“We are excited to announce that the new home of our first electric vehicle and battery manufacturing site in North America will be in Chatham County, North Carolina! The project is expected to bring thousands of jobs and eventually produce more than 250,000 vehicles per year,” VinFast reported via Twitter on March 29.

VinFast: $4B EV Plant Coming to North Carolina

Vietnam-based VinFast in July 2024 will open its first North American electric vehicle (EV) assembly and battery manufacturing facility, valued at $4 billion, in Chatham County, N.C. North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) reported on March 29 that it will provide approximately $1 million to help construct an auto ramp, part of the rail infrastructure needed for CSX or Norfolk Southern (NS) to serve the site.

Service Offsite Solutions expects to employ 235 people at its new manufacturing, warehouse and distribution plant in Sanford, N.C., which will make modular floors, walls and roofs for off-site home construction.

NCRR Investing in New Rail-Served Site

The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) will invest $300,000 to help build rail infrastructure for Service Offsite Solutions’ new $11.8 million manufacturing facility in Sanford, N.C.; the company will be served by Atlantic and Western Railway (ATW).

Denver, Colo.-based Pioneer Lines has marked a safety turnaround with one year of injury-free service across its 15 short lines.

Small-Road Briefs: NCRR, Pioneer

The North Carolina Railroad Company has launched an economic development initiative. Also, Pioneer Lines has reached a safety milestone: 12 consecutive months without injury network-wide.

The Sherwin-Williams expansion project includes a 36,000-square-foot extension of its existing 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Statesville, N.C.; four new rail spurs to be used by NS; and a new 800,000-square-foot distribution and fleet transportation center.

For Sherwin-Williams, $300MM N.C. Facility Expansion

The Sherwin-Williams Company will invest a minimum of $300 million to expand its architectural paint and coatings manufacturing facility and establish a larger distribution center in Statesville, N.C.; Norfolk Southern serves the location.

NCRR Taps Jeng as CFO

Michelle Jeng will join North Carolina Railroad Co. (NCRR) as Chief Financial Officer on June 21.

High Profile: MTA Metro-North SVP Ops; Nexsen Pruet Legal Counsel

New York MTA’s Metro-North Railroad has promoted Justin Vonashek to Senior Vice President-Operations, succeeding John Kesich, who has held the position since 2013 and will retire in April. Nexsen Pruet, a North Carolina-based economic development group, has hired attorney Scott Saylor.

NCRR Investment the ‘Cat’s Meow’ (or ‘For the Birds’)

Nestlé Purina Petcare Company is locating a new pet food manufacturing facility in Rockingham County, N.C., with the assistance of the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) and other partners. The facility will bring an investment of $450 million and 300 jobs to the county.

Wu Named NCRR Director of Engineering

Edward Wu has been named Director of Engineering for the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR).

Commentary

March Madness of another kind

The just-abandoned GoTriangle light rail project in North Carolina, while never a slam-dunk, was until recently an interesting game. Now, after a few critical blocked shots and maybe even several offensive fouls, it appears to be a forfeit.

Walters new chairman of NCRR board

Michael Walters has been elected chairman of the North Carolina Railroad Company’s (NCRR) Board of Directors during the panel’s September meeting.

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