South Carolina Statehouse Blog

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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