EVANSTON, IL—Twenty-eight of the nation’s top fifty industrial cities posted gains in manufacturing jobs last year, according to a new report released by Manufacturers’ News. This was an improvement from 2011, when only 17 cities saw increases.
CAMBRIDGE, ON—The Canadian and Ontario governments are each investing $16.875 million to help Toyota retool its assembly plant here to make hybrid vehicles. Toyota itself is investing more than $100 million to expand production at the facility.
WASHINGTON—Applications for unemployment insurance payments decreased by 5,000 to 330,000 in the week ended Jan. 19, the fewest since the same week in 2008, according to the Labor Department.
SIOUX CITY, IA—Sabre Industries celebrated completion of a $20 million assembly plant here, part of a multiphase expansion that is doubling the company’s workforce in the area. The manufacturer of large electrical and communication transmission equipment expects to add about 200 jobs.
DETROIT—General Motors is planning to invest approximately $1.6 billion in its North American manufacturing facilities during 2013, in a bid to unveil about 20 new models during the year.
DETROIT—Actor Danny Glover has joined supporters of unionization for workers at Nissan’s assembly plant in Mississippi demonstrating outside the North American International Auto Show.
SARASOTA, FL—Florida manufacturers are anticipating a good year in 2013. The state’s exports of manufactured goods have grown 142 percent since 2000, ahead of the national average at 80 percent.
WASHINGTON—Assuming Congress can come to an agreement to cut spending and raise the debt limit by late February, the manufacturing sector can expect slow growth heading into 2013, according to MAPI.