WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsBoeing breaks ground on N. Charleston facility

Boeing breaks ground on N. Charleston facility

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WMBF) - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford joined state and local leaders and existing Boeing employees Friday in officially breaking ground for Boeing Company's new multi-million dollar 787 Dreamliner plant.

The groundbreaking, which began at 10:30 a.m. in North Charleston, comes less than a month after the South Carolina legislature passed a major incentives package that enticed the air giant to set up a second Boeing facility in the Palmetto State.

"This groundbreaking sets into motion what we believe will be revolutionary and indeed generational changes to our state's economy," Sanford said. "Not only for the thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions in investment - in fact, the largest announcement in South Carolina history - but also for the way Boeing's expansion will spur on an already growing aerospace hub in our state, this is extremely good news."

"Yet it's also a challenge: a challenge to not rest on our laurels and instead redouble efforts to improve our state's business climate; a challenge to use this momentum to push through tough economic headwinds; and a challenge to capitalize on this renewed cooperation between political leadership in Columbia and hard-working citizens across the state to make South Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family."

Attorney General Henry McMaster added, "[Friday's] Boeing groundbreaking is cause for celebration and a critical step toward putting South Carolina back on the Path to Prosperity. It's a wonderful example of what we can accomplish when state leaders work together to recruit, nurture and support businesses both large and small. I'm certain that this is just the beginning of many great things to come for our blessed state."

Lawmakers say the state offered Boeing incentives and relief from fuel sales taxes. The package was finalized by the senate and presented to Boeing on Oct. 27. It was just enough to outshine offerings from Everett, WA, the sole competitor for the Boeing bid.

"I'd again express appreciation to existing Boeing employees in the Lowcountry for their confidence in Boeing's management, to the Boeing Company for returning that confidence, to Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor and his team for their tireless efforts, to U.S. Sen. [Lindsey] Graham and S.C. Sen. [Hugh] Leatherman and other legislators for their vital role, and to the many local leaders and stakeholders for their help in making this record-setting day possible," Sanford added.

Boeing executives say in an official statement while the incentive package helped seal the deal, North Charleston boasted economic and industrial features that complimented the 787's business plan.

The location, Boeing adds, will allow the company to increase global competitiveness.

So far, approximately 840 requests for the 787 Dreamliners have been made by more than 55 airliners across the world since the program's launch in 2003. The 787 family of airliners will care 200 to 250 passengers on flights of up to 8,200 nautical miles.

The first of the 787 planes are slated to leave the North Charleston assembly line as early as the first quarter of 2012. The company aims at producing 10 planes a month by 2013.

In comparison, Boeing makes 31 of its 737s and seven of its 777 models per month.

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