BOWLING GREEN, KY-GM has been preliminarily approved by the state for a possible $131.1 million project at its Bowling Green Assembly Plant. MORE

MOBILE, AL-Austal USA began work on three new manufacturing facilities here. The company will be assembling the U.S. Navy’s Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship and the Joint High Speed Vessel. MORE

HULL, IA-No one was hurt Thursday night after explosions and a fire severely damaged the K & O Manufacturing Co. Inc. assembly plant here. The company makes livestock trailers. MORE

NEW YORK-A startup company here has developed a fungus-based, biodegradable foam that can be used to make automotive bumpers, side doors and dashboards. MORE

DUFFIELD, TN-Joy Mining Machinery is investing more than $1 million to expand its assembly plant here. MORE

MAUMEE, OH-Applied Energy Technologies, a provider of solar mounting products, has opened a new assembly plant here, tripling its production capacity. MORE

CHATTANOOGA, TN-The new VW assembly plant here has received ISO quality certification. MORE

In addition, VW executives have dedicated the rail yard at the plant. MORE

NEW YORK-General Electric will build the nation’s largest solar panel factory as part of a $600 million bet on the future of solar power in the United States. The new plant will employ 400 people and produce enough solar panels to power 80,000 homes per year. MORE

LAS CRUCES, NM-L&M Radiator Inc. is building a new assembly plant here to make large radiators and other cooling systems. The facility could employ as many 60 people by July. MORE

CHARLOTTE, NC-Siemens is well on its way to filling 1,000 new jobs at its gas turbine manufacturing facility here. The company has already filled 200 posts and is recruiting machinists, welders, quality inspectors and assemblers. MORE