STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, MARK SANFORD, GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Governor Sanford Heralds Boeing Construction Jobs
UPSTATE GENERAL CONTRACTOR NAMED, WILL HIRE UP TO TWO THOUSAND
Columbia, S.C. – November 6, 2009 – Gov. Mark Sanford today issued the following statement on Boeing Company’s decision to use BE&K Building Group of Greenville as its general contractor to build the North Charleston facility for a second production line for the 787 Dreamliner.
“Today marks an expected but nonetheless exciting step in what we believe will be a long and indeed revolutionary partnership between Boeing and South Carolina,” said Gov. Mark Sanford. “Naming a general contractor sets into motion the hiring of potentially 2,000 construction jobs in the Lowcountry that will provide a much needed shot in the arm to our state’s employment situation and economy in general. More importantly, these jobs are immediate and not tied to incentives. These jobs will also mean Christmas for a whole host of families down that way – as this and other recent economic announcements at the most personal of levels connect an honest day’s work with the opportunity to boost one’s quality of life, and that of one’s family.
“It’s also telling that Boeing’s chosen general contractor is from the Upstate, providing further evidence that Boeing decision to land in North Charleston will have positive ripple effects throughout the state. And again, it’s worth recognizing all the players in the process – from Joe Taylor and his team at Commerce, to the legislative roles played by Sen. Leatherman and others, and of course the Boeing workers already on the job in North Charleston. Recognition is also due BE&K Building Group and their partner companies, since their construction experience with Vought and Global Aeronautica three plus years ago in North Charleston speaks highly of the work they do.
“So for the way this infusion of jobs and capital investment – the largest in South Carolina history – will catalyze the economy and jumpstart a growing aerospace industry across the state, I’d once again urge everyone to take this exceedingly good news and use it to push even further on the business soil conditions front within this larger notion of making our state more competitive in an increasingly ‘flat’ global economy.”
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