Inside: A Renewal for IBM Campuses//Manufacturing industry diversity//Why the grid is ready for fleets of electric trucks
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Site & Facility Planning
This Week
Tuesday, July 27th, 2021
This Week's Must Reads
Warehouse automation is expected to grow at 14 percent, reaching US$30 billion by 2026, according to research house LogisticsIQ. The U.S. is currently leading the way. But less-established markets are catching up, with Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines all building warehouses with high-tech standards. (JLL)
When Big Blue left upstate New York, economic pain ensued. But the large complexes left behind are ideally suited for large-scale production and shipping, local officials say. (NYTimes)
Many manufacturers still struggle to fill critical jobs, and companies should continue to find ways to broaden the talent pipeline, foster inclusive cultures, and create ongoing upskilling programs for the digital future of manufacturing. (Deloitte Insights)
Existing technology can support heavy-duty electric trucks that travel short distances, though longer trips still pose a challenge. (MIT Technology Review)

The Saxe Gotha Industrial Park, located at the junction of Interstate-26 and Interstate-77 in the center of South Carolina, is home to Amazon, Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Dominion Energy, and the Kennedy Innovation Complex. Lot 3 (featured above) within the Saxe Gotha Industrial Park boasts:

  • 68 developable acres

  • Shovel ready

  • Interstate frontage

  • Rail accessible

  • Accessed via 4-lane divided highway

  • 1 mile to Interstate

  • Accommodates nearly 1M SF

Notable Project Announcements
1
Darigold, Inc. will invest roughly $500 million in building a new premium protein and butter operation near Pasco, Washington. The 400,000-square-foot specialized milk protein and butter plant will process approximately eight million pounds of milk a day.
2
Martinrea, a diversified and global automotive supplier, will expand its operations in Robertson County, Tennessee. The $40 million is expected to create 97 new jobs.
3
Fintech startup company Tomo will locate its corporate headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. The project is expected to create 100 jobs by the end of the year.
4
Canadian-based Prolam, a manufacturer of high-quality hardwood floors for commercial trucks and dry van trailers, will invest $12.8 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Patrick County, Virginia. The project is expected to create 58 jobs.
5
InFlex, a subsidiary of Georgia-based plastics manufacturing leader Amcor, Inc., will invest nearly $8 million in expanding its operations to Alma, Georgia. The project is expected to create 100 jobs in Bacon County.
Around The Web
Job creation tax credits. Investment tax credits. Research and development tax credits. Payroll withholding tax rebates. Property tax abatements. Those are just five of the major categories of tax incentives states offer with the goal of encouraging new investment and economic development in their state. Nearly all states offer at least one of those major tax breaks, with most states offering two or more. But just because most states offer numerous incentives doesn’t mean doing so is the best approach. (Tax Foundation)
Austin will soon be home to a SpaceX factory, where it will manufacture dishes, Wi-Fi routers and mounting hardware for its internet satellite project Starlink, according to recent job postings. (austonia)
Focusing on communication and culture can further boost employee experience and productivity. (strategy+business)
Transition not yet noticeable in showrooms, but industry resources have shifted. ‘We’re trying to make things change pretty quickly'. (WSJ)
Since U.S. business interests have settled into opposing camps and cannot seem to find compromise, legislators will have to decide strategic issues. (IndustryWeek)
The next tech talent wars may be less about the free stuff, and more about the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. Those famously expensive Silicon Valley campuses that double as adult playgrounds, with their nap pods and herb gardens and bike-shares, are competing with a newfound love for the home office. (Bloomberg)
Israel has long been known as the “Startup Nation” with more than 6,000 active startups, making it the world leader for startups per capita. Recently, with the increase in unicorns (Israel has the highest number of unicorns per capita) as well as R&D centers of multinational corporations (530 R&D centers), Israel is transforming to become the “Scale-Up Nation.” (Forbes)
Experts say companies are looking for locations where workers want to live, especially with workers in short supply. (CNBC)
With the US Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, America is fully embracing industrial policy as the all-encompassing solution to a wide range of economic, social, and strategic problems. But all of the objectives articulated in the bill could be achieved more effectively by other means. (Project Syndicate)
Some jobs don't need a college degree, and they can make it possible for Americans to be part of the middle-class and enjoy financial security. (Business Insider)
Rivian announced Friday that it has closed a $2.5 billion private funding round led by Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, D1 Capital Partners, Ford Motor and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. (TechCrunch)
Utilities and startups are racing to build fast-charging networks for electric vehicles throughout the U.S. as auto makers bet their future on EVs. (WSJ)
One unpredicted impact of COVID-19 is a renewed interest and debate about the world’s dependence on the off-shoring of manufacturing and services to China. As a result, nearshoring has become an attractive possibility for many businesses. A recent survey of supply chain leaders “found that 33% had moved sourcing and manufacturing activities out of China or plan to do so in the next two to three years.” (BRINK)
Amazon.com Inc.-backed electric vehicle startup Rivian Automotive plans to build a second U.S. assembly plant that will also include battery cell production, according to four people familiar with the matter. (Reuters)
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