What Happened to Howard Industries, Inc.?
Howard Industries, Inc., headquartered in Laurel, Mississippi, is a privately held, family-owned manufacturing giant founded in 1968. The company is a leading producer of electrical distribution transformers, and also operates divisions in technology solutions, medical technology, and transportation. In recent years, Howard Industries has undertaken significant expansions in Mississippi and announced a new manufacturing facility in Mexico, while also mourning the passing of its founder, Billy W. Howard Sr., in early 2026. The company experienced a large fire at one of its Laurel facilities on August 31, 2026.
Quick Answer
Howard Industries, Inc. (Laurel, Mississippi) remains a major U.S. manufacturer, primarily known for its electrical distribution transformers. The company has been actively expanding its manufacturing footprint with substantial investments in Mississippi throughout 2025 and 2026, including a $100 million expansion of its Ellisville transformer plant and a new $100 million facility in Mexico to bolster global supply. Tragically, its visionary founder, Billy W. Howard Sr., passed away in January 2026. Most recently, on August 31, 2026, a large fire prompted the evacuation of a Howard Industries facility in Laurel, Mississippi, though no injuries were reported.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Company Founded
Billy W. Howard Sr. establishes Howard Industries in Laurel, Mississippi, after leaving General Electric.
Immigration Raid
Howard Industries becomes the site of the largest raid against undocumented migrant workers in U.S. history, with approximately 600 arrests.
Boxlight Partnership for Schools
Howard Industries is mentioned in a press release regarding a South Carolina school district converting to Boxlight Interactive Teaching Technologies, highlighting its technology solutions division.
Mississippi RESAs Award Project to Howard Technology Solutions
Mississippi Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs) award a multi-year bulk purchasing upgrade and sustainability project to Howard Technology Solutions.
Pledges Support to Mississippi State University Football
Howard Industries pledges support for the Mississippi State University Football Program.
$237 Million Mississippi Expansion Announced
Howard Industries announces a $236.95 million investment to expand operations across its Mississippi facilities in Clarke, Jones, and Simpson counties, creating 450 new jobs.
CEO Michael Howard Named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® Finalist
Michael Howard, CEO of Howard Industries, Inc., is announced as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2025 National Finalist by EY.
Founder Billy W. Howard Sr. Passes Away
Billy Wilson Howard Sr., the founder and visionary leader of Howard Industries, Inc., passes away at the age of 99.
$100 Million Ellisville Plant Expansion
Howard Industries announces a $100 million expansion of its Medium Power Transformer Plant in Ellisville, Mississippi, adding 100 new jobs and significantly increasing production capacity.
Partnership with Nanox Imaging LTD
Nanox Imaging LTD partners with Howard Industries, Inc., indicating a collaboration in technology solutions.
New Mexico Manufacturing Facility Announced
Howard Industries announces the development of a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mexico, representing a nearly $100 million investment and creating over 600 new jobs.
Large Fire at Laurel Facility
A large fire prompts the evacuation of a Howard Industries location in Laurel, Mississippi. No injuries are reported, and emergency crews respond to the scene.
Follow this story
Get an email when this timeline gets a major update.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Howard Industries, Inc. was established in 1968 by Billy W. Howard Sr. in Laurel, Mississippi, following his departure from General Electric. Over five decades, the company grew into a multi-billion dollar enterprise, diversifying into four main divisions: Howard Power Solutions (electrical distribution transformers), Howard Technology Solutions (computers, servers, notebooks), Howard Medical (point-of-care solutions), and Howard Transportation. The company has become a global leader in distribution transformers, with millions of units in service across the U.S. and internationally.
Throughout its history, Howard Industries has been a significant economic force in Mississippi, consistently investing in its facilities and workforce. However, it also faced scrutiny, notably an immigration raid in 2008, which was one of the largest against undocumented migrant workers in U.S. history. Despite such challenges, the company has maintained a strong commitment to its home state, with over 14 locations and more than 4,000 employees in Mississippi.
A key turning point in recent years has been a series of major expansion initiatives. In June 2025, Howard Industries announced a nearly $237 million investment to expand operations across Clarke, Jones, and Simpson counties in Mississippi, projected to create 450 new jobs. This expansion aimed to meet new U.S. Department of Energy requirements for electrical transformers and address rising demand from sectors like data centers and electric vehicles. This was followed by a $100 million expansion announcement in April 2026 for its Medium Power Transformer Plant in Ellisville, Mississippi, adding 100 jobs and significantly increasing production capacity for larger, higher-voltage transformers.
Further demonstrating its global strategy, in May 2026, Howard Industries announced a nearly $100 million investment for a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mexico. This move is intended to strengthen the global transformer supply chain and support grid expansion worldwide, creating over 600 new jobs. The company also formed a partnership with Nanox Imaging LTD in April 2026, indicating an openness to technology collaborations.
The year 2026 also marked a significant personal loss for the company, as its founder, Billy W. Howard Sr., passed away at the age of 99 in January. He was remembered as a visionary leader and a major philanthropist. As of August 31, 2026, the company faced an immediate challenge when a large fire broke out at one of its Laurel, Mississippi facilities, leading to evacuations. While no injuries were reported, authorities were assessing the damage. Despite this incident, Howard Industries continues its trajectory of growth and modernization, solidifying its position as a critical supplier for electrical infrastructure and technology solutions globally.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Howard Industries, Inc. made different choices?