Lexington’s Got Locomotion
The first passenger coaches from Siemens Mobility’s new $220 million manufacturing and rail services center in North Carolina are now expected to roll out in the next few months. Located in Lexington, along I-85 directly south of Winston-Salem, the 200-acre site houses 10 facilities that, in addition to passenger coach production, will provide maintenance and overhaul services for bogies (undercarriage assemblies), locomotives and coaches. The site’s location allowed Siemens to introduce a rail bridge that connects directly to the mainline for the shipment of finished trains. As operations begin the facility will be the first in North America to offer both coach and locomotive overhauls, utilizing advanced digital technologies to drive efficiency.
Meta’s data center design will enable the company to restore 200% of the water consumed by the El Paso Data Center campus.
Photo courtesy of Meta Platforms
Meta’s Ready to Grow
An over $9 billion investment boost has been announced toward Meta’s future El Paso Data Center campus in Texas, up from the initial $1.5 billion introduced in October 2025. The technology giant has said it officially plans to grow the over 1.1 million sq. ft. campus to 1 gigawatt. Increased capacity will now create an anticipated 4,000 new construction roles at the project’s peak and a total of 300 direct jobs once completed. This news also included a $500,000 workforce development grant, ranging from STEM to trades careers, in partnership with El Paso public schools.
Mercedes-Benz is reinforcing its commitment to Alabama with the expansion of a 33-year-old automotive plant.
Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
Celebrating Millions, Announcing Billions
By 2030, Germany-based automotive giant Mercedes-Benz plans to invest billions into the Alabama site that marked the launch of the company’s U.S. manufacturing operations back in 1993. Located in Tuscaloosa County, the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International manufacturing plant will receive a $4 billion expansion investment. The news followed a ceremony at the Vance facility in March 2026 celebrating the production milestone of 5 million vehicles. On average, the facility exports about 60% of its annual output, producing a range of models including the GLE, GLS and GLE Coupe SUV. The plant also produces a number of all-electric vehicles and will make room for the company’s GLC SUV models within the next few years.
GLE’s new uranium enrichment plant will create 240 direct jobs.
Photo: Getty Images
Laser-Focused on Uranium
Anew $1.76 billion uranium enrichment facility is on its way to western Kentucky, marking the region’s largest capital investment project to date. The project comes from North Carolina-based Global Laser Enrichment (GLE), which selected a 665-acre site in Paducah. The new facility will be located near the U.S. Department of Energy’s former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, where GLE aims to re-enrich more than 200,000 metric tons of high-assay depleted uranium housed at the site, starting in 2030. As the company continues to commercialize its laser enrichment technology the new facility will be vital to strengthening the nation’s supply of uranium conversion and enrichment services.
This investment will solidify Mexico as Nestlé’s fourth-largest global market.
Photo courtesy of Nestlé
Made in Mexico
In line with Nestlé Mexico’s new two-year strategic plan, the leading food and beverage manufacturer plans to enhance current operations in the country. A combined $455 million investment will position Mexico as a strategic hub for domestic supply and global exports. The construction of a new distribution center about an hour north of Mexico City in the Zumpango region will represent $180 million of Nestlé’s investment, while the remaining $275 million will support various facility upgrades to five current Mexico plants, including those in Toluca and Cuautitlan. “We have confidence in the potential of the State of Mexico and the talent of its people,” said Nestlé Executive President Fausto Costa. “We continue to invest in the country’s growth through innovation, sustainability and the creation of shared value.”
The expansion in Orange County will create over 350 new direct jobs in the region.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps
Expansion Launched in The Commonwealth
Defense tech and solid rocket manufacturer L3Harris aims to increase production capacity in Orange County, Virginia, by investing $1.27 billion into its 256,000-sq.-ft. small-to-medium solid rocket manufacturing operations in the region, doubling this space once complete. In addition, L3Harris plans to construct new solid rocket motor facilities, ranging from mixing and grinding to casting and final assembly, to support various Department of War programs. To assist the county with the project, a combined $13 million in grant funding will come from the state’s Opportunity Fund, while L3Harris also was approved for a $5 million Virginia Investment Performance Grant.
