NORTH AMERICAN REPORTS

Clemens Food Group is investing $250 million in a new, 550,000-sq.-ft. (51,000-sq.-m.) pork processing facility in Coldwater, Mich., that will create about 800 jobs.

Travelers flying over North Dakota at night will soon see fewer lights from natural gas flares.

Philips Lighting will expand their operations at the company’s Tupelo, Miss., facility, creating a manufacturing hub.

Agribusiness contributes more than $1.5 billion to the regional economy of western Michigan, and the new Michigan Hop Network hopes to assist hop farmers in adding to that total.

International Speedway Corporation announced a multi-year partnership with Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc., making Toyota the first Founding Partner at Daytona International Speedway, part of the $400-million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project.

Apple Inc. announced the opening of a new plant in Mesa, Ariz., that will create 700 jobs, as well as 1,300 construction jobs, for a region hard hit during the recession.

Chinese investors spent $12.2 billion in foreign direct investment in the first three quarters of 2013, on the way to a record-setting year, according to Rhodium Group’s Thilo Hanemann.

While economists fret over bubbles of another kind, the leading maker of bubble drinks is stretching its wings. Lollicup USA Inc., the specialty beverage manufacturer, supplier and retailer, is moving from 140,000 sq. ft. (13,000 sq. m.) in two separate locations in Walnut and Industry, Calif., to one shiny new 300,300-sq.-ft. (27,898-sq.-m.) facility in the San Bernardino County community of Chino. The company plans to add to its payroll of 150 once the relocation is complete in mid-third quarter 2013.