Living the Life & Smelling the Roses

Living the Life & Smelling the Roses

Thanks to my great friends

It’s been crazy at BrandAcceleration. Between numerous economic development conferences and client trips, I’ve personally visited eleven states in the last couple of months. Our team seems to constantly be heading off in different directions. I guess that’s the blessing and curse of being a very busy branding and marketing communications firm.

One of the other blessings is the pleasure of seeing so many friends along the way. Clients, business colleagues, and acquaintances, all of them friends, make a heavy travel schedule quite nice.

One such friend, and one of my industry mentors, is Ed Burghard. A longtime marketer and brand professional at consumer products company Procter & Gamble, where he was recognized as one of the top three global marketers, Ed has since turned his focus on the public sector. In 2009, he established the Strengthening BrandAmerica Project, an effort to improve the competitiveness of states and communities.

While attending the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference in Philadelphia, I had a nice discussion with Ed about the subject of community branding. It’s a subject near and dear to each of us. I am particularly impressed with his passion for using economic development as a tool to help people find and live the American Dream. He has a unique ability to articulate the linear connections between public policy, community development, marketing, employer investment, jobs, and a robust quality of life.

A prolific writer on the subjects of marketing and place branding, Ed’s social media and blog posts are at the top of my reading list. A great staring point, for anyone wishing to tap into his wisdom, is his web site, StregtheningBrandAmerica.com.

Recently, I was honored to be recognized by Ed as a place branding expert who “gets it.” While it’s always a thrill to know my many years of work and study are not overlooked, I want Ed to know that much of my depth of knowledge can be attributed to him.

Also, while at IEDC, I had the pleasure of connecting with Brand Acceleration advisers Jay Garner, Cecilia Harry, and Chris Manheim, friends who help me and my company to improve and better serve our clients. I’m just sorry advisers Ronnie Bryant and Eric Canada weren’t there.

In the midst of a very busy time and a hurried life, it’s a real blessing to have such wonderful friends to help me smell the roses.

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences below.

Have a great week and I’ll see you soon,

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis: 317.536.6255

Charlotte: 704:230:0394

Atlanta: 404.474.7980

Fax: 317.222.1425

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

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Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.

Good Economic News 10-29-2013

Good Economic News

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

In Sioux City, Iowa, Bomgaars, a supplier to farmers and ranchers, will expand and add 15 employees.

Steel maker JGM Welding & Fabrication Services, Inc. will expand in Chester County, Pennsylvania, creating 44 jobs.

MAC Medical Supply Company, Inc., a supplier of medical products, will establish a new operation in Munster, Indiana, creating 40 jobs.

Homeaway will add 100 jobs companywide.

In Union County, Tennessee, 9 to 5 Seating, Inc. will open a new facility, creating 510 jobs.

In Gaston County, North Carolina, glass non-woven products maker Owens Corning will establish a new facility and hire 110 people. Congrats to Brand Acceleration client, economic developer Donny Hicks on a job well done.

South Coast Baking Company, a maker of bakery products, will open a new facility in Springdale, Arkansas, creating 150 jobs.

Bilstein Group, an automotive supplier, will establish a new operation in Bowling Green, Kentucky, creating 90 jobs.

In Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Flexicon Corporation will expand and add 50 jobs.

In Ames, Iowa, software company WebFilings will expand and hire 700 people.

In Pittsfield Charter Township, Michigan, energy solutions provider Navitas Systems, LLC will expand and add 125 jobs.

WasteZero, a provider of solid waste programs, will expand in Williamsburg County, South Carolina, creating 27 jobs.

King’s Hawaiian, a bakery and distribution company, will expand in Hall County, Georgia, creating 400 jobs.

The Lauridsen Group, Inc., a maker of protein products, will expand in Iowa, creating 40 jobs.

Automotive supplier Denso will open a new facility in Montgomery, Alabama, creating 45 jobs.

Ithaca Gun Company, a firearms maker, will expand its operation in Aynor, South Carolina, creating 120 jobs.

Food maker TruFood will expand and add 100 employees in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

In Jeffersonville, Indiana, Catamaran Corporation, a provider of pharmacy benefit technology, will locate a new facility and hire 205 people.

In Marion Township, Michigan, catalytic converter maker ACAT Global, LLC will expand and hire 100 people.

TiaTech Oncology, a life sciences and clinical pathology laboratory, will expand its Franklin, Tennessee operation, creating 39 jobs.

Consumer products company Colgate-Palmolive Company will open a new facility in Greenwood County, South Carolina, creating 300 jobs.

In Rutherford County, North Carolina, Trelleborg Coated Systems US, Inc., a maker of polymer products, will expand and add 76 jobs.

Pizza Hut will add 100s of jobs companywide.

Shrivallabh Pittie Group, a textile maker, will open a new facility in Screven County, Georgia, hiring 250 people.

In Davenport, Iowa, Lewis Machine & Tool Company will expand and hire 163 people.

nGage Labs, a provider of customer engagement solutions, will open a new facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, creating 35 jobs.

Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc, a maker of auto components, will expand in Northville Charter, Michigan, creating 151 jobs.

Axalta Coatings Systems, LLC, will open its new headquarters in Pennsylvania, creating 332 jobs.

Retailer Walmart will open a new e-commmerce center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, creating 350 jobs.

In Coffee County, Tennessee, cheese maker Great Lakes Cheese will open a new facility, creating 200 jobs.

In Kokomo, Indiana, Patriot Porcelain, LLC, a maker of china products, will expand and hire 140 people.

Investment industry company Edward Jones will expand and hire 3,000 people.

In Rock Hill, South Carolina, 3D printer and parts maker 3D Systems Corporation will expand and add 145 employees.

In Rogers, Arkansas, Redman & Associates, a maker of ride on toys, will open a new operation and hire 74 people.

In Carroll County, Georgia, Yachiyo of America, Inc., an auto components maker, will open a new facility and hire 200 people.

TriState Quality Metals, a sheet metal fabricator, will build a new operation in Dubuque, Iowa and hire 10 people.

In Lawrence County, Alabama, steel tubing and pipe maker IT-TRI, LLC will build a new plant and hire 100 people.

In Delaware County, Pennsylvania, shock suppression products maker Unequal Technologies will expand and create 104 jobs.

Charter House Innovations, a maker of seating and décor products, will expand in Holland Charter Township, Michigan, creating 50 jobs.

Seafood processor RC Creations, LLC will establish a new facility in Pender County, North Carolina, creating 120 jobs.

Arclight Brewing Company, a startup, will open a new operation in Berrien County, Michigan, creating 15 jobs.

In Marion, Arkansas, auto components maker Hino Motors Manufacturing, USA will expand and add 200 employees.

Esurance will add 700 jobs companywide.

In Boone County, Indiana, countertop and cabinet maker Sims-Loman, Inc. will expand and add 32 employees. Congrats to economic developer Bryan Brackemyre.

In Philadelphia and Gap Counties, Pennsylvania, retailer Urban Outfitters, Inc. will expand and create 2,500 jobs.

In Carroll County, Georgia, cable and wire maker Southwire will expand and add 375 employees.

Tire maker Hankook Tire Company LTD will open a new facility in Montgomery County, Tennessee, creating 1,800 jobs.

In Detroit, Michigan, logistics technology service provider Comprehensive Logistics Company will open a new facility and hire 350 people.

HairUWear, Inc., a maker of hair goods, will open its new headquarters and distribution center in Lenexa, Kansas, creating 102 jobs.

In Morgan County, Georgia, vinyl tile maker Mannington Mills, Inc. will expand and add 219 employees.

In Fayette County, Indiana, Wayzata Home Products, LLC will open a cabinet manufacturing and distribution operation, creating 309 jobs.

In Worthing, South Dakota, materials handling equipment company Agile Manufacturing, LLC will expand and add 10 employees.

In Rabun County, Georgia, spun yarn maker Parkdale Mills will expand and create 210 jobs.

Trident Case, a maker of mobile device cases, will open a new facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California, creating 75 jobs.

Interim Healthcare will add 1,650 employees companywide.

Automotive supplier Mubea will open a new facility in Boone County, Kentucky, creating 150 jobs.

NOHMS Technologies, Inc., a maker of batteries, will locate a manufacturing facility in Rochester, New York, creating 100 jobs.

In Claiborne County, Tennessee, furniture maker England, Inc. will expand and add 300 employees.

In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, A&L Foods, Inc. will expand and add 13 employees.

Little Kentucky Smokehouse, a maker of smoked meat products, will open a new facility in Union County, Kentucky, creating 18 jobs.

In Knox County, Tennessee, Leisure Pools will open its new corporate headquarters, creating 240 jobs.

Emergent BioSolutions will expand in Gaithersburg, Maryland, creating 133 jobs.

DESMI, Inc., a maker of pumps, will establish a new operation in Chesapeake, Virginia, creating 34 jobs.

Total Jobs Announcements: 18,545+

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana: 317.536.6255

Fax: 317.222.1425

Charlotte, North Carolina: 704.230.0394

Atlanta, Georgia: 404.474.7980

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

Twitter

FaceBook

Google+

BrandCoach Blog

  

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development.

Community Branding Requires Strong Marketing & Supportive Leadership

Now’s the time to get started

At Brand Acceleration, we work with cities, towns, regions, and states nationwide, helping them develop strategies that grow awareness and drive economic activity. Often, the first challenge put to us is to “create a new brand,” however, brands are not “created,” they’re discovered. After some serious probing, we often find the same thing.

Your community might have the best connections, community college, sites and building inventory, and fishing in the nation, but if nobody knows about it, what difference will it make to future prosperity? As you might expect, I interview many community leaders and almost everyone believes his or her place has a strong brand. "We're an agriculture, manufacturing, military community." I hear it all. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, when we ask site selectors, c-suite executives, or real estate brokers what they believe, we often find that the community is virtually unknown. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes a clean slate is a great place to start. But it's important to get started.

You can have a great web site and a really creative logo, but if you do nothing to effectively plant your message in the minds of the most important prospects who can bring jobs and investment, your community may be like the tree falling in the forest. No one will know.

Being heard in a crowded space

The worldwide web is just that, worldwide. It's a huge place where unsupported web sites get lost. Like cyber-driftwood, they just float along hoping to bump into an unsuspecting soul who might be working on a jobs project. Many community economic development web sites are just like that, floating aimlessly....hoping....wishing....dreaming.

Making matters even worse is the fact that search engines are making it more difficult every day. Google, Bing, and Yahoo are ever-changing. Without warning, they make changes that make it more difficult to navigate their algorithms. In the last eighteen months, Google installed their Panda updates, dramatically increasing the need to actively participate in social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs. Then, almost immediately, they installed their Penguin update, punishing web site owners who intentionally stuffed key words into their sites, seeking an advantage. Just a few days ago, they added the Hummingbird update, recognizing searchers who use full sentences. For economic developers, Hummingbird could be a blessing or a curse, depending on how well they know their audiences search practices.

Failure to fund equals failure to thrive

I attend numerous economic development meetings and conferences where I hear economic developers talk of funding challenges. In addition to serving their primary role as marketer, they often spend much of their time doing fundraising, being seen at community events, serving on various boards, and kissing countless political backsides. Some estimate their effective economic development time at 15%. My challenge to elected officials and EDO board members to take over the fundraising role so your economic developer can dedicate all of his or her time doing the primary job of marketing and seeking jobs and investment.

Now what?

Assuming you have a great web site (And I do mean great. Good is no longer good enough.), what should you do next? In addition to your web site, which should be professionally produced and optimized for search engines, you must find powerful ways to grow awareness of your area, convincing key audiences to take a look. I like tactics that are strategic and measurable. After all, you might have to prove to your board that the money spent is working.

For Brand Acceleration clients, we've had great success with a well-thought-out mix of tactics such as e-mail marketing, online banner ads, videos, mission trips, direct mail, and even occasional print ads. There are no silver bullets, though. If you think you can market on the cheap, running a single ad, for example, you should keep your money. That kind of marketing never works. In order to successfully grow your community's brand and drive activity, you must consistently be in front of highly-defined prospects with an on-going effort. It takes at least three impressions just to stand a chance of being remembered.

Maybe your community has a strong reputation. Maybe it has no reputation beyond the county line. In either case, now is the time to get started with a strong promotional effort. If you're not telling your story, who will?

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences below.

Have a great week and I’ll see you soon,

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis: 317.536.6255

Charlotte: 704:230:0394

Atlanta: 404.474.7980

Fax: 317.222.1425

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

Google+

YouTube

BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.

Good Economic News 10-8-2013

Good Economic News

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

Serco, Inc., a provider of professional, technology, and management services, will open a new operation in Lawton, Oklahoma, creating 500 jobs. Congrats to economic developer Barry Albrecht on a job well done.

Eastman Chemical Company will expand its operation in Henry County, Virginia, creating 25 jobs.

In Whitley County, Indiana, military and aerospace parts maker Breyden Products, Inc. will expand and hire 23 people.

In Shelbyville, Kentucky, consumer packaging company Tegrant Diversified Brands will locate a new facility and create 51 jobs.

In Covington, Georgia, Unilever will expand its ice cream facility and hire 428 people.

LightEdge Solutions, an information technology company, will open a new operation in Kansas City, Missouri, creating 21 jobs.

Pratt Paper, LLC, a paper and packaging company, will locate a recycling center in Valparaiso, Indiana, creating 137 jobs.

In Dalton, Georgia, carpet maker Shaw Industries will expand and add 175 jobs.

In Muskegan, Michigan, auto parts supplier ADAC will expand and add 97 employees.

In Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Heartland Automotive, LLC, a supplier to the auto industry, will expand and add 224 jobs.

In Durham County, North Carolina, pharmaceutical maker Purdue Pharma Manufacturing will open a new facility and hire 100 people.

In Marion, Iowa, ELPLAST America, Inc., a maker of zippers, will open a new facility and create 10 jobs.

In Danville, Virginia, mold maker North American Mold Technology will open a new facility and hire 120 people.

Alliance Barrier Films, LLC, a maker of film packaging products, will expand in Daviess County, Indiana, creating 48 jobs.

Aircraft maker Boeing will expand in Helena, Montana, creating 25 jobs.

Zeeland Lumber Operations, LLC, a supplier of lumber and building materials, will open a new facility in Elkhart County, Indiana, creating 72 jobs.

Firstronic, LLC, a maker of circuit boards, will open a new operation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, creating 121 jobs.

Dayton Rogers Manufacturing Company, a metal forming supplier, will establish a new facility in Richland County, South Carolina, creating 134 jobs.

Online retailer eBay, Inc. will expand its operation in Louisville, Kentucky, adding 150 employers.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, amusement park operator Cedar Fair Entertainment Company will expand its Rarowinds Park, creating 15 jobs.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Longbow Advantage, Inc., a software developer, will establish a new operation and create 32 jobs.

Ash Brokerage Corporation, an insurance firm, will expand in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, adding 115 employees.

In Chester County, South Carolina, JN Fibers, Inc. will open a new operation and create 318 jobs.

Pallet maker Calumet Pallet Company, Inc. will expand in LaPorte County, Indiana, adding 115 jobs.

In Sarpy County, Nebraska, insurance provider Travelers Company will establish a data center and hire 30 people.

In Spartanburg County, South Carolina, metal fabricator Laserflex will expand and create 20 jobs.

Total Jobs Announcements: 3,106

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana: 317.536.6255

Fax: 317.222.1425

Charlotte, North Carolina: 704.230.0394

Atlanta, Georgia: 404.474.7980

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

Twitter

FaceBook

Google+

BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development.

 

 

 

 

 

Technology is Ruining the English Language

Technology is Ruining
the English Language

#TalkingGoodEnglish

 

By: Colleen Walton

Project Coordinator/Event Management/Social Media Marketing

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Have you ever experienced secondhand embarrassment? It's that feeling you get when you witness someone doing something embarrassing and you sit there cringing, waiting for it to stop.  That's how I feel when I come across grammatical errors on a company’s web site or hear a presenter use a word that isn't really a word (e.g.  irregardless).  The way we speak and write greatly impacts the way we are perceived.  Whether or not it’s true, the inability to effectively communicate often makes a person appear… well… unintelligent.  In the Brand Acceleration office, we have near-daily discussions about the gross mistreatment of the English language.   The most bothersome atrocities are the errors we encounter in professional writing.  Just the other day I had a little gripe session about LinkedIn’s suggested subject line, “Can you recommend me?”  This all got me thinking: has our love affair with technology ruined our ability to speak proper English?

In high school, I experienced the rise of Facebook, and Twitter broke through into the mainstream early in my college career.  Thanks to social media, we are able to communicate more easily than ever before.   Unfortunately, many people spend more time Instagramming a picture of their lunch (#turkeyburger #yum) or tweeting about a boring meeting with no regard for how the 140-character mindset affects the way we think.  Every once in a while, I catch myself saying something like “BTW,” and that’s when I know I need to reconsider my life choices.  Social media allows us to be a little lax in our grammar and spelling.  Using proper punctuation might put you at 143 characters, so you delete a few commas here and there.  No big deal, right?  For now, but how long is it until you forget what proper punctuation looks like?  Suddenly, you find yourself leaving commas out of company emails and RFPs.  It’s a slippery slope, my friend.  A very slippery slope…

The problem expands far beyond social media and the dreaded character limit.  Some television programing has made a habit of glorifying the uncouth.  I love an occasional mindless television show as much as the next person, but I experience some severe secondhand embarrassment when a show has to have subtitles for a person who is speaking English.  On the whole, Americans are lazy speakers.  We mumble, run our words together, and don’t enunciate very well.  “Would have” becomes “woudda” and “to” becomes “tuh.”  Anyone who’s travelled knows how easy it is to pick up an accent, so it would stand to reason that we can just as easily pick up the speech patterns of people we watch on television.  If you don’t think you have a problem with enunciation, I challenge you to spend one day really listening to yourself speak.  I think you’ll be amazed to find you don’t speak as clearly as you think you do.

While I could probably go on for days about how to improve the way we communicate, I decided to give you three general suggestions I think will get you on your way to becoming a better writer and speaker:

1. Don’t be complacent.  It really gets my goat when I hear people say “I’m a terrible speller” or “I’m bad at grammar.”  I know I’ve been pretty hard on technology, but I’m aware it can be a great resource.  Google (or Bing, I’m not biased) “common grammatical mistakes” and have a gander at what comes up.  If there are almost three million web pages on that topic alone, imagine what else is out there!  Don’t know what a word means?  Look it up.  Not sure if that should be a comma or a semicolon?  Look it up.  Even though I consider myself a fairly decent writer, my search history is still sprinkled with such queries as "Is 'everyone' singular or plural?" and "continuous vs. continual."  With the myriad resources available to you, there is no excuse for being “bad at grammar.”

2.  Read.  From a very young age, my parents instilled in me a love a reading.  As I grew, I saw how my bibliophilic tendencies made me a better communicator.  Reading expanded my vocabulary and showed me how to express myself with words.  To this day, I am an avid reader and this pushes me to be a better writer.  I can hear you saying, “I don’t have time to read!”  You’re reading this, aren’t you?  I’m not saying you have to commit to epic novels, but take a few minutes every day to read something for fun.  Put down the proposals and the budgets, and pick up a magazine or read an article online.  Pay attention to sentence structure, vocabulary, and writing style.  The more you read, the more you’ll learn about effective communication and be able to improve your own writing.

3.  Be an example.  If you set the bar high for yourself, the people around you will likely follow suit.  My friends don’t send me texts that say “Where u at?” because they know a text like that will force me to seriously reevaluate our relationship.  Take a quick second to think about how many people you emailed yesterday.  How many people did those people email?  Without getting too deep into the “butterfly effect,” you can see how a small change in your behavior can cause a ripple effect throughout your professional network.  If we all make a conscious effort to speak and write properly, and make it clear we expect the same level of commitment from those around us, we might begin to make a dent in this issue. 

In today’s environment of status updates, quick emails, and some pretty inane television, it takes work to maintain a grasp of proper English.  Take some time to really assess how you communicate and the impression it gives those around you.  Do your writing and speech accurately portray your level of knowledge and intelligence, or are you selling yourself short because you’re (quick frankly) lazy?

 

If you would like to share your personal stories or pet peeves, please feel free to do so below.

Colleen Walton

Project Coordinator/Event Management/Social Media Marketing

A newcomer to the Brand Acceleration team, Colleen brings a deep understanding of Social Media Marketing and works with clients to establish a solid position on such platforms as Blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and others. She also works with clients on event marketing strategies and project coordination.

 

 

Good Economic News 9-14-2013

Good Economic News

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

Fraenkische Industrial Pipes has announced plans to expand in Anderson County, South Carolina, creating 50 jobs.

In Plano, Texas, insurance and banking company USAA will expand and create 680 jobs.

Kenall Manufacturing, a maker of lighting products, will open a new headquarters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, creating 350 jobs.

In Owingsville, Kentucky, food maker Custom Food Products will expand and hire 200 people.

Element Electronics, a maker of consumer electronics, will establish a new facility in Fairfield County, South Carolina, creating 500 jobs.

Acme United Corporation, a maker of cutting, measuring, and safety products, will expand in Rocky Mounty, North Carolina, adding 90 employees.

In Chicago, Illinois, Mike’s Hard Lemonade Company will open its new U.S. headquarters and hire 80 people.

Pizza franchise Toppers Pizza is adding sixteen stores and up to 480 employees.

Banking and financial services company UBS will establish a new operation in Nashville, Tennessee, creating 1,000 jobs.

GuideSoft, Inc., a professional services company, will expand its operation in Indianapolis, Indiana, adding 400 employees.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, appliance maker Whirlpool Corporation will expand and add 150 jobs.

Health services provider Specialty Health, Inc. will open its new headquarters in Carmel, Indiana, hiring 675 people.

U.S. Engineering, a mechanical contractor, will expand in Kansas City, Missouri, creating 85 jobs.

In Bartow, Georgia, carpet maker Shaw Industries Group, Inc. will open a new facility and create 500 jobs.

DUER High Performance Composites, a maker of composite components, has established a new facility in Beaufort County, South Carolina, creating 47 jobs.

In Geismar, Louisiana, BASF Geismar will expand its polyurethane blending plant and hire 22 people.

Aviation IT provider TravelSky Technology Limited will open a new R&D center in Duluth, Georgia, creating 50 jobs.

Workspace provider Regus plans to open multiple centers by the end of 2014, creating 1,500 employees.

Gruppo Campari will open a new Wild Turkey distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, creating 62 jobs.

Associated Hardwoods, a lumber products company, will locate a new operation in Cherokee County, South Carolina, creating 28 jobs.

Retailer Gap, Inc. will expand in Sumner, Tennessee, adding 90 employees.

Cool Planet Energy Systems will build three new biomass-to-gasoline refineries in Louisiana, creating 72 jobs.

In Fort Smith, Arkansas, firearms parts maker Thermold Magazines will open a new headquarters, creating 65 jobs.

John Matouk & Company, a maker of linens, will expand in Fall River, Massachusetts, adding 45 employees.

In Brunswick County, North Carolina, motion control maker Lee Controls will open a new operation and hire 77 people.

In Charleston, South Carolina, Daimler Vans will expand and hire 60 employees.

Express Motor Vehicle Administration Corporation, a provider of services to auto dealers, will expand its operation in Indianapolis, Indiana, creating 20 jobs.

In Knoxville, Tennessee, airbag parts maker ARC Automotive will expand and hire 115 people.

In Beaufort County, North Carolina, store fixture maker idX Impressions will expand and add 159 jobs.

Food distributor Dot Foods will establish a new distribution center in Dyersburg, Tennessee and hire 157 people.

Stryker, a medical technology company, presently has over 300 job openings.

Domtar Corporation, a maker of pulp and paper products, will expand in Greenville, South Carolina, creating 35 jobs.

St. James lighting will expand in Columbia, Mississippi, creating 20 jobs.

In Orange County, North Carolina, confectionary maker Morinaga will open a new facility and hire 90 people.

Dow Chemical Company will expand in Brazoria County, Texas, creating 96 jobs.

In Detroit, Michigan, VernDale Products, Inc., a maker of powdered milk, will expand and add 13 employees.

In Elizabethtown, Kentucky, steel products maler Structures USA will establish a new headquarters and hire 50 people.

The Crown Group, a supplier of coating services, will open a new facility in Greenville County, South Carolina, creating 42 jobs.

Tubular goods maker PTC Seamless Tube Corporation will open a new facility and hire 283 people.

Bank holding company Capitol One will expand and add 175 employees in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

In Robeson County, North Carolina, Stable Trading Company, a maker of rugs and woven products, will open a new facility and create 45 jobs.

Auto parts maker Calsonic Kansei North America will expand in Lewisburg, Shelbyville, and Smyrna, Tennessee, creating 1,200 jobs.

2AM Group, a supplier of logistics and manufacturing services, will open a new operation in Richland County, South Carolina, creating 100 jobs.

In Bland County, Virginia, W&B Fabricators, makers of mining equipment, will open a new operation and hire 50 people.

NOHMs Technologies, Inc., a maker of lithium-ion batteries, will open a new facility in Lexington, Kentucky, creating 162 jobs.

In Chicago, Illinois, GoHealth LLC, a health insurance exchange, will expand and hire 450 people.

In Lenoir County, North Carolina, building products maker Associated Materials, Inc. will expand and add 252 employees.

Employment Options, Inc. (MyEmploymentOptions.com) presently has 1,000 job openings listed.

Auto parts supplier Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems will open a new facility in Russell Springs, Kentucky, creating 155 jobs.

In Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Lesleh Precision, Inc., a machining company, will expand and add 29 employees.

Total Jobs Announcements: 12,356

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana: 317.536.6255

Fax: 317.222.1425

Charlotte, North Carolina: 704.230.0394

Atlanta, Georgia: 404.474.7980

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

Twitter

FaceBook

Google+

BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development.