Spring 2009
ALABAMA
Straehle + Hess Expands in Alabama
Germany-based Straehle + Hess (S + H), a company that specializes in high-end textiles for the automotive industry, is expanding its Auburn, Ala. operations. The company is moving from Auburn's business incubation center to an existing building in the Auburn Technology Park North, creating 20 jobs. S + H was recently awarded a new contract by Mercedes-Benz.
BFGoodrich Closing Alabama Plant
Michelin North American announced in mid-April that is will close the BFGoodrich tire plant in Opelika, Ala. by the end of the year. Some production at the plant will be moved to the company's Tuscaloosa plant and one in Indiana. About 1,000 people are employed at the Opelika BFGoodrich facility.
Plastics Company Cuts 53 Workers in Alabama
SABIC Innovative Plastics, which produces plastic parts used in automotive production, announced in April it is cutting 53 jobs at its plant in Burkville, Ala. The plant employs about 350.
ARKANSAS
Automotive Parts Supplier Closing in Arkansas
Michigan-based Federal-Mogul announced in the spring quarter it will close its plant in Dumas, Ark. The company employs 107 workers at the plant.
GEORGIA
Johnson Controls Taking Applications for 100 Workers in Georgia
Johnson Controls announced in early May it is taking applications for 100 new jobs at its parts plant being built in West Point, Ga. The plant will serve the new Kia plant that is nearing completion. The Johnson Controls facility will produce seat systems and door panels for the Kia Sorento SUV. The company expects to eventually employ 300 workers in West Georgia.
KANSAS
Kansas, Goodyear Agree on Proposal for Topeka Plant
In the spring quarter, The Kansas Department of Commerce announced that it will provide up to $14.2 million in training incentives to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., allowing the company to make capital investments of up to $250 million at its Topeka plant and retain up to 1,400 employees for 10 years.
KENTUCKY
Next Generation Battery Alliance Selects Kentucky
Kentucky has been selected as the site for a proposed $600 million domestic battery manufacturing and headquarters facility. The National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries (NAATBatt) has chosen Hardin County's Glendale site as the home for the potential project to develop the advanced manufacturing facility for lithium-ion battery cells. NAATBatt is a non-profit industry consortium of more than 50 corporations, associations and research institutions dedicated to making the U.S. a world leader in the manufacture of advanced lithium-ion or Li-Ion battery cells for transportation applications. The 1,551-acre Glendale site, which is located adjacent to Interstate 65, will be submitted as part of NAATBatt's application to the U.S. Department of Energy.
NORTH CAROLINA
Contech Closing North Carolina Plant
In late April Michigan-based Contech U.S., a maker of automobile components, announced it is permanently closing its plant in Albemarle, N.C. The closure will affect the jobs of 91 workers.
AW North Carolina Offers Buyouts
Auto parts supplier AW North Carolina has offered buyouts to all 1,100 employees at its 830,000-square-foot Durham, N.C. plant as part of a plan to reduce employment there to 500. AW North Carolina is a subsidiary of Japan's Aisan AW, a major supplier to Toyota. The company manufactures transmissions, oil pumps, torque converters and other products for Toyota.
GMAC to Add 200 Jobs in Charlotte
GMAC Financial Services will grow its Mecklenburg County operations and invest more than $16.4 million for an expanded corporate center. The Charlotte expansion is expected to create 200 finance, marketing and IT jobs over the next two years.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Continental Tire Opens New Headquarters in S.C.
Continental Tire officially opened its new North American headquarters in Lancaster, S.C. in the early spring quarter. The company recently relocated its headquarters from Charlotte after South Carolina and Lancaster officials offered an incentive package that included a tax rate freeze at six percent. The new $11 million, 75,000-square-foot headquarters houses 375 employees.
Shawmut, Kawashima Textile Announce New Operations in S.C.
Massachusetts-based Shawmut Corp. and Kyoto, Japan-based Kawashima Seikon announced the opening of Shawmut's new manufacturing operation in Lugoff, S.C. The joint venture deal includes a new production line at Kawashima. The companies produce lamination for the automotive markets. Kawashima will add new production equipment to supply Nissan with specialty fabric for the redesigned Altima model. Shawmut will supply Kawashima's existing facility in Lugoff. The $2.2 million deal is expected to create 30 new jobs.
TENNESSEE
M-Tek Wins VW Contract
In April, Manchester, Tenn.-based M-Tek won a $147 million contract to produce interior door panels for Volkswagen's new mid-sized sedan that will be assembled at the German automaker's new plant near Chattanooga. VW expects production to begin in Chattanooga in early 2011.
VIRGINIA
UK Auto Insurer Locates U.S. Operations in Richmond, Va.
Admiral America recently announced it is locating a direct-to-consumer automobile insurer operation in the Richmond area. The company plans to employ 50 people this year, with projections of 200 jobs by the end of 2010. Admiral America is a subsidiary of Admiral Group plc, the United Kingdom's third-largest auto insurer.
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Spring 2009
ALABAMA
Straehle + Hess Expands in Alabama
Germany-based Straehle + Hess (S + H), a company that specializes in high-end textiles for the automotive industry, is expanding its Auburn, Ala. operations. The company is moving from Auburn's business incubation center to an existing building in the Auburn Technology Park North, creating 20 jobs. S + H was recently awarded a new contract by Mercedes-Benz.
BFGoodrich Closing Alabama Plant
Michelin North American announced in mid-April that is will close the BFGoodrich tire plant in Opelika, Ala. by the end of the year. Some production at the plant will be moved to the company's Tuscaloosa plant and one in Indiana. About 1,000 people are employed at the Opelika BFGoodrich facility.
Plastics Company Cuts 53 Workers in Alabama
SABIC Innovative Plastics, which produces plastic parts used in automotive production, announced in April it is cutting 53 jobs at its plant in Burkville, Ala. The plant employs about 350.
ARKANSAS
Automotive Parts Supplier Closing in Arkansas
Michigan-based Federal-Mogul announced in the spring quarter it will close its plant in Dumas, Ark. The company employs 107 workers at the plant.
GEORGIA
Johnson Controls Taking Applications for 100 Workers in Georgia
Johnson Controls announced in early May it is taking applications for 100 new jobs at its parts plant being built in West Point, Ga. The plant will serve the new Kia plant that is nearing completion. The Johnson Controls facility will produce seat systems and door panels for the Kia Sorento SUV. The company expects to eventually employ 300 workers in West Georgia.
KANSAS
Kansas, Goodyear Agree on Proposal for Topeka Plant
In the spring quarter, The Kansas Department of Commerce announced that it will provide up to $14.2 million in training incentives to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., allowing the company to make capital investments of up to $250 million at its Topeka plant and retain up to 1,400 employees for 10 years.
KENTUCKY
Next Generation Battery Alliance Selects Kentucky
Kentucky has been selected as the site for a proposed $600 million domestic battery manufacturing and headquarters facility. The National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries (NAATBatt) has chosen Hardin County's Glendale site as the home for the potential project to develop the advanced manufacturing facility for lithium-ion battery cells. NAATBatt is a non-profit industry consortium of more than 50 corporations, associations and research institutions dedicated to making the U.S. a world leader in the manufacture of advanced lithium-ion or Li-Ion battery cells for transportation applications. The 1,551-acre Glendale site, which is located adjacent to Interstate 65, will be submitted as part of NAATBatt's application to the U.S. Department of Energy.
NORTH CAROLINA
Contech Closing North Carolina Plant
In late April Michigan-based Contech U.S., a maker of automobile components, announced it is permanently closing its plant in Albemarle, N.C. The closure will affect the jobs of 91 workers.
AW North Carolina Offers Buyouts
Auto parts supplier AW North Carolina has offered buyouts to all 1,100 employees at its 830,000-square-foot Durham, N.C. plant as part of a plan to reduce employment there to 500. AW North Carolina is a subsidiary of Japan's Aisan AW, a major supplier to Toyota. The company manufactures transmissions, oil pumps, torque converters and other products for Toyota.
GMAC to Add 200 Jobs in Charlotte
GMAC Financial Services will grow its Mecklenburg County operations and invest more than $16.4 million for an expanded corporate center. The Charlotte expansion is expected to create 200 finance, marketing and IT jobs over the next two years.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Continental Tire Opens New Headquarters in S.C.
Continental Tire officially opened its new North American headquarters in Lancaster, S.C. in the early spring quarter. The company recently relocated its headquarters from Charlotte after South Carolina and Lancaster officials offered an incentive package that included a tax rate freeze at six percent. The new $11 million, 75,000-square-foot headquarters houses 375 employees.
Shawmut, Kawashima Textile Announce New Operations in S.C.
Massachusetts-based Shawmut Corp. and Kyoto, Japan-based Kawashima Seikon announced the opening of Shawmut's new manufacturing operation in Lugoff, S.C. The joint venture deal includes a new production line at Kawashima. The companies produce lamination for the automotive markets. Kawashima will add new production equipment to supply Nissan with specialty fabric for the redesigned Altima model. Shawmut will supply Kawashima's existing facility in Lugoff. The $2.2 million deal is expected to create 30 new jobs.
TENNESSEE
M-Tek Wins VW Contract
In April, Manchester, Tenn.-based M-Tek won a $147 million contract to produce interior door panels for Volkswagen's new mid-sized sedan that will be assembled at the German automaker's new plant near Chattanooga. VW expects production to begin in Chattanooga in early 2011.
VIRGINIA
UK Auto Insurer Locates U.S. Operations in Richmond, Va.
Admiral America recently announced it is locating a direct-to-consumer automobile insurer operation in the Richmond area. The company plans to employ 50 people this year, with projections of 200 jobs by the end of 2010. Admiral America is a subsidiary of Admiral Group plc, the United Kingdom's third-largest auto insurer.
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