< Previous198 JANUARY 2025 SITE SELECTION wanted to have to benefi t a wider range of people. “I was drawn to the idea that energy density is important and being able to make maximum use of resources to provide the most energy to the general public that we can,” Pointer continues. “Doing so in the most cost- eff ective way is the way we can have the biggest impact.” X Marks The Spot e anticipated arrival of nuclear power company X-energy’s TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility (TF) in Oak Ridge follows years of collaboration with ORNL to develop the company’s own version of TRISO fuel. Dating back to , a TRISO-X Pilot Line unveiled new U.S. capabilities for fabricating fuel kernels, TRISO particles and fuel pebbles with equipment and processes that will be applied to TF. In , the company broke ground on its $ million Horizon Center Industrial Park site with plans to deliver North America’s fi rst commercial- scale advanced nuclear fuel facility by , creating new jobs. Once operational, TF will begin with the production of eight metric tons per year of fuel with plans to expand capacity to metric tons annually throughout the s. TRISO-X nuclear fuel produced at this site will be used for the company’s Xe- high-temperature gas reactors, which will be operational by . As TF nears completion, X-energy announced in October that a Series C- fi nancing round, anchored by Amazon and supported by Citadel, Ares Management Corporation, NGP and the University of Michigan, resulted in an infl ux of about $ million toward the project. is funding will aid the company in fi nishing the reactor’s design and licensing, in addition to the fi rst phase of operations. By , Amazon and X-energy will look to introduce more than gigawatts of power projects across the U.S., marking the largest commercial deployment of SMRs. To start, the duo will bring a four-unit, -MW facility to central Washington in collaboration with utility group Energy Northwest. Future plans could include expanding the site to units with a capacity of MW as each unit provides MW of electricity for Amazon data centers. The TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility will be operational by 2025. Rendering courtesy of X-energy BY THE NUMBERS TENNESSEE Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s:1,761,938 Number of NCRCs:142,554 | Percent Improvement 2023–2024: 1.31% Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2024–2025: +7 Industrial power cost per kWh: $6.23 Total Rev. as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-2022: 106.03% 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.03 Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M Orano USA Oak Ridge 5500 Highland Materials Hawkins Cnty. 850 Greenheck Fan Corp. Knoxville 300 PPG Industries Loudon 225 Type One Energy Group Clinton 224 Source: Conway Projects Database SITE SELECTION JANUARY 2025 199 alf a dozen cranes are working overtime at the Albany NanoTech complex in New York, where a new chapter in the facility’s storied history is unfolding in earnest. Moving quickly on its mandate to establish three CHIPS for America research facilities, the non-profi t entity Natcast on October announced Albany Nano as the future home of an $ million federal lab to accelerate the process by which increasingly intricate patterns are printed on microchips, thus supercharging their potential to power technologies from the mundane to the profound. e nationwide site search was launched in July. e lab could trigger billions of dollars of investment. In operation for two decades, Albany Nano is considered to be the nation’s most advanced non- profi t semiconductor R&D facility. e complex already hosts a Who’s Who of the semiconductor world, including IBM, Applied Materials, Global Foundries, Samsung and ASML, according to Paul Kelly, chief operating offi cer of NY CREATES, the state enterprise that administers Albany Nano. “We’ll be the only place in North America that will be able to support this type of research,” says Kelly. “We hope that it’s hundreds if not thousands of companies that will come in and leverage our site.” Connecticut Leveraging Strengths Connecticut has launched a $ million eff ort to foster “startup clusters” in sectors where it believes it enjoys a competitive advantage. e Connecticut Clusters initiative, announced in May, is off ering grant funding through the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to support the continued growth of industries including biotechnology, fi nancial technology, insurance technology and advanced manufacturing. DECD offi cials point to QuantumCT, the newly launched public-private partnership led by Yale and the University of Connecticut, as an example of a cluster that’s begun to take shape. QuantumCT aims to position the state as a global hub for quantum education, job training and research innovation. As of last summer, the initiative had awarded one-year seed grants for exploratory quantum projects to nine Connecticut-based research groups. Maryland’s Data Center Play In a bid to grab a share of data center projects that have traditionally gone to neighboring Northern Virginia, Maryland has softened a key regulatory restriction that had inhibited data center development. e new Critical Infrastructure Streamlining Act, which removes a regulation that required data center operators to receive state approval for large- scale backup power generators, is a boon to the ,-acre Quantum Frederic project being developed by Austin, Texas- based Quantum Loophole at a former Alcoa smelter site in Maryland’s Frederick County. Houston- based Rowan Digital Infrastructure received local approval for its -MW Bauxite Data Center at Quantum Frederick last January. In May, the company announced plans to triple its initially planned footprint. Chief Data Center Offi cer Dan McNary says the project will deliver an initial MW by late , “providing a high value alternative to the congested Ashburn corridor,” a reference to Loudoun County, Virginia’s “Data Center Alley” miles northwest of Washington, D.C. BOSTON-WASHINGTON CORRIDOR IBM workers at the Albany NanoTech complex Photo courtesy of IBM Technology Means More Here by GARY DAUGHTERS gary.daughters@siteselection.com HPort Capabilities I n an effort to increase Delaware’s maritime industry competitiveness, the Port of Wilmington will soon welcome a new terminal thanks to a $635 million investment. Currently, the Port of Wilmington ranks No. 22 in the Top 25 Container Ports by TEUs, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics 2024 Annual Report. In November 2024, Site Selection found the state’s FTZ 99, which includes the Port of Wilmington, ranked No. 62 among the nation’s Top 100 FTZs. Located on 308 acres where the Delaware River and Christina River merge, the port has become one of the nation’s top destinations for imports of fresh fruit and juice concentrate, supported by the one of the largest dock-side cold storage facilities in North America at over 800,000 sq. ft across six warehouses. The state and Port of Wilmington private operator Enstructure announced the new terminal’s arrival in May 2024. The project will create more than 3,100 direct jobs over a three-year period. On its own, the Port of Wilmington has a capacity of 400,000 20-foot- equivalent units (TEUs). The addition of the 137-acre port terminal in Edgemoor, on land owned by the Diamond State Port Corporation, will quadruple current capacity to handle 1.6 million TEUs annually by 2027. What’s To Come Moving forward, the newly named “Port Delaware” will be built out in three phases. The first will take over two years as focus is placed on waterside construction, incorporating a new seawall, high deck and associated dredging to cater to larger vessels. This higher elevation is designed to provide resilience from the effects of climate change, while deeper drafts accommodate newer and larger vessels. The goal is to expand state-wide economic opportunities and work to attract new imports and exports, logistic centers and service providers to the region. The state will contribute $195 million toward the project, while Enstructure will contribute a total of $335 million across all three phases. The Diamond State Port Corporation will fund $195 million and an additional $50 million will come from a Port Infrastructure Development Program grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. The grant will support the planned all-electric operations, a new modern truck gate complex, terminal buildings and ancillary features which include a 100,000-sq.-ft. warehouse and inspection platform. “For decades, jobs at the Port of Wilmington have been a gateway into by ALEXIS ELMORE alexis.elmore@siteselection.com Delaware STATE SPOTLIGHT A $635 million infrastructure investment will make Port Delaware the largest shipping terminal in Delaware to date. Image courtesy of Enstructure 200 JANUARY 2025 SITE SELECTION DiversifyingBY THE NUMBERS DELAWARE Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s:436,937 Number of NCRCs:431 | Percent Improvement 2023–2024: 0.23% Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2024–2025: +3 Industrial power cost per kWh: $7.85 Total Rev. as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-2022: 100.58% 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.34 Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M Enstructure / Diamond State Port Corp. Edgemoor 635 Incyte Corp. Wilmington 189 Airjoule Newark 15.3 FFI Ionix Dover 13 Phase Sensitive Innovations Newark 8 Source: Conway Projects Database the middle class for thousands of workers and their families — the kind of jobs our state and country were built on,” said Delaware Governor John Carney at the announcement. “ is investment to expand the Port will position Delaware to compete for container cargo and larger ships. It will bring new, good-paying union jobs to Wilmington. I am pleased to see strong bipartisan support for this important and necessary next step in making the planned Edgemoor expansion a reality.” e Port of Wilmington will be known as Port Delaware South, handling cargos expected to include containers, bulk, breakbulk, automotive and roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ships. Meanwhile the Edgemoor terminal, to be named Port Delaware North, will handle containers carrying retail goods, perishables, frozen food, forest products and export products. e press release from the Governor’s offi ce noted that total state and local taxes generated from the project will bring in an estimated $. million per year. e duration of construction will create over , construction jobs and generate $. million in tax revenues. “We are excited to partner with the State of Delaware, the Diamond State Port Corporation, the Delaware Building Trades and the International Longshoremen’s Association to signifi cantly expand Delaware’s port infrastructure,” said Enstructure Co- CEOs Matthew Satnick and Philippe De Montigny in the release. “ e Port Delaware Container Terminal will broaden Enstructure’s terminal network and logistics services, while enhancing our ability to serve our customers.” How One State Keeps Its Innovation Companies On Track T he Connecticut Innovation Clusters Program went into effect in mid-2024 with the purpose of supporting such sectors as biotechnology, financial technology, insurance technology and advanced manufacturing in support of national defense. The $100 million program, run by the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), facilitates investment in such next-gen technologies as quantum computing and AI so Constitution State companies in the designated clusters can compete effectively. Connecticut STATE SPOTLIGHT 202 JANUARY 2025 SITE SELECTION by MARK AREND mark.arend@siteselection.com204 JANUARY 2025 SITE SELECTION BY THE NUMBERS CONNECTICUT Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s: $1,711,973 Number of NCRCs: 3,809 | Percent Improvement 2023–2024: 4.10% Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2024–2025: 0 Industrial power cost per kWh: $15.69 Total Revenue as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-2022: 95.81% 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.64 Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M Electric Boat Corp. Groton 200 ARKA Group, L.P. Danbury 85 Home Market Foods South Windsor 70 A. Duie Pyle Southington 25 Penske Truck Leasing Co. East Windsor 25 Source: Conway Projects Database e Innovation Clusters Program, according to a release from the Governor’s Offi ce, will “prioritize funding for catalytic capital projects that contribute to the development of a campus-setting and cohesive sense of place that complement the state’s existing transit-oriented investments and incorporate a strong focus on workforce training, economic development, neighborhood vibrancy and regional stakeholder collaboration.” Similarly, a coalition that includes Yale University, the University of Connecticut and DECD formed QuantumCT in to provide strategic planning aimed at maximizing the economic benefi ts associated with cutting-edge technologies. Yale University Photo: Getty ImagesBank Granted ‘Unique Charter’ Fintech Coffee, an online source of daily fintech industry intelligence, says the state is home to 37 fintech companies. It’s 38 now. In September, Numisma Bank, a fintech global currency distributor, opened its world headquarters in Greenwich. The bank was granted a unique charter from the Department of Banking that provides customized regulatory solutions to fintech companies. “The decision to charter the bank in Connecticut was influenced by the state’s business-friendly climate and access to a deep talent pool,” said Vivek Tyagi, CEO and co-founder of Numisma Bank, in a statement. “The Connecticut Department of Banking has been a key partner in supporting Numisma Bank’s vision. We share its commitment to providing essential services in the global banking industry and are happy the department remains dedicated to offering comprehensive regulatory oversight while fostering an environment where innovative financial services can thrive.” 206 JANUARY 2025 SITE SELECTION D espite headwinds faced by Intel, its fl agship chipmaker, and the failure to land an $ million National Semiconductor Technology Center, Oregon is anything but shrinking from its commitment to the nationwide project to secure domestic sourcing of microchips. Centered around the “Silicon Forest” in the Portland region, Oregon already does more than its share. In addition to hosting Intel’s biggest worldwide manufacturing hub, Oregon supplies an estimated % of the nation’s semiconductor workforce, and that includes thousands of PhDs. In October, the state’s economic development agency announced awards totaling more than $ million to six semiconductor companies under the $ million Oregon CHIPS Act, established in to leverage the billions of dollars in federal funding dedicated to achieving the outgoing Biden Administration’s semiconductor manufacturing goals. Half of the new recipients are headquartered in by GARY DAUGHTERS gary.daughters@siteselection.com Oregon STATE SPOTLIGHT Oregon Puts Its Chips on the Table State and federal funding ease challenges. BY THE NUMBERS OREGON Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s: $1,040,749 Number of NCRCs: 92,257 | % Improved 2023–24: 4.93% Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2024–2025: -2 Industrial power cost per kWh: $7.52 Total Rev. as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-22: 103.17% 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 0.93 Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M Intel Corp. Hillsboro 36,000 Intel Corp. Hillsboro 700 Georgia-Pacifi c Clatsop Cnty. 150 Rosboro Co. Springfi eld 120 Gensco Salem 55 Source: Conway Projects Database Intel’s EUV machine, manufactured by ASML, is one of the world’s most precise lithography devices. Photo courtesy of Intel Japan or have parent companies there. “ is program is helping drive unprecedented levels of private investment and job creation, with an estimated $. billion in these six projects alone,” said Sophorn Cheang, director of Business Oregon, “in addition to bringing billions in federal CHIPS Act funding to our state.” Intel Battles Challenges In addition to the thousands of workers Intel employs directly, its total economic footprint includes more than , indirect jobs, $ billion in annual labor income and $. billion in annual GDP, according to company data. Oregon’s statewide CHIPS Act, signed into law during the legislative session, awarded Intel $ million under the initial round of funding announced in early to support the company’s ongoing expansion and modernization of its Hillsboro campus, including upgrades to its state-of-the-art DX research facility. e investments, Intel says, could reach $ billion. Among its other provisions, the Oregon CHIPS Act granted special powers to Gov. Tina Kotek to circumvent the state’s land use law to expand the urban growth boundary, which defi nes where development can occur. In mid-September, Kotek signaled plans to expand the Hillsboro boundary by acres north of the city — pristine farmland, opponents said — for the purpose of luring the coveted CHIPS for America Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Accelerator. e pitch was anchored by the presence of Intel’s $ million new lithography tool. In late October, the U.S. Commerce Department announced that the Center would go to Albany, New York. But in Oregon, even as speculation about property consolidation abounds, the latest ominous signs have been blunted by the late November announcement of a $. billion federal CHIPS and Science Act Award, almost $ billion of which is slated for Intel’s Oregon operations. SITE SELECTION JANUARY 2025 207 PAGEPAGEPAGE INDEX TO ADVERTISERS For LOCATION INFORMATION or assistance in conducting a Confidential Site Search please email karen.medernach@conway.com or visit us at www.siteselection.com. International Economic Development Council...............................IBC https://leadership25.iedconline.org MidAmerica Economic Development Council............183 https://www.midamericaedc.org Site Selection.....................................17, 71 https://siteselection.com UNITED STATES ALABAMA Alabama Community College System.................190 https://www.accs.edu/strong/employers Alabama Department of Commerce ...................113 https://www.madeinalabama.com Gadsden Etowah County Industrial Development Authority ..............................69 https://alabamamegasite.com Huntsville Madison County Chamber...................187 https://hsvchamber.org PowerSouth - Corporate Office........................188 https://www.powersouth.com Southeast Gas ......................................189 https://southeastgas.com Tennessee Valley Authority...........................108 https://tvasites.com ARIZONA Arizona Commerce Authority.........................83 https://www.azcommerce.com City of Buckeye Economic Development ................5 https://www.growbuckeye.com City of Goodyear....................................115 https://www.developgoodyearaz.com/gsq City of Tucson ......................................89 https://www.connecttucson.com Greater Phoenix Economic Council ..................76-77 https://www.gpec.org ARKANSAS Arkansas Economic Development Corporation..........117 https://arkansasedc.com/whyarkansas CALIFORNIA City of Antioch......................................119 http://innovateantioch.com San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency....................20-23 https://selectsbcounty.com COLORADO Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade....................85 https://choosecolorado.com Grand Junction Economic Partnership .................121 https://www.gjep.org/site-selection CONNECTICUT AdvanceCT........................................203 https://www.advancect.org City of Stamford Economic Development..............205 https://www.choosestamford.com DELAWARE Delaware Prosperity Partnership ......................201 https://www.choosedelaware.com DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA International Economic Development Council..........IBC https://leadership25.iedconline.org FLORIDA Duke Energy..........................................7 https://www.locationdukeenergy.com Port Tampa Bay.....................................43 https://www.porttb.com Putnam County Chamber of Commerce................123 http://putnamcountyfleconomicdevelopment.com GEORGIA MEAG Power .......................................125 https://www.meagpower.org Tennessee Valley Authority...........................108 https://tvasites.com INDIANA Duke Energy..........................................7 https://www.locationdukeenergy.com Hoosier Energy ......................................15 https://www.hoosierenergy.com/growth Northern Indiana Public Service Company..............193 https://www.nipsco.com/economic-development KANSAS Junction City -Geary County Economic Development Commission ...................11 https://www.jcgced.com KENTUCKY Duke Energy..........................................7 https://www.locationdukeenergy.com Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development...........131 https://ced.ky.gov Kentucky Community College.........................53 https://workforce.kctcs.edu Tennessee Valley Authority...........................108 https://tvasites.com LOUISIANA Louisiana Economic Development.....................133 https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov MARYLAND Kent County Economic & Tourism Development.........38 https://www.kentcounty.com/business Merritt Properties ..................................39 https://www.merrittproperties.com MICHIGAN Consumers Energy ..............................184-185 https://www.cmsenergy.com Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corporation........................160-161 https://www.detroitaero.org Detroit Regional Partnership......................167-182 https://www.detroitregionalpartnership.com Economic Development Partnership of Hillsdale County ..................................163 https://www.hillsdaleedp.org Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance ....................165 https://developflintandgenesee.org Michigan Economic Development Corporation ........IFC-1 https://www.michiganbusiness.org Midland Business Alliance ............................166 https://mbami.org MINNESOTA City of Faribault.....................................135 http://www.faribaultmn.gov MISSISSIPPI Mississippi Development Authority ....................139 https://mississippi.org Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority ..............................151 https://www.tenntom.org Tennessee Valley Authority...........................108 https://tvasites.com NEBRASKA Phelps County Development Corporation ..............194 https://www.phelpscountyne.com York County Development Corporation ................195 https://www.yorkdevco.com NEVADA Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development ....141 https://goed.nv.gov NEW MEXICO New Mexico Partnership..............................142 https://nmpartnership.com/ https://edd.newmexico.govNext >