South Carolina Statehouse Blog

Columbia, S.C. - July 26, 2010 - Gov. Mark Sanford today joined state and local officials and company leaders to celebrate the grand opening of Astra/CFX in Greer. Based in Florida, Astra/CFX will create 100 jobs and invest $9 million in the new Upstate facility that will specialize in tire and wheel assembly for the new BMW X3.

“This decision on the part of Astra/CFX represents another sign that South Carolina is making very real strides in competitiveness,” Gov. Sanford said. “The continued efforts to improve our state’s business soil conditions are starting to pay dividends in the form of new investment and new jobs, and for that reason I’d simply thank the leadership at Astra/CFX for indeed paying South Carolina this compliment.

“It’s also worth remembering that today’s event comes in the wake of an incredibly successful year of jobs and investment announcements by our Department of Commerce. In fact, last year our state led the entire Southeast in job recruitment, and in just the last several months we’ve made five 1,000-plus job announcements. Boeing’s decision to land in North Charleston last fall marked the largest economic development announcement in state history, and just last week the German company ZF announced plans to invest $350 million and create 900 jobs in a manufacturing plant in Laurens County. For these and other successes, I’d again thank Secretary Joe Taylor and his team at the Commerce Department as they build on this record.”

Astra/CFX has been in business for nearly 20 years and currently has about 120 employees.

Study shows 53,000 small businesses eligible for tax credits in new health care law

Columbia, SC - Today, State Representative Anton Gunn highlighted a new analysis showing that 88 percent of small businesses in South Carolina will be eligible for new health care tax credits in 2010, thanks to a key provision of the federal health care law enacted earlier this year.

According to “A Helping Hand for Small Businesses,” a new report jointly authored by national health care consumer nonprofit Families USA and small business advocacy group Small Business Majority, approximately 53,000 South Carolina small businesses with fewer than 25 employees will qualify for the new tax credits, which will help pay for the cost of optional health care coverage for employees. The report also notes that 15,900 of those small businesses stand to qualify for the maximum credit amount of 35 percent.

“Finally small businesses are getting some help so they can spend less money on healthcare and invest more in growing their businesses,” said Rep. Gunn, a small business advocate who represents District 79 in Richland and Kershaw Counties.

Gunn also believes the tax credits will help grow job opportunities in South Carolina. “These tax credits are helping small businesses cover the cost of insurance for their employees, so that they can continue to create jobs that will stay here in South Carolina”.

More than 4 million small businesses nationwide — 83.7 percent of all small businesses in the United States — will be eligible for the credit this year. To qualify, a small business must have less than the equivalent of 25 full time workers, pay average annual wages below $50,000, and cover at least half of the cost of health care coverage for their workers.

The tax credit can cover up to 35 percent of the premiums a small business for employee coverage. In 2014, that rate will increase to 50 percent. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the tax credit will save small businesses $40 billion by 2019.

FUEL-EFFICIENT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PRODUCER REPRESENTS RECORD JOBS ANNOUNCEMENT FOR LAURENS COUNTY

Friedrichshafen, Germany - July 22, 2010 - Gov. Mark Sanford today joined ZF Group in Friedrichshafen, Germany to announce the company’s decision to expand its operations in South Carolina. ZF Group plans to invest approximately $350 million in a new manufacturing facility in Laurens County to produce fuel-efficient automatic transmissions for the passenger car and light truck market.

The announcement was made following a meeting at ZF’s corporate headquarters in Friedrichshafen that included members of ZF’s Board of Management and officials from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

“ZF’s decision to make a jobs and capital investment of this magnitude, indeed the largest single infusion of jobs in the history of Laurens County, is an incredible compliment to our state. This announcement represents not only enormously good news for our state’s economy, but also is a telling dividend from our continued efforts to better the business climate in South Carolina. Our meeting with ZF today was productive and offered a real glimpse of what is headed to our state with ZF’s new operations, and I’d join with South Carolinians in thanking ZF for their investment. We are proud to count ZF among a growing and distinguished list of companies that have chosen to call South Carolina home,” said Gov. Mark Sanford.

ZF already operates manufacturing facilities in South Carolina, and has been gradually growing its presence in the state, thanks to its proximity to major transportation hubs, competitive business environment and skilled workforce. The new transmission plant is expected to employ 900 workers by the year 2015.

“We are eager to build our fuel-efficient automatic transmissions in North America. We believe the increasing emphasis on fuel economy and our reputation for producing high-quality, fuel-efficient transmissions provide an unprecedented opportunity to grow our business. We believe this production facility could serve as a key driver of this growth,” says Dr. Gerhard Wagner, Group Executive of ZF’s Car Driveline Division.

ZF expects to begin construction of its new, Laurens County facility in January. Hiring is anticipated to begin in early 2012 for skilled positions that include CNC operators, assemblers, production and logistics. The state’s worker training program, readySC*, will assist in the hiring process, Information will be posted at www.sctechjobs.com as jobs become available.

ZF is a leading worldwide automotive supplier for Driveline and Chassis Technology, with 123 production locations in 27 countries. In 2009, the ZF Group achieved sales of approximately 9.4 billion € with 60,000 employees. On the ranking list of automotive suppliers, ZF is ranked among the 10 largest automotive suppliers worldwide. For more information, visit www.zf.com.

GOVERNOR, SENATOR GRAHAM, COMMERCE OFFICIALS GIVEN PREVIEW OF STATE-OF-THE-ART JET TO BE ASSEMBLED IN NORTH CHARLESTON

Columbia, S.C. - July 20, 2010 - Earlier this week Gov. Mark Sanford joined Boeing President and CEO Jim McNerney, Senator Lindsey Graham and others for a tour of the new 787 Dreamliner on display at the Farnborough Airshow, near London. Pictures of the Governor at this week’s Dreamliner debut at the Farnborough Airshow can be viewed here: http://scgovernor.com/news/releases/7-21.htm .

Last fall Boeing chose North Charleston as the location of a second assembly line for its 787 Dreamliner. The company’s decision represented the single largest capital investment announcement in South Carolina history. A recent study found that Boeing’s operation will have a $6.1 billion impact annually and create 15,000 jobs around the state. Just last week Boeing announced that it had chosen a site in North Charleston to produce the interiors of the new Dreamliner. That facility will create roughly 150 jobs when it becomes operational.

Again, pictures from this week’s Dreamliner debut at the Farnborough Airshow can be viewed at http://scgovernor.com/news/releases/7-21.htm .

For more information, click here: http://tinyurl.com/airshowSC2010 .

GOVERNOR TO JOIN SENATOR GRAHAM, OTHER STATE OFFICIALS AT BI-ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE TRADE FAIR IN ENGLAND

Columbia, S.C. - July 16, 2010 - Gov. Mark Sanford will attend the Farnborough International Airshow, one of the largest trade fairs in the international aerospace industry. While in Farnborough, just outside London, Gov. Sanford — along with other South Carolina officials, including Senator Lindsey Graham — will promote the state as a vital hub of aerospace industrial activity.

“With the success our state has had over the last year in attracting aerospace investment, I wanted to maximize my time left as governor in working with the department of Commerce to make this the beginning of a new era in South Carolina’s economic history,” Gov. Sanford said. “What we’re witnessing, I believe, is South Carolina taking the lead in attracting investment in an industry that’s only going to grow in importance around the globe. Indeed it’s our vision to make our state the international aerospace market’s leading competitor in the Southeastern United States.”

Among the state’s recent triumphs in attracting jobs and investment from the aerospace industry are the following:

* Earlier this year, GE Aviation held a grand opening of its new facility in South Carolina and reaffirmed its plans to boost production capabilities of high pressure turbine blades for commercial aircraft engines at GE’s Upstate facility — adding 100 jobs by 2013 and increasing capital investment by millions of dollars.

* Last fall, Boeing chose to put a second final assembly facility and delivery center to support its Dreamliner jet in North Charleston — solidifying a partnership between South Carolina and Boeing. The company’s decision represented the single largest capital investment announcement in South Carolina history. A recent study found that Boeing’s operation will have a $6.1 billion impact annually and create 15,000 jobs around the state.

* Cytec Industries, a specialty chemicals and materials technology company, recently completed its $150 million expansion of its Carbon Fiber facility in Greenville. The company produces composite and adhesive systems for the aerospace industry.

* AvCraft, a full-service aircraft MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) facility that services a number of turboprops and jets, recently increased its investment in Horry County, adding 50 jobs.

The bi-annual Farnborough Airshow is among the largest events in the aerospace industry. When last held in 2008, the Airshow resulted in $88.7 billion worth of business around the world. Our state’s Department of Commerce, in a successful effort to increase South Carolina’s presence within the international aerospace industry, has sent representatives to both the Farnborough Airshow and the Paris Air Show for the last seven years.