A major tech investment in Utah and big day for advanced battery technology top the week’s expansion, investment and job creation news:
In Utah, computer hardware development and design firm Xi3 plans a $32 million capital investment that will create 500 jobs. The company, which is based in Utah, is planning a number of product expansions based on its Xi3 computer architecture. The computer is a small but powerful, energy efficient 64-bit computer.
In Kentucky, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) and the University of Kentucky (UK) have formally announce the opening of a new $20.7 million facility dedicated to the research and development of renewable energy and energy storage technologies. A portion of UK’s new 43,000-square-foot building houses the Kentucky-Argonne Battery Manufacturing Research and Development Center, an advanced “open access” battery manufacturing R&D facility. In 2009, Gov. Steve Beshear initiated the partnership among the Commonwealth, Argonne, UK and the University of Louisville. More on the project here.
In Kansas, International paper subsidiary Xpedx will relocate to Edwardsville and bring 180 jobs to a new facility. The company plans a 280,000-square-foot distribution facility, which includes 30,000 square feet of office space in Edwardsville. This will be among the first mega distribution facility built by the company.
In North Carolina, Schletter Inc., one of the largest designers and manufacturers of solar power mounting systems, will establish a production and distribution facility in Shelby in the Charlotte USA region. The company plans to create 305 jobs in North Carolina by the end of 2016, and invest more than $27 million in its Cleveland County facility.
In South Carolina, Morgan Olson LLC, a maker of walk-in van bodies, will establish its new plant in Charleston County. The $1 million investment is expected to generate 119 new jobs.
