Michael Randle, Author at Southern Business & Development

Boise Cascade Announces $75 Million Expansion and Modernization of Oakdale, La. Wood Products Facility

Posted on February 23, 2024October 25, 2024 by Michael Randle

OAKDALE, La. – Boise Cascade Wood Products announced it plans to invest $75 million to expand and modernize key machine centers at its Oakdale facility in Allen Parish. These projects will increase veneer production capacity by 30 percent and allow the facility to produce up to 400 million square feet of dry veneer annually.

The company expects to create 30 direct new jobs, while retaining 370 current positions. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 77 indirect new jobs, for a total of 107 potential new jobs in the Southwest Region.

“Louisiana’s thriving agribusiness industry has been a stronghold in the economy throughout our state’s storied history, creating jobs and opportunities in every region,” Gov. Jeff Landry said. “I applaud Boise Cascade for reinvesting in Louisiana and our skilled manufacturing workforce.”

The projects include upgrade and redesign of Oakdale’s log utilization center, installation of a new six-deck veneer dryer and press and modification of an existing veneer dryer. The upgraded technology is designed to increase productivity and will allow Oakdale to supply additional veneer to Boise Cascade’s engineered wood products (EWP) facility in central Louisiana. The company also operates a plywood and veneer facility in Florien, La.

Louisiana Economic Development

Lincoln Foodservice Equipment Sets Up National Operations Base in Shreveport, La., Creating Nearly 100 Direct New Jobs

Posted on February 23, 2024October 25, 2024 by Michael Randle

SHREVEPORT, La. – Lincoln Foodservice Equipment, a Welbilt brand company that produces commercial-grade foodservice equipment, announced it is establishing a new U.S. operations center at Welbilt’s existing site in Caddo Parish.

The $2.3 million investment will allow the company to create 99 direct new jobs with average annual salaries of more than $50,000. Louisiana Economic Development estimates that the project will result in 137 indirect new jobs, for a total of 236 potential new jobs in the Northwest Region.

“The new Lincoln Foodservice Equipment operations center in Shreveport is a welcome addition not only to Louisiana’s manufacturing sector but also to our world-renowned food culture,” Gov. Jeff Landry said. “I applaud Welbilt for recognizing Louisiana’s unique advantages for business, especially our skilled manufacturing workforce. My administration is committed to growing the economy in all areas of our great state, and more than 200 jobs resulting from this project is just the start of more great things to come in northwest Louisiana.”

Louisiana Economic Development

Storm chaser Reed Timmer brings Team Dominator and armored chase vehicles home to Oklahoma

Posted on February 23, 2024October 25, 2024 by Michael Randle

SOMEWHERE NEAR NORMAN — Celebrity storm chaser and “extreme meteorologist” Reed Timmer has come home to Oklahoma, and his armored Dominator chase vehicles are in (get this) a climate-controlled garage.

They won’t be parked for long. Spring, extreme weather and tornadoes are coming.

The Michigan native calls Norman home after 17 years of study, including a Ph.D. in meteorology, at the University of Oklahoma. But he is not disclosing where his new place is exactly, after a bizarre stalking incident.

A man in Georgia got hold of a picture of the 5,000-square-foot warehouse after it was inadvertently, temporarily posted online, and used a reverse image search to determine its location. He drove up to Timmer’s new digs, which include a residence, and knocked on his door.

The Oklahoman

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s bdtronic to add 60 jobs

Posted on February 23, 2024October 25, 2024 by Michael Randle

A leading global supplier of automated production machines, bdtronic, will add 60 new jobs over the next five years with an average wage of $66,000, officials said.

The jobs announcement qualifies bdtronic for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s Quality Jobs Incentive.

“With bdtronic’s leading position as a supplier to this market, we have undertaken a rapid growth strategy and are pleased to partner with Oklahoma in being approved for the Quality Jobs Incentive,” said Michael Yarnall, President of bdtronic.

Yarnall said the 60 new positions highlight expertise in project management and engineering, machine controls software, mechanical and electrical assembly technicians, and support administration over the next 5 years.

Tulsa World

Mississippi legislators approve incentives for 2 large mulit-billion dollar data centers by Amazon Web Services

Posted on February 23, 2024October 25, 2024 by Michael Randle

Mississippi lawmakers met in special session Thursday and quickly approved job training money and other state incentives to support a plan by Amazon Web Services to spend $10 billion to build two data centers in the central part of the state.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves had announced Wednesday that a tech company would build the centers at two sites north of the capital city of Jackson, but he withheld the company’s name until after legislators approved a $44 million incentive package. Most of the state money, $32 million, will go toward job training programs.

“Mississippi is building a business climate that is ripe for further growth, especially in the technology sector,” Reeves said Thursday. “On top of that, we’re doing what it takes to prepare our workforce to take on these high-paying, technologically advanced jobs of the future.”

Mississippi Business Journal

Brownsville, Tenn. mayor talks area potential growth fueled by massive BlueOval City project

Posted on February 23, 2024October 25, 2024 by Michael Randle

Ford Motor Co.’s massive BlueOval City project could be a turning point for Brownsville.

The $5.6 billion electric truck and battery project in rural West Tennessee — scheduled to open in 2025 — is expected to create about 5,800 jobs and provide a significant economic boost to one of the region’s most economically disadvantaged counties.

Brownsville Mayor Bill Rawls believes the small, rural West Tennessee city with an estimated population of 9,500 could experience a population explosion after years of depopulation. The city is 13 miles from the BlueOval City campus in Stanton.

“Because we had a population decline for so many years, we don’t have any new housing development,” Rawls said. “The thing we’re working on now is establishing utility capacity to accommodate this type of growth. We all heard the phrase they build it; they will come. That’s true, but in this case BlueOval is here and they’re coming.

Memphis Commercial Appeal

German manufacturer to invest over $38M, add nearly 200 jobs in Charlotte region

Posted on February 23, 2024October 25, 2024 by Michael Randle

A German electrical manufacturing company has chosen Iredell County for its U.S. expansion and promises to create nearly 200 jobs in the Charlotte region.

DEHN Inc. will invest more than $38.6 million and create 195 jobs from 2025 to 2029 in Iredell County, the North Carolina Economic Investment Committee said Tuesday during its regular meeting.

The family-owned German electrical engineering company specializes in manufacturing surge and lightning protection systems as well as safety equipment.

The state committee approved $1.2 million in tax incentives for DEHN Inc. over 12 years for its project in Mooresville, just north of Charlotte, according to a news release from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office.

DEHN Inc. is a U.S. and Caribbean subsidiary for DEHN SE, based in Neumarkt, Germany.

Charlotte Observer

Here’s how Florida ranks among top states to start a business in 2024

Posted on February 23, 2024October 25, 2024 by Michael Randle

The Sunshine State is once again one of the best places to start a business.

Simplify LLC analyzed all 50 states using the most recent data from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis and Federation of Tax Administrators.

Florida was No. 4 overall, ranking highly in several key factors, including job creation and consumer spending.

The study analyzed seven factors in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Here is how Florida ranked in each category:

Net migration of educated workers: 144,915 (No. 1)
Job creation: 12.7% increase (No. 6)
Consumer spending: 3.4% increase (No. 15)
Corporate tax rate: 5.5% (No. 20)
New business formation: 7.9% increase (No. 28)
Business success: 12.7% say their business is “performing excellently” (No. 34)
Inflation since 2021: 19% increase (No. 35)

This year, the top 10 states to start a business are:

Wyoming
Texas
South Dakota
Florida
Missouri
Tennessee
Delaware
Kansas
North Carolina
Nevada

Orlando Business Journal

Louisville Metro, Greater Louisville Inc. collaborate on targeted marketing campaign

Posted on February 23, 2024October 25, 2024 by Michael Randle

Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) and Louisville Metro Government are launching a targeted marketing campaign to increase awareness of the region in specific markets and industries.

Clark Welch, GLI vice president of economic development, said the $120,000 campaign will focus on Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington D.C. It intends to attract executives and site selectors working for expanding or relocating companies in industries like biomedical manufacturing, life sciences, logistics, digital health and electric battery production.

“As we engage with site selectors and brokers out of market, one of the things that we consistently hear is that Louisville is sort of a best-kept secret,” Welch explained. “There was an opportunity for us to be more proactive in making external markets aware of the offerings of Greater Louisville. That’s really the intent of this campaign.”

Louisville Business First

Randolph Community College targets Liberty, N.C.-area site to serve both Toyota and Wolfspeed

Posted on February 23, 2024October 25, 2024 by Michael Randle

Randolph Community College has a site in mind near Liberty to help train workers not only for the nearby Toyota auto-battery plant but also for the Wolfspeed semiconductor plant in neighboring Chatham County.

College President Shah Ardalan briefed county commissioners on the plan earlier this week as he and college trustees and administrators outlined fiscal requests of the county.

The college has identified a 22-acre parcel about five minutes from Toyota’s site and some 10 minutes from Wolfspeed, Ardalan told commissioners. The college expects to build on about 15 acres in all, he added.

He did not identify the site except to say it is near the entrance to the Toyota site and on high ground.

The idea is to make it a multi-use site, Ardalan said. The college would use about a third for training related mostly to Toyota and Wolfspeed, part would be a building used by bachelor’s degree-granting universities serving the companies’ needs locally, and about another third will be available for lease to companies that want to be near the megasites but do not need their own buildings, he explained.

Triad Business Journal