Crown Casting Industries announces new facility in Greenwood County
January 11, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – Crown Casting Industries, a modern iron and bronzefoundry, today announced plans to open a plant in Greenwood County. The$16 million investment is expected to create 50 new jobs.
“We are excited about our decision to create jobs and invest inGreenwood County, South Carolina,” said George Bowyer, vice president at Crown Casting Industries. “Other states and countries were considered,however, based on all factors Greenwood County provided the bestlocation for Crown Castings to grow in a highly competitive worldmarket. Keeping jobs in the U.S. made company officials especiallyproud.”
The company will be located in the Corporate Park Industrial Building in Hodges, S.C., and is slated to begin operations during the secondquarter of 2012.
“South Carolina continues to show that it’s a globally-competitivelocation for companies to set up shop. We celebrate Crown Casting’sdecision to locate in the Palmetto State and create 50 new jobs here. We will continue to build on our state’s economic development successes,”said Gov. Nikki Haley.
In the past year, South Carolina has recruited more than $3.9 billion in investment and more than 12,000 new jobs in the manufacturing sector.
“Our state’s manufacturing sector continues to grow and create new jobs. Crown Casting’s choice to make South Carolina its new home is anothersign that our state’s business-friendly climate and skilled workforceremain the key in attracting new investments like this one,” said BobbyHitt, Secretary of Commerce.
Crown Casting Industries will serve broad commercial markets as well asspecialty niche markets, like glass mold equipment. The foundry uses amodern process which is cost effective and designed to reduce waste andcomply with all environmental regulations. This new plant will allowCrown Castings to vie with foreign competitors in its aggressive effortto gain market share.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to have a modern, progressive company suchas Crown Castings locate here in Greenwood County and especially in theheart of my council district,” said Bob Jennings, vice chairman ofGreenwood County Council. “Their commitment will provide much neededjobs to the Hodges area and an economic boost to the economy. We lookforward to working with Crown Castings for many years.”
Mark Warner, CEO of Greenwood Partnership Alliance added, “CrownCastings locating their operation here is further evidence thatGreenwood County can compete on a national and global scale. We areespecially thankful to all of our partners who helped in this effort,including the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Duke Energy andAdvanceSC, Greenwood County, Piedmont Technical College, Upper SavannahWorkforce Investment Board, and the investors of the GreenwoodPartnership Alliance. We welcome Crown Castings to the community andlook forward to providing support as they ramp up production.”
Hal Johnson, Upstate SC Alliance president and CEO, stated that “theefforts of Greenwood County are to be applauded as the announcement ofCrown Casting is great for the entire Upstate region, as all 10 counties will benefit from these jobs coming to our community.”
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved the companyfor a $100,000 grant for a building up-fit and also job developmentcredits, which will be available when hiring targets are met.
Interested applicants should check the Index Journal and GwdToday forlistings of Crown Casting job openings starting in February. Hiring forthe bulk of the employees is expected to start in the second quarter of2012. Applications will not be taken at the plant.
