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Top Deals and Hot Markets
STATE DIVISION
State of the Year: North Carolina, 595 points
No. 4 in points per million residents
 Usually one state sets it itself apart each year in the annual SB&D 100 and this year it is North Carolina. The Tar Heel State gave us a clue that it was making tremendous strides in 2010 when it registered 460 points after earning just 150 points in 2009. With 595 points this year, North Carolina simply left every other Southern state in the dust.
And it wasn't just the point total of 595, a sum that actually threatened Texas straight up, that led us to pick North Carolina as "State of the Year" for 2012. And, it wasn't the size of the deals, like those seen in South Carolina, which turned a handful of game changers of the monster kind in 2011. More than anything, it was the width and depth of the North Carolina projects.
In 2011, North Carolina landed every industry sector under the sun and they had a ton of them. In fact, with 89 projects that met or exceeded our thresholds, North Carolina actually beat Texas and all other Southern states in the total number of projects. Texas, with 86, came in second in the sum of deals 200 jobs and/or $30 million in investment or more in calendar year 2011. Only twice in the 19 years the SB&D 100 ranking has been published has another Southern state beat Texas in the total number of deals.
As for neighboring South Carolina, which got a lot of ink -- a bunch from this media company -- for its incredible performance in 2011, the score was 89 deals for North Carolina and 28 deals for South Carolina. Yep, South Carolina picked off the biggest buffalo in 2011, but North Carolina got the rest of the herd.
Here are just a few of the numerous sectors that chose North Carolina in 2011: Furniture, data centers, headquarters, financial services, health care, food and beverage, lithium batteries, pharmaceuticals, solar modules, pork processing, automotive parts, heavy truck assembly, biotechnology, aircraft assembly, distribution, ferrite magnets, biomass wood pellets, appliances, fabrics, medical diagnostics, call centers. . .well, everything. Texas is usually the only state landing that kind of deal variety in any given year. In 2011, it was North Carolina and, of course, Texas, again.
Notable North Carolina deals in 2011
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Red Hat
QVC
Honda Aircraft
Chiquita Brands
Celgard
Sempris
Horsehead
Smithfield Foods
United Therapeutics
Bosch Siemens
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Jobs
540
500
419
417
250
256
250
330
140
119
|
|
Investment
$109 million
$71 million
$79 million
$14 million
$105 million
$90 million
$360 million
$85 million
$70 million
$52 million
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Honorable Mention: Louisiana, 480 points
No. 1 in points per million
This was another outstanding big deal year for Louisiana, featuring two projects of $5 billion or more. One of the reasons Louisiana didn't win its fourth straight "State of the Year" is it needed some larger job generating announcements. Like Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas' oil and gas jobs, the construction jobs for those $5 billion-plus Louisiana deals -- even though they are in the thousands -- don't count in our book since they are temporary. Regardless, Louisiana is a capital investment rock star.
Notable Louisiana deals in 2011
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Sasol Limited
Cheniere Energy
Faustina Hydrogen
Entergy Louisiana
Sundrop Fuels
CenturyLink
Schumacher Group
Electronic Arts
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Jobs
672
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
660
350
200
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Investment
$6.3 billion
$5 billion
$1.6 billion
$720 million
$450 million
N/A
N/A
N/A
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Honorable Mention: West Virginia, 170 points
No. 2 in points per million
Natural resources are driving this state's economy. No. 2 in points per million residents is very impressive.
Notable West Virginia deals in 2011
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Dominion Transmission
MarkWest Liberty
Biometric Center
Greenbrier Medical
Caiman Energy
Amazon.com
Quad/Graphics
Toyota
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Jobs
N/A
N/A
N/A
400
N/A
200
400
N/A
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Investment
$500 million
$400 million
$328 million
$250 million
$200 million
N/A
N/A
$64 million
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Honorable Mention: Alabama, 315 points
No. 3 in points per million
What an inspiring comeback for Alabama after a 200-point 2010 and a year of political strife. Third place in PPM and fifth overall in points is a very good year, indeed.
Notable Alabama deals in 2011
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Navistar International
Carpenter Technologies
Mercedes-Benz
Honda
Hyundai
Pharmavite
Topre America
SSAB
Honda
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Jobs
1800
203
1000
210
214
280
250
110
100
|
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Investment
$87 million
$500 million
$289 million
$275 million
$173 million
$74 million
$109 million
$270 million
$84 million
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Honorable Mention: Texas, 640 points
No. 10 in points per million
Ho-hum year for Texas, but No. 1 in points again for 18th year out of 19. Nothing ho-hum about that. Like Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, Texas gets cheated somewhat because its oil and gas sectors rarely announce publicly large job-generating projects.
Notable Texas deals in 2011
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Halliburton
GE Transportation
M&G Group
AT&T Labs
Don Hugo Produce
eBay-Paypal
Electronic Arts
TD Ameritrade
Bell Helicopter
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Jobs
1500
905
250
200
200
1050
300
490
N/A
|
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Investment
$50 million
$191 million
$900 million
$500 million
$100 million
$5 million
$1 million
$11 million
$235 million
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Honorable Mention: Virginia, 330 points
No. 4 in points per million
Nice year for Virginia with a wide variety of industry sectors contributing throughout all parts of the Commonwealth. However, with the defense industry downsizing, the rest of Virginia (ROVA), not NOVA, or Northern Virginia, is going to have to step up from here on out to fill the gap that might be lost (see special section in this issue, page 33).
Notable Virginia deals in 2011
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Amazon.com
Green Mountain Coffee
Bechtel Corp
ICF International
Defense Health HQ
International Paper
MeadWestvaco
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Jobs
1450
800
625
539
533
213
N/A
|
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Investment
$135 million
$180 million
$18 million
$15 million
$225 million
$83 million
$285 million
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Honorable Mention: South Carolina, 200 points
No. 7 in points per million
Notable South Carolina deals in 2011
The year of 2011 will be known as big buffalo hunting at its best in the Palmetto State.
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Bridgestone Americas
Continental Tire
AQT Solar
Nephron Pharmaceuticals
Showa Dendo Carbon
Michelin
ZF Group
BMW
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Jobs
850
1620
1017
707
100
270
300
N/A
|
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Investment
$1.2 billion
$500 million
$460 million
$313 million
$236 million
$200 million
$80 million
$100 million
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Honorable Mention: Kentucky, 175 points
No. 8 in points per million
Notable Kentucky deals in 2011
Over the last few years, Ford Motor Co. has invested in the long-term future of its facilities in Louisville. GM, too, at its facilities in Bowling Green. The Ford deal is one of the South's ten best for 2011 and 2010.
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Ford Motor
UFLEX
General Motors
Hitachi Automotive
Zappos
Sequa Automotive
Lockheed Martin
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Jobs
1300
250
250
130
1300
280
224
|
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Investment
$600 million
$180 million
$131 million
$74 million
N/A
$7 million
$26 million
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MEGA-MARKET DIVISION
Mega-Market of the Year: Dallas-Fort Worth, 175 points
D-FW and Northern Virginia-D.C. battle it out each year for the mega-market of the year title with little if any competition these days. Last year it was Northern Virginia. This year D-FW takes it.
Notable Dallas-Fort Worth deals in 2011
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Alcon Laboratories
Frac Tech
GE Transportation
Bell Helicopter
GM
VCE
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Jobs
750
330
905
N/A
100
434
|
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Investment
$11 million
$75 million
$191 million
$235 million
$331 million
$35 million
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Honorable Mention: Northern Virginia-D.C., 125 points
Notable Northern Virginia-D.C. deals in 2011
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TASC
Defense Health HQ
Bechtel Corp
Chenega Federal
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Jobs
825
533
625
530
|
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Investment
$24 million
$225 million
$18 million
$1 million
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Honorable Mention: Houston, 90 points
Notable Houston deals in 2011
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S&B Engineers
Kinder Morgan
Neutex Advanced Energy
Enerflow Industries
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Jobs
500
75
250
400
|
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Investment
$5 million
$400 million
$1 million
N/A
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Honorable Mention: Atlanta, 65 points
Notable Atlanta deals in 2011
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Porsche Cars
SANY Heavy
Home Depot
FedEx
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Jobs
100
300
700
240
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Investment
$100 million
$25 million
$24 million
$55 million
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MAJOR MARKET DIVISION
Major Market of the Year: Charlotte, 155 points
Charlotte, along with New Orleans and San Antonio, has jockeyed for major market of the year honors the last four years. Charlotte squeaks by this year with 155 points. The Queen City had a banner year with headquarter deals.
Notable Charlotte deals in 2011
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Time Warner Cable
Bissell Companies
Chaquita Brands
Connextions
Celgard
Hitachi Metals
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Jobs
225
N/A
417
800
104
65
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Investment
$101 million
$100 million
$14 million
$3 million
$70 million
$61 million
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Honorable Mention: New Orleans, 150 points
Notable New Orleans deals in 2011
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Entergy Louisiana
Associated Grocers
Faustina Hydrogen
NuStar Energy
Diamond Green Diesel
Praxair
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Jobs
N/A
294
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
|
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Investment
$720 million
$68 million
$1.6 billion
$364 million
$241 million
$238 million
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Honorable Mention: Raleigh-Durham, 125 points
Notable Raleigh-Durham deals in 2011
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Red Hat
Merck
United Therapeutics
SAS Institute
ACS
Lenovo Group
IBM
WakeMed Health
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Jobs
540
75
140
401
400
300
4
0
|
|
Investment
$109 million
$91 million
$70 million
N/A
N/A
N/A
$135 million
$100 million
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Honorable Mention: Baton Rouge, 125 points
Notable Baton Rouge deals in 2011
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Ormet Primary Aluminum
Electronic Arts
Williams Olefins
Exxon Mobil
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Jobs
580
200
N/A
N/A
|
|
Investment
N/A
N/A
$400 million
$226 million
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MID-MARKET DIVISION
Mid-Market of the Year: Greensboro-High Point, N.C., 65 points
This is the first mid-market of the year for Greensboro-High Point, a market of nearly 750,000. Since that is the minimum threshold for major market status, this could be Greensboro-High Point's last chance in the mid-market category. If it is, this North Carolina MSA hit a homerun in its last at bat in the mid-market category.
Notable Greensboro-High Point deals in 2011
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Honda Aircraft
Polo Ralph Lauren
Solstas Lab
LF USA
International Market
Moses H. Cone Hospital
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Jobs
419
400
263
200
0
0
|
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Investment
$79 million
$21 million
$1 million
$1 million
$500 million
$200 million
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Honorable Mention: Lake Charles, La., 55 points
Notable Lake Charles deals in 2011
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Sasol Limited
Cheniere Energy
PPG Industries
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Jobs
672
N/A
N/A
|
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Investment
$6.3 billion
$5 billion
$164 million
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Honorable Mention: Columbia, S.C., 50 points
Notable Columbia deals in 2011
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Nephron Pharmaceuticals
AQT Solar
Michelin
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Jobs
707
1017
220
|
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Investment
$313 million
$460 million
$130 million
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Honorable Mention: Shreveport-Bossier, La., 40 points
Notable Shreveport-Bossier deals in 2011
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Baker Hughes Oilfield
Tiburon Associates
Enterprise Products
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Jobs
277
250
N/A
|
|
Investment
$65 million
N/A
$194 million
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Honorable Mention: Lafayette, La., 30 points
Notable Lafayette deals in 2011
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Schumacher Group
Halliburton
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Jobs
350
500
|
|
Investment
N/A
$65 million
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SMALL MARKET DIVISION
Small Market of the Year: Columbia-Spring Hill, Tenn., 35 points
Maury County is the only Tennessee market to be recognized in the 2012 SB&D 100. It was a good year for this county, which is located south of Nashville. GM reopened automotive assembly at its Spring Hill plant, one of just four GM facilities left in the Southern Automotive Corridor now that Shreveport is closing this summer. (www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com).
Notable Columbia-Spring Hill deals in 2011
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GM Spring Hill
Martinrea
GM Spring Hill
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Jobs
2350
175
63
|
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Investment
$235 million
$38 million
$32 million
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Honorable Mention: Marshall County, W.Va., 30 points
Notable Marshall County deals in 2011
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Dominion Transmission
Caiman Energy
MarkWest Liberty
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Jobs
N/A
N/A
N/A
|
|
Investment
$500 million
$200 million
$200 million
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Honorable Mention: Iredell County, N.C., 30 points
Notable Iredell County deals in 2011
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JC Penney Distribution
Providence USA
Niagara Water
NGK Ceramics
Lowes Companies
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Jobs
225
28
66
60
300
|
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Investment
N/A
$60 million
$45 million
$43 million
$0 million
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Honorable Mention: Shoals, Ala., 25 points
Notable Shoals deals in 2011
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Navistar International
North American Lighting
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Jobs
1800
250
|
|
Investment
$87 million
$35 million
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Honorable Mention: Rutherford County, N.C., 25 points
Notable Rutherford County deals in 2011
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Horsehead Corp.
Facebook
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Jobs
250
10
|
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Investment
$360 million
$450 million
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Special Recognition: Fort Worth, Texas: 12 deals, 90 points
Each year we recognize a city, county or parish in the South that would go unnoticed because it is located in a metro region. Fort Worth accounted for 90 of 2012 mega-market of the year Dallas-Fort Worth's 175 points. D-FW is the South's largest metro area and the fourth largest in the U.S. The big deal was GE Transportation's new plant that will build locomotives, but overall, Fort Worth had a magical 2011.
Notable Fort Worth deals in 2011
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Alcon Laboratories
Frac Tech
GE Transportation
Bell Helicopter
GM
TD Ameritrade
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Jobs
750
330
905
N/A
100 490
|
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Investment
$11 million
$75 million
$191 million
$235 million
$331 million
$11 million
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Top 10 Deals for 2011
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1. Sasol Limited
2. Ford
3. GM Spring Hill
4. Cheniere Energy
5. Continental Tire
6. Bridgestone Americas
7. GM
8. Ford Motor
9. Stion
10. Mercedes-Benz
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Location
Calcasieu Parish, La.
Claycomo, Mo.
Spring Hill, Tenn.
Cameron Parish, La.
Sumter, S.C.
Aiken, S.C.
Wentzville, Mo.
Louisville, Ky.
Hattiesburg, Miss.
Vance, Ala.
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Jobs
672
1600
2350
N/A
1620
850
1660
1300
1000
1000
|
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Investment
$6.3 billion
$1.1 billion
$235 million
$5 billion
$500 million
$1.2 billion
$380 million
$600 million
$500 million
$289 million
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Product/Service
Gas to fuel
Auto assembly
Auto assembly
LNG export
Tires
Tires
Auto assembly
Auto assembly
Thin-film solar panels
Auto assembly
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Top Deals by Industry Sector
Deal of the year: Sasol Limited, Calcasieu Parish, La.
Automotive assembly: Ford, Claycomo, Mo.
Truck assembly: TIE: Daimler Trucks, Gaston Co., N.C.
Navistar International, Colbert Co., Ala
Automotive supplier: TIE: Continental Tire, Sumter, S.C.
Bridgestone Americas, Aiken, S.C.
Clean Tech: TIE: Stion, Hattiesburg, Miss.
SiliCorr, Columbus, Miss.
Fossil fuel: Cheniere Energy, Cameron Parish, La.
Logistics: Amazon.com, Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia
Headquarters: Red Hat, Raleigh, N.C.
Aerospace: Boeing, Brevard Co., Fla.
Aviation: Boeing, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Defense: Defense Health Headquarters, Fairfax, Va.
Food & beverage: Green Mountain Coffee, Isle of Wight, Va.
Medical devices: Merit Medical, Pearland, Texas
Financial services: Nationwide, San Antonio, Texas
Call Center: Kohl's, San Antonio, Texas
Pharmaceuticals: Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Columbia, S.C.
Healthcare: Greenbrier Medical, Greenbrier Co., W.Va.
Advanced manufacturing: Honda Aircraft, Guilford Co., N.C.
Less advanced manufacturing: Albany Industries, Galax, Va.
Agribusiness: Smithfield Foods, Lenoir Co., N.C.
Data center: Facebook, Rutherford Co., N.C.
IT: Century Link, Monroe, La.
Biofuels: Sundrop Fuels, Jefferson Parish, La.
Heavy manufacturing: TIE: GE Transportation, Fort Worth, Texas
Kiewet Offshore, Ingleside, Texas
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