Yokohama’s new investment is in response to increased tire demand.

Photo courtesy of Yokohama Tire Corporation

Set To Meet North American Speed

Fresh 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.

Intel’s U.S. locations will play a vital role in strengthening domestic supply of semiconductors.

Photo courtesy of Intel

Billion-Dollar Boost For More Intel

Upon 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 benefit 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 five years. The company plans to benefit from an Investment Tax Credit from the U.S. Treasury Department, which will cover up to 25% of qualified investments the company will make by 2030. (See Arizona Spotlight in this issue for more.)

This investment supports Google’s goal of growing its cloud business and AI innovations.

Photo courtesy of Google

Google Hits Missouri

Not 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 inflection 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.

Human skill meets automation at Amazon’s latest fulfillment warehouse in Massachusetts

Photo courtesy of Amazon

Robotic Fulfillment

In 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 fulfillment needs, Amazon has installed thousands of robots to replace menial, monotonous and repetitive jobs to ensure efficiency and safety, but the company still aims to fill 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.

FUJIFILM’s complete expansion includes new lab, office, warehouse and manufacturing space.
Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

FUJIFILM’s Investment Increase

For 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.

2023’s Top Five U.S. States For Solar Installations

CREDIT: Data provided by Solar Energy Industries Association