Project of the Year: Johnson Controls-Saft
Johnson Controls-Saft will build a lithium-ion battery plant in Holland, Michigan, that will employ 1,096 people and create an additional
2,000 indirect jobs. The company will spend about $220 million to convert an existing building into the lithium-ion production facility with an initial capacity of 15 million lithium-ion cells. Johnson Controls-Saft
will receive a combination of tax credits and incentives
from the state of Michigan totaling $148.5 million.
"Battery technology is strategically important to the
future of the U.S. automotive industry and the economy
at large," comments Alex Molinaroli, president of
Power Solutions for Johnson Controls. "This facility is
a key element of our broader strategy and commitment
to the hybrid vehicle industry in North America."
Molinaroli previously noted that, "There is a lot of
skilled labor in Holland," and. the future for Holland
is outstanding."
Project of the Year: Nucor Corporation
Nucor Corporation will construct
a $3.4 billion, multiphase
iron and steel project
in Louisiana`s St. James
Parish that will employ
1,250 people. The five phases
of the project include a
direct reduced iron (DRI)
facility (150 jobs and $750
million capital investment);
a second DRI facility (100
jobs and $400 million capital
investment); a pellet plant
(200 jobs and $500 million
capital investment); a blast
furnace and coke ovens (300
jobs and $1 billion capital
investment); and a steel mill
(500 jobs and $750 million
capital investment). Nearly
4,800 indirect jobs will also
be created by 2019. Nucor
evaluated several locations
in the U.S. and abroad
before selecting its
Louisiana site.
"This is a huge win for our
state and will ultimately be
one of the largest industrial
projects in Louisiana history,"
says Governor Bobby
Jindal. "Nucor's decision to
come to Louisiana instead
of anywhere else in the
nation or the world will be
a tremendous economic
boost for Southeast
Louisiana for years to come."
Project of the Year: First Quality Enterprises
First Quality Tissue SE will
invest $1 billion and create
1,000 new jobs to support
its new production facility
in Anderson County, South
Carolina, representing the
largest economic development
announcement in the
county's history. The construction
phase will generate
an immediate impact with
an additional 550 jobs. The
state's work force development
program - called
ReadySC - is assisting with
hiring and training of
employees for the new
Anderson County facility.
First Quality selected
Anderson because of the
skilled labor, positive work
ethic, and compatible infrastructure.
"As important,
however, is the pro-business
environment," says Frank
Ludovina, company
spokesman for First Quality.
"Locating in South Carolina
would not have been possible
without the abundant
support from [the governor's
office], the team at the
Department of Commerce,
and officials from Anderson
County. We appreciate
South Carolina's commitment
and look forward to
the years ahead."
Project of the Year: KiOR
Biofuel company KiOR announced in August 2010
that it would use its proprietary catalytic conversion
process to convert biomass from a variety of
feedstock into a renewable crude oil that can be refined into automotive fuel.
The company is investing $500 million in five commercial plants in rural parts of
Mississippi, creating at least 1,000 jobs in the state.
The first three full-scale production facilities will be located at Columbus,
Newton, and another Southwest Mississippi site. About 40 percent of the jobs
will be at the company's facilities, while 60 percent are projected to be in the timber
industry and related sectors. The plants will process approximately 500 tons
per day of wood biomass and produce over 11 million gallons of fuel per year.
"We're very excited to begin commercializing our technology throughout the
state of Mississippi," said Fred Cannon, president and chief executive officer of
KiOR. "These facilities will bring high-quality jobs to the area, help our country
reduce its dependence on foreign oil, and position the state as a leader in the
production of domestically sourced biofuels."
Big Expansions Also Equal New Jobs
Economic development
agencies are aware that job
retention and expansion are
just as important as luring
new companies to their
locales. Several states are
recognized for the investment,
job creation, and
diversity of the expansion
projects taking place.
Among these are:
Alabama: After winning the
Multi-Vessel LCS Contract
from the U.S. Navy, Austal
USA Mobile will invest $160
million to expand its facilities
in Mobile and hire 2,000
new workers.
Georgia: Gulfstream
Aerospace Corporation in
Savannah will expand its
facilities through a $500
million, seven-year plan and
hire 1,000 additional
employees.
Kentucky: Ford Motor
Company plans a $600
million investment at its
Louisville Assembly Plant
(LAP) to build the next-generation
Escape for the North
America market and will
need 1,800 new workers.
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Methodology
Area Development's annual Gold and Silver Shovel Awards recognize states for their achievements in attracting high-value investment projects
that will create a significant number of new jobs in their communities. We collected information from all 50 states about their top-10
job-creation and investment projects initiated in 2010 (only those projects that actually had monies invested, "broke ground," began an expansion,
started new hiring, etc. were considered). Based on a combination of weighted factors - including the number of new jobs to be created
in relation to the state's population, the combined dollar amount of the investments, the number of new facilities, the diversity of industry
represented - three states achieving the highest weighted overall score are awarded Area Development's 2011 Gold Shovels. Runner-ups
in three population categories - over 9 million, between 4 and 9 million, and under 4 million - are awarded 2011 Silver Shovels..
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