The Best of Aerospace in the American South WWW.RAND LER E P O R T . C OM WWW. SB- D . COM WWW. S O UTHE R N A UTO C O RRI D O R . COM Economic Development in the World’s Third Largest Economy SPRING 2018 2018 SB D100 5 Permit No. 21 No. Permit & A V , g Lynchbur PAID ge Posta .S. U D PRSRT ST PRSRT How did they finish? CAN ONE MEGASITE HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED? In the Golden Triangle, we’ve got it all—and we give it all. Yes is what we always say here—for whatever you need to succeed. Abundant electricity and water? Yes! Highways, rail, waterway, airport? Yes, yes, yes, and yes! Quality workforce and training? Hell, yes! Our 1,144-acre Infinity Megasite is just one of our feature-filled, ready-to-roll locations. But what’ll really blow you away is our can-do, will-do, do-it-up attitude. Talk to us. Tell us what you need. And expect the answer that makes this region—and your future—golden: YES. www.gtrSaysYes.com or call 662.328.8369 Joe Max Higgins, Jr., CEO GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK All of These Companies Have Two Things in Common ... 2.5 million square feet 2 million square feet 2.1 million square feet 2 million square feet 1 million square feet 500,000 square feet Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc., Nationally Recognized, Recognized as the Locally Focused. Leading Economic Development Engineering Firm in South Carolina by They Chose South Carolina. They Chose Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc. 700,000 square feet 157,000 square feet 100,000 square feet RECENTLY ANNOUNCED 1 million square feet 3.5 million square feet Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc., has offices in Bluffton, Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. On Time. On Budget. On Your Side. 1.2 million square feet Building Alliances One Project at a Time www.allianceCE.comlli CE Bluffton, SC | Charleston, SC | Charlotte, NC | Columbia, SC | Greenville, SC SPRING 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS V 8 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS V The 2018 SB&D 100 Southbound 38 -GPVWEM[NQPIMPQYPHQTKVUJQTUGUDQWTDQP 6 The editor’s column CPFDNWGITCUUECPCFFDKIFGCNUVQVJGNKUV 5GGJQYVJGQVJGT5QWVJGTPUVCVGUCPFEKVKGU Around the South ƂPKUJGFKPVJG5$& 8 Top stories from the last quarter relative to business and economic SB&D Job 100 development 56 The top 100 job-producing projects announced in 2017 Snapshots from the Road 24 Photos of the people and places SB&D Investment 100 SB&D visited in the last quarter 58 The top 100 income-producing projects announced in 2017 Relocations & Expansions 26 #NNQHVJGUKIPKƂECPVPGYUVCTVU Top Deals & Hot Markets expansions and relocations announced 60 Highlighting the most impressive projects in the South in the last quarter and the states and markets that captured them in 2017 SouthernAutoCorridor.com 34 0GYUHTQOVJG5QWVJoUCWVQKPFWUVT[ SB&D 100 State Report EQWTVGU[QH5QWVJGTP#WVQ%QTTKFQTEQO 70 Brief comments on the performance of each Southern state in the 2018 SB&D 100 88 Top Deals Best of Aerospace in the South 6JGVGPNCTIGUVGORNQ[OGPV deals announced in 72 6JGDGUVNQECVKQPUKP.QWKUKCPC the last quarter /KUUKUUKRRK/KUUQWTK0QTVJ%CTQNKPCCPF Oklahoma for the fastest ITQYKPIKPFWUVT[KPVJG5QWVJ The Way-Too-Early Guide to Toyota-Mazda 82 Parts Supplier Locations The 25 best counties in the South for suppliers 26 VQVJG6Q[QVC/C\FCRNCPVVJCVKUDGKPIDWKNVKP *WPVUXKNNG#NC 4 SB&D SPRING 2018 AIRBUS HELICOPTERS – COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI www.mississippi.org/aerospace Every day, Mississippi’s highly skilled workforce assembles aerospace products used all over the world, including AirBus helicopters supporting the nation’s largest public safety organizations. Locate to Mississippi, and see your company’s potential take off. MISS SIPPI AEROSPACE SOUTHBOUND $[/KEJCGN4CPFNG'&+614 Why mess with a good thing? Owner, Editor & THE SOUTH’S ECONOMY, the third largest economy in the Publisher world, has been humming along nicely since 2010 when 594 projects were announced meeting or exceeding SB&D 100 1930 to $1.8 billion in 1933, and the U.S. thresholds (the 2018 SB&D 100 can be found on page 38). It fell into an extended depression. Michael C. Randle was an awesome comeback year after the recession of 2009 cra- But, the current protectionist policies tered the “100” with just 367 projects, the lowest on record. In [email protected] could cause even more harm than in fact, the last four years are the best years in SB&D 100 history, 1930. The reason is that our economy is averaging 693 projects announced every year in the South with Managing Editor so much more global than it was in 1930. at least 200 jobs and/or $30 million in investment. Here is an example: The 787 Dreamliner Stacy C. Randle Yes, we are in the second longest economic expansion in this is built in North Charleston, S.C. Its for- nation’s history, and the longest consecutive monthly job gain ward fuselage is made in Kansas and in [email protected] period ever. But, as of the spring 2018 quarter, those economic Japan. Its center fuselage and stabilizers streaks are now in jeopardy. Without Congressional approval, are made in Italy. Its wings are made in Project Managers our president slapped tariffs on allies in Europe, Mexico and Japan. Its wingtips are made in South Ko- Canada. According to reports, he did it for “national security” rea. Its rear fuselage is made at its main Matthew E. Randle reasons. What does that mean? plants in Washington and at the North Charleston site. Its engines are made So why is this administration dismantling the global economic [email protected] order that we — Republicans and Democrats — crafted over in the U.K., and in the U.S. Its fairings the last 75 years? Your guess is as good as mine because the are made in Canada. Its landing gears Shelly Jo Jacobs president is really messing with a good thing. We are at full em- are made in France, as are its passenger ployment and there is nothing wrong with a trade deficit. We doors. And its cargo doors are made in [email protected] might not feel the initial effects of tariffs in the current econom- Sweden. If there is a better example of ic expansion, but we will surely feel them when this expansion globalization than how the 787 is made, slows to a stop, aided by what are essentially taxes on goods show it to me. Art Director made by our allies and others. Now that the tariff threat is a reality, no Stacy C. Randle What we need are more free trade deals, not less. For instance, country will be a winner, and neither will you. Buckle up because your trip on over the last decade, the Southern Automotive Corridor has [email protected] lost out on about 10 auto assembly plants to Mexico. The main the 787 Dreamliner assembled in North reason being that Mexico has free trade agreements (FTAs) Charleston, S.C., is going to cost more as Writers with 46 countries. We had FTAs with 20, but that is now down a result of these tariffs. to about 12, maybe less. And those who we slap tariffs on will After setting the tariffs on June 1, Pres- Michael C. Randle retaliate,retaliate, and then less is sold, and what is sold ESS & ident Trump said, “Time to get smart!” SIN D U EV becomesbeco more expensive. B E There is nothing smart about protection- N L Beth Braswell R O E P TheTh last time we set protectionist policies ist policies, Mr. President. In fact, it is H H M T E was with the passing of the Tariff Act of dangerous foreign policy. Over the years, U N Lee Burlett O T 1930, better known as Smoot-Hawley. tariffs have led to recessions, depres- S sions, even wars. Hopefully, this is one Even then, 1,028 economists signed Trisha Ostrowski a petition asking President Herbert of Trump’s on, off, on-hold decisions on HHoover not to sign the bill. He signed trade. If not, this is the worst economic Matthew Randle ANNIVERSARY it anyway.a What happened? The value of decision a president has made since Her- globalglobal trade dropped from $4.9 billion in bert Hoover made his. - Stacy Randle Southern Business & Development (ISSN 1067-8751) is a registered trademark TM. Founded in 1992 and published µÕ>ÀÌiÀÞ>ÀV ]Õi]-i«ÌiLiÀ>` iViLiÀLÞ ,*ÕLà }]V°Ƃvw>Ìi`7iLÃÌiÃVÕ`iÜÜÜ°,>`i,i- Volume 25/Number 4 «ÀÌ°V]ÜÜÜ°- °V]ÜÜÜ°-ÕÌ iÀƂÕÌ ÀÀ`À°V°"vwVi>``ÀiÃÃ\nänÈ7iÃÌV iÃÌiÀ*>Vi]Ì}iÀÞ]Ƃ ÎÈ££Ç°* i\ÎÎ{È£ÓÇäΰ/ÃÕLÃVÀLiV>ÎÎ{È£ÓÇäÎ`ÕÀ}À>LÕÃiÃà ÕÀðƂÕ>ÃÕLÃVÀ«Ì\fÓx° -}ii`Ì`iÛiÀÞLÞÌ Àii`>Þ>\f£ä°vÀ>ÌVÌ>i`- E >`ÌÃÜiLÃÌiÃÃ}>Ì iÀi`vÀÀi- Spring 2018 able sources, however, the accuracy of this information is not guaranteed. All rights reserved. Permission must be granted by SB&D for reprint rights, in whole or in part. Copyright 1992-2017. Southern Business & Development TM 1997. South- ern Auto Corridor and Southern Automotive Corridor TM 2003. 6 SB&D SPRING 2018 AROUND For real-time news on business, politics and economic development in the THE South, go to RandleReport.com. For all economic development projects SOUTHannounced in the South, go to SB-D.com. For more information on the automotive industry in the South, go to SouthernAutoCorridor.com. fforts to curb immigration, screening im- unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in 17 migrants by certain educational standards years. There are over 6 million jobs available in Eand increased deportations will be the this country, and about 1.5 million people who biggest threat to the nation’s economy over the are unemployed that are suited for full-time next five years.