corridor] continue to work together and are committed by MARK AREND mark.arend@siteselection.com INTERSTATE 35 28 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION A rendering of Walmart’s new milk processing facility under construction in Robinson, Texas Photo courtesy of Walmart SITE SELECTION MAY 2024 29 to strategically delivering needed transportation improvement, eff ectively and effi ciently,” Johnson said. “Since March of last year, TxDOT has completed construction on $. billion of highway projects on I-.” The Milk Run In March, Walmart announced a third milk processing facility in Robinson, Texas, just south of Waco on Interstate . e plant will create nearly new jobs and is scheduled to open , according to a company release. “We’re excited to be able to provide Texas and its surrounding states with high-quality milk sourced primarily from Texas dairy farmers,” said Bruce Heckman, vice president of manufacturing at Walmart. “ is new facility continues our commitment to building a more resilient and transparent supply chain and ensuring our customers’ needs are met for this everyday staple.” Walmart says the new facility will allow it “to meet the growing demand from customers for high-quality milk, while providing transparency about where its products are sourced and making the supply chain more resilient.” e facility will supply more than Walmarts and Sams Clubs in fi ve states. Native tribes contribute more than $15 billion. A fter breaking ground in August , Cherokee Nation Businesses is nearing completion of a major expansion of its Cherokee Film Studios in Owasso, Oklahoma, just north of Tulsa. By providing new jobs and creating a platform to tell the Cherokee story, Cherokee Films has emerged as a major component of the Cherokee Nation’s business strategy, which also includes gaming and hospitality and Cherokee Federal, an outsourcing service to the federal government. e studio expansion is adding a second soundstage to the Owasso Campus. “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People,” the Cherokee Film Commission’s documentary series, is being distributed by more than PBS member stations as well as on FNX, an all-Native programming network. e series, says host Jennifer Loren, the commission’s senior director, brings “authentic Cherokee stories into the living rooms of millions of people, many of whom have likely only known inaccurate accounts of Cherokee history. It is really incredible to see our series become nationally syndicated.” A New Vision for Tulsa According to the most recent Oklahoma Native Impact report, Native American tribes in Oklahoma have contributed more than $. billion into the state, while generating billions more from companies that operate there. Supported by Oklahoma’s Muscogee Nation and the Indian Nations Council of Governments, the long-awaited South Tulsa Dam Project is expected to begin in earnest this summer. e project got the green light in late when the Muscogee National Council pledged to contribute $. million toward the projected cost of close to $ million. It’s to create a lake within the Arkansas River, which currently fl ows haltingly through a series of sandbars south of Tulsa toward the city of Jenks. “ e river,” says Jason Salsman, spokesman for the Muscogee Nation, “is Tulsa’s greatest environmental feature. Getting water in it opens up the possibility of creating an entirely diff erent atmosphere” modelled, he says, on San Antonio’s River Walk. “It’s a way to stimulate economic development activity.” Upon the project’s completion, the Muscogee Nation plans to invest several hundreds of millions of dollars into riverside development, contingent upon agreement with the City of Tulsa on a tax increment fi nancing district. Salsman says the Nation envisions water taxis running between two of its signature properties, the expanding River Spirit Casino and Resort and Riverwalk Crossing, which lie on opposite sides of the Arkansas. e Nation also is supporting a plan announced in November by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to allow in-person sports betting at gaming sites operated by federally recognized tribes. “We just have to get on the same page,” Salsman says, “as to how all of that happens.” SITE SELECTION MAY 2024 31 Cherokee Film Studios in Owasso, Oklahoma Image courtesy of Cherokee Film Studios TRIBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT An Oklahoma Story by GARY DAUGHTERS gary.daughters@siteselection.comINVESTMENT PROFILE: MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Ready Upon Arrival Diligent site development preparations bear fruitful project investment results throughout Mississippi. B illion-dollar projects don’t happen overnight. An investor’s site selection process, regardless of industry, depends on a carefully curated list of critical needs. Mississippi knows that corporate leaders aren’t thinking about potential. ey’re looking for a shovel-ready site. For seven years, the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) has invested millions of dollars into an extensive list of ready, premier and select site off erings through the Site Development Grant Program. e program’s rapid growth, which recently gained $, in new funding, allows the state to ensure it has the sites and infrastructure in place to grab investors’ attention. In turn, the state is securing billions in new investment and creating thousands of jobs within burgeoning and established state industries. Less than a week apart in January, the state announced the arrival of two blockbuster projects. A combined $. billion investment from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and a fresh joint venture between Accelera, Daimler Trucks & Buses and PACCAR mark two of the largest economic development projects to ever hit Mississippi. “ ese projects are highly competitive, and to win them requires substantial support through incentives, fast-track permitting, customized training and public investments in our industrial parks so we can provide adequate, shovel-ready sites,” says Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Bill Cork. “We tackle much of the behind-the-scenes work so companies can turn dirt and get to work in record time.” Reach Your Audience Arrival of two data center complexes just outside of capital city Jackson in Madison County may be by ALEXIS ELMORE alexis.elmore@siteselection.com 32 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTION Amazon Web Services marks Mississippi’s largest economic development project to date with a $10 billion data centers investment. Photo courtesy of Amazon Web ServicesThis Investment Profile was prepared under the auspices of the Mississippi Development Authority. For more information, contact Tammy Craft Dudley at TCRAFT@mississippi.org. On the web, go to www.mississippi.org. SITE SELECTION MAY 2024 33 the biggest capital investment splash Amazon has made in Mississippi, but it is hardly the first. Prior to the announcement of the $10 billion project, the company had invested $2.3 billion and created over 7,500 direct jobs in the state since 2010. Throughout the state Amazon operates five fulfillment and sortation centers, four delivery stations, five solar farms, the state’s first utility-scale wind farm and a Whole Foods grocery delivery service. As the company’s subsidiary, AWS, was looking to expand its cloud computing capabilities in the Southeast, Mississippi arose as a natural fit. “Where we locate our infrastructure is based on a combination of factors. We consider locations in terms of our ability to give customers low latency when running applications, the availability of renewable energy, and the local government’s long-term commitment to investing in technology infrastructure,” says AWS Director of Economic Development Roger Wehner. “The two sites selected near Jackson afford us compelling site solutions.” By 2027, AWS plans to begin operations at its 927-acre site at the Madison County Mega Site and the 786-acre Costa Site. Each of these data center complexes, located 20 minutes away from one another, will create 1,000 new jobs. This project will not only allow Mississippi businesses to run more smoothly and cost-effectively but provides an avenue for the state to cement its role in the IT & telecommunications industry. “Mississippi now is a well-vetted and proven, cost- effective location for additional large data centers and tech investments,” says Cork. “We have a great pipeline of talent and the educational alignment in place to meet this growing demand, and the entire state, including the Jackson Metro area, is positioned to be the next tech hub of the South.” AWS knows Mississippi has the talent to fulfill these roles now, but these investments were made with the future in mind. The company is looking to impact more than just 1,000 residents by extending investment into the next generation of talent coming through the state’s K-12 schools, community colleges and universities. The company will introduce an array of STEAM programs, training programs and workshops applicable to all ages. “We’re thrilled about expanding into Mississippi because it gives us the ability to get closer to more customers to provide a more extensive global footprint and continue to expand our infrastructure,” says Wehner. “This provides an incredible opportunity to build infrastructure that our customers need, but also to work hand-in-hand with people in Mississippi to tap into a burgeoning tech sector, create new, well-paying jobs, and to help build a new pipeline of talent through new workforce development opportunities.” Future Focused Mississippi’s roots in the automotive industry run deep, supporting a workforce of over 15,000 and more than 200 companies. Everything from manufacturing auto parts to producing full- blown vehicles has been conducted in the state for generations and has brought industry leaders like Toyota, Nissan and Continental Tires. For over a decade, commercial truck manufacturer PACCAR has produced diesel engines from Lowndes County. As the push for sustainability prevails, PACCAR and Nissan are major players leading Mississippi into its EV era. Every day thousands of commercial trucks hit the road, traveling hundreds to thousands of miles to transport goods while also delivering a hefty amount of carbon emissions. For an industry that never slows down, innovation must take precedence. The planned $1.9 billion advanced battery cell manufacturing facility from Accelera, Daimler Truck and PACCAR will be located in Marshall County’s Chickasaw Trails Industrial Park. Establishing this 21-gigawatt-hour plant aims to localize battery cell production while strengthening the U.S. domestic supply chain. Battery cells produced here will be used primarily for electric commercial vehicles. The project serves as a stepping stone for the JV to explore ways in which clean technology can change the way the nation drives forward. With 2,000 new jobs created from this investment, in addition to Nissan’s $500 million expansion for EV production starting in 2025, Mississippi supports the ecosystem and workforce automakers trust with their EV futures. The state’s robust automotive workforce already has been transitioning their skillsets to lead the charge with the same ease one feels when stepping on an EV’s accelerator. “Mississippi is the country’s next great success story, and as global industry leaders increasingly recognize we are a top state for business, continued investment in our automotive sector is inevitable,” says Cork. Hyundai Motor Group in October celebrated the one-year anniversary of the groundbreaking for its Metaplant for EV and battery manufacturing in Bryan County, Georgia. Image courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group Speedbumps Here, Cruise Control There Companies and locations adjust to a new industry landscape. R ivian Automotive’s March decision to pause construction of its $5 billion EV plant east of Atlanta hasn’t gone over well with state officials who just two years ago were elated to announce the project. In April, letters between the automaker and the state and Joint Development Authority for the four Georgia counties that share the site were exchanged to determine how Rivian’s site obligations would be met during the pause. The Atlanta Business Journal reported on April 19 that “Rivian’s overall goal is to use the pause to prepare the project to go vertical when the pause is lifted,” citing a letter to the Georgia parties from Alan Hoffman, Rivian’s chief policy officer. by MARK AREND mark.arend@siteselection.com NORTH AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE 34 MAY 2024 SITE SELECTIONNext >