Economic Development - Expansions and Relocations

[turbocraig]

16 hours ago, KJHburg said:

from Charlotte Regional Partnership twitter
Charlotte Regional Business Alliance
@clt_alliance

#CLT's automotive industry is flourishing. More than 63,000 people work in the region's sector & nearly 16,500 work in high-value manufacturing. In the past 2 years alone, 20 automotive-related companies have announced plans to expand in the region, adding nearly 1,300 new jobs!

Doubly impressive numbers considering we are the only state (or one of the only) in the Southeast without a major auto manufacturing facility.  Maybe these numbers will change those dynamics eventually.  

[KJHburg]

From the Biz Journal about growth of warehouse space (and thus jobs) in the region.

"""In fact, real estate sources say Amazon is actively looking for another 1.5 million square feet in the local market — expected to be across at least two facilities. When asked, an Amazon spokeswoman said Monday the company is constantly exploring new locations but has a policy of not commenting on its future roadmap, including specific operations plans in North Carolina.""

""As of late last week, Avison Young was tracking 6.5 million square feet of industrial deals in the local market, said Chris Skibinski, managing director of the firm's Charlotte office. A couple of those deals are 1 million-plus square feet apiece.""

Amazon hunting for more real estate in Charlotte amid hot industrial market - Charlotte Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

 

[Blue_Devil]

Said it in the Centene thread, but Centene will be moving there headquarters to Charlotte. Official announcement in the next month or two. 

[KJHburg]

I hope this will mean the 6000 jobs mentioned as the 3200 promised but they have the land and space  to do 6000 for sure.  

[Hushpuppy321]

2 hours ago, Blue_Devil said:

Said it in the Centene thread, but Centene will be moving there headquarters to Charlotte. Official announcement in the next month or two. 

Wholly Cow that would be good news.  Are they a Fortune 500 Company?

[joenc]

10 minutes ago, Hushpuppy321 said:

Wholly Cow that would be good news.  Are they a Fortune 500 Company?

#42 on the 2020 list

Edited February 11, 2021 by joenc

[RANYC]

1 hour ago, joenc said:

#42 on the 2020 list

Pretty huge coup

does this mean they come back for additional incentives and this deal helps us to put pressure on the General Assembly to approve the referendum on transportation mobility plan?  Do city leaders then weave this huge HQ win into a broader narrative regarding the importance of major transit investments to keep up Charlotte’s momentum?

[KJHburg]

from the EDPNC of NC and the Charlotte Biz Journal about the state's jobs pipeline. 

""If North Carolina was to win all of them, it would add up to more than 50,000 new jobs and $14.7 billion in new investment.

Of the 177 projects:

29 are classified as manufacturing
29 are classified as food, beverage and agriculture
19 are classified as biotech, pharma and life sciences
Eight are classified as information technology
Of the possible projects in the current pipeline, 22% involve foreign corporations — which is lower than in years past. Chung said that, typically, about a third of pipeline projects are foreign direct investment. But travel restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic have impacted that number.""
 

What NC economic development officials have in pipeline - Charlotte Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

[steve_o]

Think I remember seeing something about Dole quietly moving its HQ to Charlotte.  Yesterday they merged with Total Produce to form the world's largest fresh produce company with its US base in Charlotte:

 

https://charlotte.axios.com/248296/worlds-largest-fresh-produce-company-grows-charlotte-hq/

 

Edited February 17, 2021 by steve_o

[tozmervo]

16 minutes ago, steve_o said:

Think I remember seeing something about Dole quietly moving its HQ to Charlotte.  Yesterday they merged with Total Produce to form the world's largest fresh produce company with its US base in Charlotte:

https://charlotte.axios.com/248296/worlds-largest-fresh-produce-company-grows-charlotte-hq/

When on earth did Agenda get bought up? I totally missed that. I initially thought I was reading that article on some generic bot-driven news agglomerator site

[KJHburg]

Yes they opened an office in Charlotte a few years back to be close to their Research operations in Kannapolis now the Americas HQ (used to be based in Westlake Village CA outside of LA)

Dole and Total Produce agree to merge | Produce News (theproducenews.com)

Total Produce to Combine with Dole Food Company and Become Publicly Listed in the U.S. | Dole.com

[SouthEndCLT811]

This is cool to see for Dole, I've been consulting on a project for them the last two years.  The HQ is very admin based.  Whereas a lot of day to day is run out of, say, Monterey for their Dole Fresh Vegetables division.  This may be more like a Krispy Kreme HQ then a full office and relo like the Chiquita comparison, but good news nonetheless.

Edited February 18, 2021 by SouthEndCLT811

[Norm2]

10 minutes ago, SouthEndCLT811 said:

This is cool to see for Dole, I've been consulting on a project for them the last two years.  The HQ is very admin based.  Whereas a lot of day to day is run out of, say, Monterey for their Dole Fresh Vegetables division.  This may be more like a Krispy Kreme HQ then a full office and relo like the Chiquita comparison, but good news nonetheless.

I am glad that Dole is here, even if it isn't a true HQ.  It's a much better situation than we had with Chiquita who fished around for money and then didn't even stay.

[rancenc]

State grants awarded to various locales throughout the state including some in the Greater Charlotte area.

https://www.nccommerce.com/news/press-releases/governor-cooper-announces-grants-rural-communities-attract-375-new-jobs-and-more

[SydneyCarton]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-battery-powered-car-hopes-ride-on-lithium-one-producer-paves-the-way-11615311932?mod=hp_lead_pos5

Edited March 10, 2021 by SydneyCarton

[Blue_Devil]

19 hours ago, SydneyCarton said:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-battery-powered-car-hopes-ride-on-lithium-one-producer-paves-the-way-11615311932?mod=hp_lead_pos5

I expect this to cause many EV plants to be built here. 

[SydneyCarton]

1 hour ago, Blue_Devil said:

I expect this to cause many EV plants to be built here. 

That would be nice.

[KJHburg]

Charlotte Business Alliance has announced best economic development prospects in a few years in the last 4 months.

Charlotte Regional Business Alliance | New Business Recruitment at the CLT Alliance: February 2021

[nicholas]

Chemical company Clariant moving its US HQ to Charlotte.  Will be going in 500 E Morehead St.

[CLT2014]

4 minutes ago, nicholas said:

Chemical company Clariant moving its US HQ to Charlotte.  Will be going in 500 E Morehead St.

Is this a full relocation of all the jobs in Louisville or a shuffle in name only? 

[nicholas]

Just now, CLT2014 said:

Is this a full relocation of all the jobs in Louisville or a shuffle in name only? 

Not sure, just saw it posted on Instagram.  If they're taking the whole building then seems like they'd definitely be bringing some jobs over from Louisville.

[kermit]

14 minutes ago, nicholas said:

Not sure, just saw it posted on Instagram.  If they're taking the whole building then seems like they'd definitely be bringing some jobs over from Louisville.

CBJ said its just a move of their executive staff from current offices on Monroe rd at Wendover -- so not technically a new HQ. Its a bit of a local downsize since they are getting rid of their local laboratory space. They are leasing 32,500 square feet on Morhead st. which was downsized from 160,000 sq ft on Monroe rd.

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/03/11/clariant-corp-charlotte-relocation.html

 

Edited March 16, 2021 by kermit

[nicholas]

1 hour ago, kermit said:

CBJ said its just a move of their executive staff from current offices on Monroe rd at Wendover -- so not technically a new HQ. Its a bit of a local downsize since they are getting rid of their local laboratory space. They are leasing 32,500 square feet on Morhead st. which was downsized from 160,000 sq ft on Monroe rd.

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/03/11/clariant-corp-charlotte-relocation.html

 

I thought their US HQ was in Louisville?

[kermit]

9 minutes ago, nicholas said:

I thought their US HQ was in Louisville?

Not sure. I am not trying to be argumentative, I was just parroting what I read in CBJ earlier in the week. Some excerpts:

Quote

A Swiss company that's kept its North American headquarters on Monroe Road in Charlotte since 1995 is making a big move later this year.

Quote

Clariant's current local headquarters, at the intersection of Monroe and North Wendover roads, is a 1950s-era building and slightly more than 160,000 square feet. Through sales of various business lines over the years, the company today has a smaller local headcount than it used to, about 130 in Charlotte, said Gene Mueller, North American president of Clariant.

Quote

Clariant also has a large presence in Houston, Texas, and Louisville, Kentucky, so consolidation in either of those cities was also on the table.

 

Edited March 16, 2021 by kermit

[nicholas]

Interesting, well my first post was via Beacon Partners' Instagram post which was based off of the CBJ.  Looks like Clariant's website shows Louisville as its U.S. headquarters, so maybe the CBJ wasn't paying attention.