From hydrogen to next-gen nuclear power, companies and communities in
TVA territory have the future in mind. Learn more in the Digital Edition
of the TVA Intelligence Report or read these online stories:
Specialty chemicals company Albemarle Corporation announced in December
it had selected Charlotte for Albemarle Technology Park, where it will
create 200 jobs and invest up to $200 million in the University City
neighborhood. The park will focus on advanced materials R&D, novel
process development, and next-generation lithium products. “Innovations
from the new site will enhance lithium recovery, improve production
methods, and introduce new forms of lithium that will propel lithium-ion
batteries and the electric vehicle sector even further,” said the
company. “Albemarle is focused on lithium technology leadership because
it drives value for our customers and advances the world’s transition to
more sustainable energy,” said Kent Masters, Albemarle CEO. “We’re proud
to be making this investment in our headquarter city and to be
contributing to our state and local economy in this capacity.” The
company originally relocated its HQ to Charlotte in 2015. A city release
noted the recent investments in the region and the state by global EV
companies Arrival, Toyota and VinFast
have announced major investments across the state. Albemarle also
operates a lithium processing facility in nearby Kings Mountain.
Founded in Mesquite in 1941 and now headquartered in Dallas, Dickey’s
Barbecue Pit in fall 2022 renewed its devotion to its hometown by
launching a new manufacturing and distribution plant, Wycliff Douglas
Provisions, that will employ more than 350 and provide the company’s
owner/operators such services as sausage grinding, blending, stuffing,
marinating, tumbling, smoking, slicing, shredding and high-speed
packaging. “Additional facility benefits are its freezer capabilities
and redistributing of frozen items to bring down freight costs while
nationwide fuel and transportation costs are still at an all-time high,”
the company said. Dickey’s barbecue franchise offers “eight slow-smoked
meats and 12 wholesome sides with ‘No B.S. (Bad Stuff)’ included,” said
a release from the company, which has 550 locations in the United States
and eight other countries.
In partnership with Jobs for the Future, the Community Workforce
Initiative (CWI) program at Prologis will train 10,000 people in six
U.S. markets for jobs in transportation, distribution and logistics over
the next two years.
Lightcast in December released a new Career Pathways tool that uses
the firm’s library of job postings, real-world profiles, and
skills data “to show how workers can advance and succeed in
the workforce.” Instead of working within specific
industries and conventional promotions, says Lightcast,
“Career Pathways takes a broad view and identifies similar
jobs based on adjacent skills. This allows you to see the
full picture of the job market, complementing data already
available in Analyst like demand and compensation trends.
Many jobs require overlapping skills, despite being based in
different sectors or accomplishing different tasks. Using
the Lightcast Occupation Taxonomy or external taxonomies
including O*NET or SOC, our data can identify those overlaps
and illuminate new sources of talent for employers and also
help workers achieve upward mobility.”
Many focus on serving the needs of their communities on this federal
holiday honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. One area of
need arose during the December holiday season, when The Salvation Army
raises 60% of its funding to support its programs throughout the year.
On Christmas Eve, the Salvation Army of Osceola County Service Center in
Greater Orlando — which provided nearly 20,000 meals in the last fiscal
year, thousands of hot showers and one-on-one case management — was
vandalized and robbed of its red-kettle money. When news spread of the
crime, donations poured in from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office,
Seeds of Hope and Faith United Methodist, among others. Bella Roma
Pizzeria took it a step further by donating pizzas to feed service
center clients and topped it off with a donation of 10% of their two
restaurants’ weekend sales, resulting in a check for $2,200 presented
here to Andrea Ruiz, director, The Salvation Army Osceola County. “This
is the true definition of love in action,” said Captain Ken Chapman,
area commander, The Salvation Army Osceola County.
Reached by phone last week, Natasha Player, public relations manager for
The Salvation Army’s Orlando Area Command, said, “The red kettle
addresses hunger, housing and provides hope.” She said while no suspects
in the robbery have been apprehended, the stolen money has been
recouped. The organization is broadening its scope of activity to
include a pathway to housing program and, in time, the possibility of
workforce skills training at a day center on its eight-acre campus in
downtown Orlando. “People tend to not want to acknowledge there is an
issue,” she said, noting the organization distributes clothing and
hygiene items to the unhoused twice a week. “It’s a never-ending cycle
if we don’t address the housing issue. We want people to gain their
independence.”
Through a network of 7,600 centers across the U.S., The
Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans
overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of
social services. — Adam Bruns
