Automotive: Driving Manufacturing Forward

The South is known for providing a variety of incentives to assist companies with their investment as well as ensuring business-friendly regulations. What’s driving this momentum? While consumers and the economy are obvious factors, the South is often being referred to as the “new Detroit” for a number of reasons including:

• Pro-Business Climate – Southern states continue to dominate Site Selection magazine’s top business climate ranking.
• Talent – The work ethic of people in the South creates a competitive and highly skilled workforce.
• Education/Training Programs – While attracting and keeping talent is a top challenge in today’s business world, many manufacturers are working with not only colleges and universities, but also high schools, vocational and apprenticeship programs to provide preparation and training for the future workforce.
• Location – The close proximity of the South to ports, railways, airports and interstates is often times the deciding factor for a company looking to invest in a new manufacturing facility.

The U.S. has experienced historic automotive levels in recent years, and expectations for the future are promising. According to McKinsey & Company, the automotive industry is on the cusp of transformative change. However, the U.S. is poised to welcome the revolution and push automotive manufacturing forward.

During the Southern Automotive Conference in Birmingham, Alabama October 4-6, Gray Construction will be ready to discuss how our fully integrated design-build solutions can enable automotive companies to build modern manufacturing facilities. Stop by booth #601 to learn why we are proud to be a driving force behind this dynamic industry for nearly 60 years. For more information, contact Patrick McCowan, regional manager of Gray’s Southeast Office, at pmccowan@gray.com. Or, connect with Brian Woods, manager of business development, at bwoods@gray.com.