PEORIA—While one Illinois assembly plant boils over with anger and adversity, another is celebrating a new beginning with tears and cheers.

NEW YORK—Ford, Caterpillar and Johnson Controls were among the manufacturers named by U.S. News as America’s Most Connected Companies.

CALEDONIA, WI—Motion control technology supplier Unico is spending $6 million to expand its assembly plant here and expects to create up to 175 new jobs in the next three years.

SACRAMENTO, CA—Siemens has been awarded a $73 million contract to build 18 light rail vehicles at its assembly plant here.

CORINTH, MS—Caterpillar Inc. is expanding the logistics center at its assembly plant here, and plans to add 35 jobs over the next three years.

MONROEVILLE, PA—Electric motor manufacturer American Mitsuba will invest $8.3 million to expand its logistics center here. The expansion will create 25 new jobs.

FAIRFIELD, IL—Elastec-American Marine dedicated a new assembly plant here to make oil containment boom. The plant currently employs 30 full-time workers.

JOLIET, IL—Union workers have rejected Caterpillar Inc.’s latest contract offer and walked off the job at the tractor manufacturer’s assembly plant here.