Good News for Manufacturing

¥ According to a Commerce Department report today, US-made manufactured goods climbed 3.4% in March, and businesses are continuing to grow and expand. In a Bloomberg News article today, Adam York, an economist at Wachovia Corporation, was quoted as saying, "It's still too early to say manufacturing is completely on the mend, but this is a positive.''

¥ Alabama has announced a US$64.5m expansion of its facility in Lincoln, Alabama.

¥ Last week, the Chrysler Group announced that it will invest $700 million investment in Marysville, Michigan and create 1,000 jobs (see last week's blog).The Marysville factory is part of $1.78 billion of new investments that Chrysler announced for Michigan. "It's the biggest thing that's ever happened in our county," said Doug Alexander, executive director of the EDA of St. Clair County.

¥ Wyeth Laboratories, based in New Jersey, and the Irish government unveiled a joint$32.5 million plan today to strengthen the drugmaker's R&D operations in Ireland. Wyeth will expand its current 27,000-square-foot laboratory in West Dublin to more than 90,000 square feet.

¥ Roche Pharmaceuticals announced today that it will invest $60 million in a new multi-purpose production facility in Florence, SC.

Sources: Forbes via AP, Automotive World, The Voice, Bloomberg, International Herald Tribune, The Carolina Newswire,