More Potash, Please
Anew $3 billion investment is set to aid Germany-based K+S in doubling its current potash production capacity in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The chemicals company announced an expansion of its Bethune mine in September, planning to utilize new solution mining technology that dissolves underground potash deposits for surface processing with heated water. Canada holds the world’s largest deposits of potash, an essential mineral within sustainable fertilizer and a pivotal part of K+S’s work to advance global food security. This move will scale the current 2 million tons of potash capacity to 4 million tons annually when complete.
Eli Lilly has so far selected Houston and Richmond, Virginia, for the first two of four planned domestic API manufacturing sites.
Rendering courtesy of Eli Lilly & Company
A Portfolio Expansion Hits Houston
In order to boost Eli Lilly and Company’s small molecule drug production pipeline, the manufacturer is heading to Houston, Texas, with a $6.5 billion investment. This is the second facility to come of the company’s $27 billion commitment to four new U.S. manufacturing sites. The future Generation Park site was said to be chosen based on local incentives, access to utilities, transportation and the overall business environment. It will be among the select few sites set to manufacture Eli Lilly’s first oral, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, known as orforglipron, which will be submitted to global regulatory agencies by the end of 2026. Anticipated to be complete by 2030, the facility will create 615 new jobs in the region.
Once complete, CloudHQ’s new campus will create up to 1,000 direct jobs.
Photo-rendering courtesy of CloudHQ
Advancing Mexico’s Digital Economy
CloudHQ is making its mark in north central Mexico with new $4.8 billion plans in the state of Querétaro. The company will construct a 900-megawatt (MW) data center campus, starting with six data center facilities carrying an initial 200 MW by 2027. It will become the largest data center campus in Mexico, ideally positioned for the U.S. and Central America. The 128-acre site will feature a private substation and a 2-gigawatt switching station to support future operations. The construction phase will tap into the region’s local supply chain for materials and skilled talent, as this period is expected to create 7,500 jobs in the region.
Walmart’s fulfillment center will carry an estimated annual payroll impact of over $20 million.
Photo courtesy of Walmart
Walmart Stocks Up in Kings Mountain
Leading retailer Walmart has announced a new $300 million, 1.2-million-sq.-ft. fulfillment center in North Carolina. The company selected the city of Kings Mountain, located in Gaston County, for the facility, which will focus on shipping of large items, such as patio furniture or lawnmowers, as quickly as next day. This addition will support Walmart’s network of more than 200 stores and seven distribution centers in the state, creating 300 new jobs in the region. Walmart received a 12-year Job Development Investment Grant from the state, with a potential reimbursement of over $3.6 million of the company’s investment.
The Project Jupiter data center campus will feature high-efficiency cooling systems and on-site power generation to avoid strains on the local power grid.
Photo: Getty Images
Dedicated to New Opportunities
New Mexico’s Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners has approved the construction of a $165 billion data center campus, dubbed “Project Jupiter.” The development is a collaboration between multiple companies, including Borderplex Digital Assets and Stack Infrastructure, who plan to bring four data centers to Santa Teresa. The facilities will focus on artificial intelligence training and create an estimated 750 direct roles, in addition to 2,500 construction jobs. Despite community pushback due to environmental and power concerns, the project received a 4-1 vote to receive industrial revenue bonds in order to begin development. Construction will begin this year and is expected to be completed by 2028.
