Today's wins:

NAM Data Cited In Report On New Projects Boosting Alabama Manufacturing.

The Birmingham (AL) Business Journal (3/26, Greenfield, Subscription Publication) reports that Rex Lumber Company “will soon build a state-of-the-art lumber manufacturing facility in Pike County,” a project that “will create more than 110 jobs and provide a significant economic boost to the region’s forest products industry.” According to the Birmingham Business Journal, “the good news for state manufacturing doesn’t end there,” as “paper manufacturer International Paper, citing growing demand, recently announced it’ll spend more than $500 million to upgrade its facility in Selma,” while, “Mazda and Toyota are investing $1.6 billion in a new plant in Huntsville, adding up to 4,000 jobs, and Shaw Industries Group is investing $184 million in its facility in Andalusia.” The article states, “Add all that together and it’s not surprising to learn, from the National Association of Manufacturers, that manufacturing now accounts for more than 17 percent of Alabama’s total output and employs more than 13 percent of the state’s workforce.”

JSW Announces $500M Expansion Of Texas Steel Mill.

The Houston Chronicle (3/26, Ward) reports that on Monday, JSW Steel announced a $500 investment in the expansion of a steel mill in Baytown, Texas, “a move that will add up to 500 new jobs at an average salary of $65,000.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) made the announcement during “a week-long Texas trade-development mission is underway,” saying that “the expansion will benefit the oil and gas industry and related businesses statewide.” The Chronicle quotes Abbott saying that increasing trade with India “will be extremely profitable for Texas companies for decades to come.” The Dallas Morning News (3/26, Garrett) quotes Abbott saying, “We are proud to be connected with the largest steel producer in India,” and writes that the larger purpose of Abbott’s trip “is to hitch Texas businesses to the world’s fastest-growing economy, India.” Reuters (3/26, Sridhar) reports that JSW USA “sells high-quality carbon plates to the energy, petrochemicals, defense and other heavy equipment industries,” adding that “the company will use $150 million of the funds to improve and modernize its plant in Baytown, Texas, while the rest will fund a new facility.” JSW USA Director Parth Jindal is quoted saying, “Access to natural gas at extremely economical prices and the abundant availability of scrap steel in Texas make conditions very conducive for manufacturing through the Electric Arc Furnace Route.” The Houston Business Journal (3/26, Subscription Publication) reports that in addition to the $150 million investment to upgrade the existing facility, which is “already underway,” an additional “$350 million investment [will] go toward creating the first melt-and-manufacture contiguous plate and pipe facility in Texas.” The Business Journal also quotes Jindal, saying, “JSW Steel (USA) Inc. wishes to create a world-class, fully integrated steel complex that will bring precision manufacturing of high-quality steel plate and pipe to Texas, USA.”

Citing Benefits Of Tax Reform, Carpenter Technology Announces $100M Investment In Its Pennsylvania Facility.

Globe Newswire (3/26) reports that “Carpenter Technology Corporation today announced it will invest $100 million in soft magnetics capabilities and a new, precision strip hot rolling mill in its Reading, PA facility to help meet increasing demand for aerospace, consumer electronics and electric vehicle manufacturing customers.” Carpenter President and CEO Tony Thene said of the investment, “Carpenter’s industry leading capabilities in the field of soft magnetic technology for the Aerospace and Defense end-use market has created a strong platform for growth over the next several years.” In addition, Thene states, “Given these significant market opportunities and the benefits associated with the recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we have decided to accelerate further investment into our business. With more than 90 percent of our products manufactured in the US, this type of capital investment will strengthen our foundation for long-term sustainable growth, provide good-paying jobs and increase value for shareholders for years to come.” In addition, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) welcomed the announcement, saying, “This is exactly the type of capital investment we envisioned as a direct benefit of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It’s vitally important for Pennsylvania families that local companies increase their operations at home and provide high-paying jobs with a stable future.”

        A blog post for Shopfloor (3/26) reports on the Carpenter Technology investment, saying that “more and more manufacturers are taking advantage of tax reform and an improving business climate to grow their business and expand their facilities,” and quoting Thene on the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The post adds that “Carpenter Technologies expects to save nearly $100 million over the next five years due to tax reform and plans to boost capital investment in their US manufacturing operations.”

Allegheny Technologies Announces $95M Investment In Wisconsin Facility.

In a blog post, Shopfloor (3/26) reports that “America’s manufacturers are enjoying record-high optimism and new manufacturing job openings reached close to a record high in February,” stating that “in recent weeks, companies like Sofidel, JDS Technologies, and Volkswagen have announced major investments back into their businesses, expanding their facilities and creating new jobs.” Shopfloor writes that “Allegheny Technologies Inc., a world-wide metals manufacturer based in Pennsylvania, announced last week that it plans to invest $95 million into its facility in Cudahy, Wisconsin to meet growing demand in the aerospace market, creating 125 new jobs:”

Magna International Plans $8M Investment In South Carolina Plant, Will Add 130 Jobs.

WYFF-TV Greenville, SC (3/26, Field) reports that Magna International, an Ontario-based mobility technology company and auto supplier, “has announced an $8 million expansion of its Spartanburg [South Carolina] plant that will add 130 new jobs.” South Carolina Gov. Harry McMaster (R) is quoted saying, “Magna International is a longtime member of the South Carolina business community, and we’re proud to see that this global company is continuing to find success here. I look forward to watching all that this plant will achieve in the years to come.” The article also states that “Magna has three other manufacturing locations in South Carolina and employs about 1,450 people in the state,” and adds that Magna’s “seat manufacturing plant, which supplies seats to the BMW Group, will be expanding by 25,000 square feet and adding new shipping bays to accommodate increased customer volumes.” McMaster adds ,”Magna International is a longtime member of the South Carolina business community, and we’re proud to see that this global company is continuing to find success here. I look forward to watching all that this plant will achieve in the years to come.” WSPA-TV Greenville, SC (3/26) also reports on the story, quoting Spartanburg County Economic Development Committee Chairman David Britt saying, “We are extremely pleased that Magna International is already expanding its operations here in Spartanburg County to accommodate increased customer volumes. As a global manufacturer, Magna’s decision to expand demonstrates the continued opportunity for existing industries to grow here.” Magna Seating Vice President of Operations Burge Young said of the announcement, “Today represents an exciting step forward in the growth and development of our business in North America. We have a strong leadership team and a highly-skilled workforce who are dedicated to world-class manufacturing and have a clear mission: to be the premier seat supplier to our customers here in South Carolina and around the world.”

Two Manufacturers Plan New Indiana Facilities.

The Indianapolis Business Journal (3/26) reports that “two manufacturers are making plans to open plants in Whitestown, [Indiana], where they expect to hire a total of almost 200 workers over the next six years.” The first, Royal Interpack West, a maker of fresh-food packaging, “said it intends to spend $20 million to equip a 130,000-square-foot facility in Allpoints at Anson business park that will employ 130 people.” The second, NTN Bearing Corporation of America, “plans to spend $2.1 million on equipment to open a 280,000-square-foot plant with 68 workers in a new building.” According to the Business Journal, “the companies could begin work on the new plants as soon as next month.”

Southwire Announces $9M Workforce Investment Stemming From Tax Reform.

Electrical Marketing (3/26) reports that the Georgia-based firm Southwire “recently announced that it will reinvest approximately $9 million dollars back into the lives, and pockets, of its employees, joining a growing list of companies that have made similar moves as a result of recent tax reform.” According to the article, “In addition to global, one-time employee bonuses, the company said that it is expanding its parental leave policy and taking steps to strengthen its commitment to education, skilled trade development,” as well as STEM training.

"The Commerce Department’s estimate “revises the government’s previous estimate for growth from October through December, which was 2.5 percent,” adding that “the jump to 2.9 percent growth was better than economists expected and means that the US economy grew at an average pace of 3.1 percent from April through December of last year.” Barclays Economist Pooja Sriram is quoted saying, “The message remains one of solid domestic activity in the fourth quarter, driven by household and business spending."

As well, scores of companies continue to announce $1,000 employee bonuses due directly to the tax reform legislation.