March 14, 2024 - Southern Business & Development

Bastrop, Texas, SpaceX and Corix strike deal that could mitigate Elon Musk-related pollution concerns

Posted on March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 by Michael Randle

Long-standing environmental concerns regarding the dumping of treated wastewater into the Colorado River by Elon Musk’s companies are moving toward resolution.

The Boring Co. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. have for the last two years drawn the ire of neighbors and racked up violations from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and from the county east of Austin. The companies committed over the last year to rectify the situation by tying into the city of Bastrop’s utility system, and a plan to do so has now been reached.

Bastrop City Manager Sylvia Carrillo told the Austin Business Journal on March 11 that the city has signed a tri-party agreement with Corix Utilities Inc., which has exclusive rights in the area to provide sewer services, and with SpaceX to construct a wastewater line along Farm-to-Market Road 969. The line would connect to the city’s new $33 million wastewater treatment plan and wastewater plant.

Austin Business Journal

Rivian’s swerve of Georgia plant caught economic development officials off guard

Posted on March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 by Michael Randle

That’s the reaction in state economic development circles last week when they heard Rivian Automotive Inc. would delay construction on its $5 billion plant near Social Circle. They were looking forward to the company unveiling its latest model, the R2, during a live stream event last Thursday.

The R2, its electric compact SUV, was set to be produced at the new plant, about an hour east of Atlanta, where site development is already underway.

Then, Rivian swerved.

Two days before the R2 announcement, Rivian contacted state officials to say the company was delaying construction on the Georgia plant indefinitely. On Thursday’s live stream, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said for now the R2, with a more affordable $45,000 starting price, would be built at its existing plant in Normal, Illinois.

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Georgia legislators grill top economic development official about Rivian factory delay

Posted on March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 by Michael Randle

Pat Wilson, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, was in the hot seat Monday as state senators pressed him for answers about Rivian Automotive Inc.’s decision last week to pause its $5 billion electric vehicle factory.

Last Tuesday, Rivian told state officials it planned to delay construction on the new plant near Social Circle, as Atlanta Business Chronicle reported today. The news came just 48 hours before Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe shared in a live stream that the company’s new model, the R2, would be produced at its existing factory in Normal, Illinois, rather than at the Georgia plant as planned.

“I was terribly disappointed,” Wilson told a Senate subcommittee on Monday, when asked how state officials found out. “It stings tremendously.”

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Atlanta-based Southern Co. talks plans for more nuclear energy

Posted on March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 by Michael Randle

To meet higher demand for electricity as more businesses and people move to the Southeast, Southern Co. is finishing the second of two newly built U.S. nuclear reactors in decades.

Southern Co. CEO Chris Womack told Atlanta Business Chronicle it may need to build more AP1000 reactors like those at Plant Vogtle. Womack will discuss the utility’s plans on March 20 at the Chronicle’s Clean Energy Forum.

About 70% of energy generation on the utility’s grid was once from coal, Womack said. The plants provide a large amount of continuous energy at once, known as baseload energy.

Due to environmental and economic costs, Southern Co. is retiring its coal plants. To replace that energy generation, the utility is looking at other energy sources to replace that baseload source.

“There’ll be more technology, more hydrogen, more fuel cells, more wind and solar,” Womack told Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Even so, Womack said Southern Co. will also increase nuclear and natural gas plants with carbon capture technology.

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Site projects in 45 counties go to Round 2 of Kentucky Product Development

Posted on March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 by Michael Randle

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Governor’s Office announced 46 site and building development projects in 45 counties have moved ahead to the due diligence stage for review in the second round of the Kentucky Product Development Initiative, with $68.8 million available to support the projects to create sites for business and industry growth in the commonwealth.

The Cabinet for Economic Development initiative provides funding for local communities to further investments in site and building upgrades to support future, well-paying jobs and economic growth across Kentucky.

Round one of the program concluded earlier in December 2023, with 53 projects statewide approved for $31.2 million in funding. Including local contributions, these projects are generating over $123 million in investments in Kentucky’s sites and buildings portfolio.

Currently, $68.8 million is available for projects entering the due diligence stage in round two. The projects have been reviewed by a third-party, independent site selection consultant, which evaluated, scored and submitted project recommendations to the Cabinet for Economic Development.

Lane Report

Tennessee announces INTOCAST to establish first U.S. manufacturing operations in the state

Posted on March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 by Michael Randle

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and INTOCAST officials announced today the company will locate its first U.S. operations in Tennessee.

INTOCAST will invest a minimum of $15 million and create 103 new jobs as the company constructs a state-of-the-art mega class factory at the Huntingdon Industrial Park South, a Select Tennessee Certified Site.

The Carroll County site will be dedicated to manufacturing magnesia-carbon (MgO-C) refractories and materials to support INTOCAST’s U.S. market. The company will host a groundbreaking today in Huntingdon and anticipates construction to begin in July.

Founded and globally headquartered in Germany, INTOCAST specializes in manufacturing and marketing refractory products for the iron and steel industries. Today, the company employs 2,000 people worldwide and is growing with its newest operations in Huntingdon,Tennessee. Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development

You’ll soon see work at Amazon’s Northern Virginia’s HQ2. Here’s what’s happening.

Posted on March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 by Michael Randle

Clark Construction plans to begin installing utilities for PenPlace, the second phase of Amazon’s HQ2, which remains delayed but, we’re told, not scaled back.

Work on South Fern Street, South Eads Street and 12th Street South in Arlington will begin March 18 and continue through April, according to a Monday construction update email from Clark.

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), which in March of 2023 paused development plans for the second and larger phase of its second headquarters, wouldn’t say when construction would start or when the project would deliver. A spokesperson told me in an email that the e-commerce giant has made “no changes” to its hiring or construction plans, including for a new public school.

While that’s been the party line since last year, we can’t be blamed for wondering whether Amazon might throttle back its HQ2 plans, along with its hiring.The firm laid off 27,000 corporate and tech employees in the first few months of 2023, and in its most recent earnings conference call didn’t suggest a major hiring spree is on the horizon.

While Amazon is adding roles in some areas, “there’s a general feeling in most teams that we’re looking to hold the line on headcount, perhaps go down as we can drive efficiencies,” Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky told reporters in a call Feb. 1.

Phase one of Amazon HQ2, known as Metropolitan Park — 2.1 million square feet of new office space in two towers — opened to workers in May of 2023. Eventually, 14,000 people are supposed to work there.

Washington Business Journal

Acadiana Center for the Arts Establishes New Music and Sound Recording Initiative with Entertainment Development Fund Award

Posted on March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 by Michael Randle

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA), a community-supported nonprofit organization that fosters education and workforce development in the area’s creative industries, has been awarded $750,000 from the state’s Entertainment Development Fund establishing a program to train and promote local musicians and recording professionals.

The Louisiana Scoring program will create opportunities for local musicians to expand into the motion picture production industry in Louisiana through musician development, training sessions, promotional material and infrastructure enhancements. These initiatives aim to build and retain the local talent pool while strengthening and promoting Acadiana’s advantages for the entertainment industry.

“As one of the top motion picture production destinations in the world, this innovative training program will further enhance job opportunities for our local musicians,” Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly said. “In addition, the film industry will benefit from world-class talent from Acadiana and Louisiana which is one of our greatest natural resources.”

AcA will receive $250,000 a year from the fund for three years, for a total of $750,000. The organization will seek to utilize the state’s talent pipeline by recruiting graduates from university music programs such as University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LSU, Northwestern State University, McNeese State University and the University of New Orleans into the Louisiana Scoring program.

“Culture is one of Louisiana’s greatest exports, but we are still missing opportunities to translate that prestige into jobs for artists and musicians,” AcA Executive Director Samuel Oliver said. “AcA is happy to launch the Louisiana Scoring project to help employ Louisiana musicians and music industry workers and keep their talents in our community.”

AcA supports education and workforce initiatives as well as the creation of new works of art, exhibits, festivals, performances and public art across an eight-parish region that includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion Parishes.

This is the 16th Entertainment Development Fund award announced by LED since the program was launched in 2017. Previous Entertainment Development Fund awards were made to higher education institutions and nonprofit community programs in Shreveport, Natchitoches, Lafayette, Thibodaux, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

“Lafayette and Acadiana have long experienced the positive impact of small to mid-sized film productions, an impact that resonates through the community long after the cameras stop rolling,” Lafayette Economic Development Authority President and CEO Mandi Mitchell said. “Post-production work presents an exciting opportunity to further amplify this local impact by engaging talented individuals like Andrew Morgan Smith, the visionary behind the Louisiana Scoring Initiative. This endeavor will solidify Lafayette’s standing as a vibrant production hub while leveraging talented locals and nurturing continuous growth and innovation in the industry.”

About Acadiana Center for the Arts
Founded in 1975, the Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) is a community-supported regional arts council that fosters art and culture in South Louisiana. Rooted in a cultural community that has made its mark on the world through food, music, and art, AcA aims to ensure that this living culture flourishes for generations to come. AcA aims to bring equitable access to the arts through intensive residency work in schools and supports fair compensation of artists. On average, AcA serves over 300,000 people annually and provides fair compensation to 2,700 artists. AcA supports the creation of new works of art, exhibits, festivals, performances, and public art across an eight-parish region that includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parishes.

About Louisiana Entertainment
Louisiana is one of the top destinations in the world for motion picture production; digital interactive and software development projects; live performance; and sound recording. With state-of-the-art facilities, a wealth of talent, production-friendly communities and a competitive incentive program, Louisiana is the perfect location for the entertainment industries. For more information on Louisiana film, digital interactive, live performance and sound recording programs, visit Louisiana Entertainment, a division of Louisiana Economic Development, at LouisianaEntertainment.com.

Gov. Lee, Commissar McWhorter announced new manufacturing capture

Posted on March 14, 2024March 18, 2024 by Michael Randle

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and INTOCAST officials announced today the company will locate its first U.S. operations in Tennessee.

The Carroll County site will be dedicated to manufacturing magnesia-carbon (MgO-C) refractories and materials to support INTOCAST’s U.S. market.

The company will host a groundbreaking today in Huntingdon and anticipates construction to begin in July.

Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development.

Commerce Welcomes Back Vince Howie as Oklahoma State Director of Aerospace & Defense

Posted on March 14, 2024March 18, 2024 by Michael Randle

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce (Commerce) recently welcomed Vince Howie back to serve as State Director of Aerospace & Defense. In this role, Howie will lead Commerce’s Aerospace & Defense team, also known as ACES, as they work to strengthen the industry in Oklahoma by enhancing workforce efforts, providing assistance for business retention and expansion, and recruiting new companies in the state. Vince previously served in the same role at Commerce from 2015-2020 before leaving to serve as part owner, Senior Vice President and CEO of Aircraft Towing Systems Worldwide (ATS), LLC, an Oklahoma aerospace startup.

“Aerospace and defense is our fastest growing industry,” said Hopper Smith, Brigadier General (Ret.), Interim Executive Director of Commerce. “We are extremely fortunate to welcome Vince back to Commerce in this role. He is a well-known leader in the aerospace and defense sector and will be able to lead this team and continue the momentum as we work to grow existing Oklahoma companies and bring new aerospace and defense operations to the state.”

Oklahoma Department of Commerce