Rivian’s reversal is political setback for Georgia’s GOP leaders

Posted on by Michael Randle

Before there was Hyundai’s massive Metaplant in southeast Georgia, Rivian was Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature economic development project.

Now the fate of the $5 billion factory is up in the air — along with Georgia’s reputation as an electric vehicle hub.

Georgia has prided itself on being the tip of the spear for a green energy transformation, attracting tens of billions of dollars in investment that’s created thousands of jobs.

But Kemp has long warned the green jobs boom window for Georgia is narrowing, and Rivian’s announcement that it’s indefinitely halting its mammoth electric vehicle project in Georgia and shifting production of new crossover EVs that would have happened here to Illinois highlighted the industry’s greater struggles.

A slowdown in demand for electric vehicles, increased competition from manufacturers and high interest rates have combined to undercut the once-booming sector.

It’s also a political problem for Kemp, who didn’t immediately comment, and other state leaders who championed the Rivian factory despite staunch grassroots opposition from neighbors of the sprawling northeast Georgia site where the plant would have been built.

Atlanta Journal Constitution

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Rivian delays construction on $5B EV factory in Georgia

Posted on by Michael Randle

Rivian Automotive Inc. will delay construction of its $5 billion Georgia electric vehicle factory, one of the largest economic development projects in the state’s history.

CEO RJ Scaringe said Thursday the company is shifting production of the R2, a compact electric SUV, to its plant in Normal, Illinois. The R2 was set to be made at Rivian’s new plant in Georgia. Scaringe made the announcement while previewing the company’s new R2 and R3 vehicles. The move will save Rivian $2.25 billion.

The announcement comes after the company revealed in February it will cut 10% of salaried employees.

Atlanta Business Chronicle

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Georgia economy got off to better-than-expected start in 2024

Posted on by Michael Randle

Georgia’s economy got a slightly better-than-expected start to the new year, as the unemployment rate dipped to 3.1%, the first time in more than a year, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday.

Unemployment had been a revised 3.2% in December.

The jobless rate counts only those in the labor market actively seeking work, so it sometimes drops when workers give up looking. But January’s decrease came for the right reason, since the number of people in the labor force was growing slightly, said Bruce Thompson, commissioner of labor.

The state’s jobless rate is now in hailing distance of its all-time low of 3.0%, reached in 2022, and is lower than the national rate of 3.6%, Thompson said in a statement. “With low unemployment and a competitive job market, Georgia’s workers and employers are thriving.”

Atlanta Journal Constitution

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Austin playing key role in ‘insatiable’ nationwide demand for data centers

Posted on by Michael Randle

As the data center market around the country continues to be white hot, Austin is poised to play a major role in filling what some experts are calling an “insatiable” demand for new projects.

Data centers are massive hubs for computer processing power — commonly called “the cloud” — that are used by many companies and industries. While they don’t create many long-term jobs, they do add value to a city’s tax rolls because of the large amount of investment at the sites.

It’s been a key focus of industry growth in the area. In recent weeks, the Austin Business Journal has reported on a $1.3 billion data center campus project in Caldwell County and a potential billion-dollar campus in Hutto. That adds to growing data center hubs in the area in Pflugerville, southeast Austin and Round Rock.

Austin Business Journal

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Questions remain over Pattern Energy’s Southern Spirit line to connect ERCOT to Southeastern grids

Posted on by Michael Randle

San Francisco-based Pattern Energy, which has a significant Houston presence, is ready to begin acquiring land in Texas for a project that could bring power generated from other states to the Texas grid.

The $2.6 billion Southern Spirit Transmission Project will span 320 miles between Texas and Mississippi, crossing through Louisiana. Pattern Energy’s project team told the Houston Business Journal that 40% of the land needed for the project has been acquired in Louisiana and Mississippi, while the route for its Texas footprint has been approved. The company said that the line will have a capacity of 3,000 megawatts.

The line can transport power both to and from Texas, enabling the Lone Star State to share any potential excess generation with grids in the Southeast United States. Pattern’s website lists 2026 as a potential date to begin construction, and the line could be operational by 2029.

Houston Business Journal

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Southern Living says this Alabama city is one of the South’s best on the rise

Posted on by Michael Randle

Alabama’s Rocket City is on yet another list of the South’s most vibrant communities.

Southern Living has placed Huntsville fourth on its “The South’s Best Cities on the Rise” list for 2024.

Wilmington, N.C. tops the list, followed by Franklin, Tenn. and Spartanburg, S.C.

Huntsville place for its economic development projects and its entertainment districts.

To make the list, cities were picked by Southern Living’s editors, who compiled a roster based on research, reporting, and personal experiences. Readers then selected their top picks in the magazine’s annual South’s Best Awards survey. The survey had more than 20,000 respondents, according to Southern Living.

AL.com

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Amazon plans 100 jobs at first last-mile facility in Jackson, Tennessee

Posted on by Michael Randle

Amazon is planning to build a last-mile facility in Jackson, Tennessee.

The e-commerce giant looks to launch a 69,000-square-foot facility off of Highway 223 and Lager Lane, right near Jackson’s McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport. 

The facility is set to bring about 100 jobs to the area and adds a significant Amazon distribution facility between Memphis and Nashville. It is being built by a Jackson developer, the Gary A. Taylor Investment Co.

“Jackson’s business environment and reputation for teamwork enabled Gary A. Taylor Investment to complete the steps necessary to secure this new investment,” said Kyle Spurgeon, president and CEO of the Greater Jackson Chamber, in a statement. “Amazon’s global presence in Jackson will provide a catalyst for continued growth. Jackson is the ideal location for an Amazon last-mile facility due to its proximity to the interstate and infrastructure.” Memphis Business Journal

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Eastern N.C. town makes surprising resurgence; state’s coastline is shrinking

Posted on by Michael Randle

An Eastern North Carolina town known for its ties to the Marine Corps is seeing a surprising resurgence.

Jacksonville has been home to Camp Lejeune since 1941, and the base has about 33,000 active military. Jacksonville, with a population of 72,000, has long been the home to the used-car lots, seedy bars and uninspiring downtowns common in military towns.

But last year, Site Selection Magazine named Jacksonville No. 22 in the U.S. for best small cities for small businesses. Jacksonville was the only North Carolina city in the top 50.

“We are trying to make this downtown a better place to do business,” City Manager Joshua Ray said.

Surging interest in Onslow County, which hugs the Atlantic Ocean and includes Swansboro and North Topsail Island, has helped.

But Jacksonville has been intentional about its growth, rebuilding and beautifying downtown. That includes a new city hall and working with the Marines to create monuments and garden areas.

Triad Business Journal

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SC Ports Expanding Rail Capacity to Support Port-Dependent Businesses

Posted on by Michael Randle

CHARLESTON, SC — FEB. 29, 2024 — Alongside rail partners and support from state leaders, SC Ports is investing in rail capacity throughout the state to efficiently handle goods for South Carolina’s booming economy.

Construction of the future Navy Base Intermodal Facility is well underway in North Charleston. Opening in July 2025, the rail-served cargo facility will be equipped with six rail-mounted gantry cranes that will efficiently move containers on and off CSX and Norfolk Southern trains.

“Growing rail capacity in the Port of Charleston will further enhance South Carolina’s competitiveness, ensuring our customers can swiftly move goods to market,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said.

In Upstate South Carolina, the expansion of Inland Port Greer has already yielded more than 8,000 feet of additional rail track, and the container yard expansion is nearing completion. These terminal enhancements will double Inland Port Greer’s cargo capacity.

“We move nearly a quarter of our containers by rail today. We look forward to growing this percentage by building critical rail infrastructure and terminal capacity in South Carolina,” Melvin said. “These projects will further support the billions of dollars being invested in South Carolina by port-dependent businesses.”

While total U.S. container volume declined in 2023, SC Ports’ intermodal volume increased nearly 12% last year, demonstrating a compelling rail product for ocean carriers and cargo owners.

SC Ports’ RapidRail program expedites containers between ship and train, with imports moving to rail less than 24 hours from actual vessel discharge.

SC Ports’ Inland Port Greer and Inland Port Dillon achieved the highest January on record, moving a combined 17,656 containers last month. The inland ports provide direct rail service to and from the Port of Charleston.

Within SC Ports’ container terminals at the Port of Charleston, SC Ports handled 208,538 TEUs and 115,744 pier containers in January. This is down slightly from last year and reflective of the softened volumes seen across the U.S.

January was a strong month for the vehicle segment, with 17,614 vehicles rolling across the docks, up 32% year-over-year.

South Carolina Ports

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