Amazon and WhiteFiber Look to North Carolina
AI infrastructure expansion is top of mind for Amazon Web Services, as the company looks to grow its capabilities on the East Coast. North Carolina is set to gain a $10 billion investment as generative AI is driving demand for increased cloud infrastructure and compute power. “This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs and drive significant economic growth,” said Amazon Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer David Zapolsky. “We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent.” Amazon’s investment will include support to the state’s higher education institutions, K-12 schools and workforce development organizations to create training programs and work-based learning opportunities for talent, as 500 new tech jobs are expected to be created. The project was announced in early June two days after a $1 billion, 1-million-sq.-ft. data center campus commitment from WhiteFiber on a parcel in Madison, North Carolina, in the Piedmont Triad region along I-85 between Charlotte and Raleigh.
OPG’s Darlington Nuclear site expansion will support 3,700 direct jobs and 18,000 construction jobs per year.
Photo courtesy of OPG
Ontario Selected for SMR Milestone
Toronto-based power company Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has set out to construct the first commercial, grid-scale Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in North America by 2030. In May, OPG began work on the first of four planned SMRs at the company’s Darlington Nuclear site in Bowmanville, located in Ontario’s Municipality of Clarington. The initial BWRX-300 SMR will introduce 300 megawatts (MW) of low-carbon power fit to power 300,000 homes. Once complete, OPG’s SMRs will produce 1,200 MW of electricity, delivering a C$38.5 billion impact to Canada’s GDP over the next 65 years, according to the Conference Board of Canada. “OPG is proud to be leading this first-of-a-kind project,” said OPG President and CEO Nicolle Butcher. “With the province’s robust nuclear supply chain and our successful track record on nuclear projects, particularly our Darlington Refurbishment, we are confident we will be able to deliver the first SMR unit for Ontario, on-time and on-budget.”
Unilever’s commitment to Mexico underscores President Claudia Sheinbaum’s “Plan Mexico” aiming to drive foreign investment in the country.
Photo courtesy of Unilever
Made for North America
Over the next three years, consumer goods manufacturer Unilever will inject $1.5 billion into its Mexico operations. The initiative will provide a production capacity boost with integration of new manufacturing lines and increased digitalization efforts in support of the company’s popular beauty and personal care brands such as Dove and Sedal. The first step in Unilever’s approach includes an over $407 million production facility to be constructed in the state of Nuevo León’s Salinas Victoria municipality. Once complete, the Nuevo León plant will cater to demands in North American markets. Overall, Unilever anticipates creating 1,200 direct and indirect jobs across Mexico by 2028.
Williams International’s project enhances Okaloosa County’s growing aerospace ecosystem.
Image of Okaloosa County coat of arms by zloyel: Getty Images
Aerospace Manufacturer Flies South by Northwest
The Shoal River Industrial Park, located in northwestern Florida’s Okaloosa County, has been selected by Michigan-based aircraft engine manufacturer Williams International for a $1 billion investment to construct a high-volume aviation gas turbine engine production facility in the county by 2026. The company spent two years looking across the nation for the ideal location, ultimately selecting Florida for its 250,000-sq.-ft. plant. FloridaCommerce partnered with CareerSource Florida, Florida’s Great Northwest, Space Florida, Okaloosa County and Triumph Gulf Coast to attract the project. “We are grateful to the Triumph board and for the strong, unified support from all of our Florida stakeholders that will enable us to create many high-quality, high-technology jobs producing the world’s best gas turbine engines,” said Williams International President and CEO Gregg Williams. The project will be built out across three phases, with an additional 500,000 sq. ft. of facilities planned at the site by 2036.
The Van Buren Township project builds upon the $120 million Stellantis has invested in its U.S. parts and services operations since 2023.
Photo courtesy of Stellantis
Modernization in Michigan
With $388 million in hand, Stellantis has selected Van Buren Township in Michigan as the location for the automotive manufacturer’s new Metro Detroit Megahub. Dedicated to Stellantis’ Mopar service parts and distribution network, the facility will improve order speeds while enhancing storage efficiency. “This investment reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability and operational excellence, while also creating a modern, high-tech workplace for our employees,” said Mopar North America Head and Senior Vice President Darren Bradshaw. The key to these distribution operations is the company’s AutoStore system, using compact robots throughout the plant to retrieve and deliver parts for employees. The Metro Detroit Megahub will aid consolidation of Stellantis parts distribution centers in Michigan and Wisconsin, as the company plans to relocate nearly 500 employees from these locations.
