Even without an EADS location, Charleston International Airport and the region as a whole are riding high on the choice earlier in 2005 by Global Aeronautica LLC, a joint project between Vought Aircraft Industries of Dallas and Alenia Aeronautica of Italy. But the intrigue is still there: Global Aeronautica will build part of the fuselage for Boeing's 787 aircraft starting in early 2006. That being the case, it's hard for some to imagine such a close relation to its rival being situated on the same property as EADS. Which is one reason Prof. Jenkins, says "Charleston is a longshot" for the EADS project.
      Meanwhile, movement is a prime mover in various other industrial locations around the state, including other aviation projects.
      Aiken's Ventures Industrial Park is now home to a nearly $10-million new metalworking plant from Ohio-based McGregor Brothers Holdings that employs 30 people. The new company, SC Metal Products LLC, will make various parts for such vehicles as ATVs, lawn mowers and cars. The company purchased a 50,000-sq.-ft. (4,645-sq.-m.) spec building, but plans to expand it to 72,000 sq. ft. (6,689 sq. m.). One of its chief attributes was the industrial park's location next door to Aiken Airport almost as close to I-20.
      Over on the coast, transportation was certainly as key as raw material in Eagle Materials Inc.'s April 2005 decision to locate a $125-million gypsum wallboard plant next door to a power plant operated by Santee Cooper. The 100-employee operation, operated by Eagle Materials subsidiary American Gypsum, will become fully operational in 2007."This facility will allow us to better serve customers nationally with a much improved nationwide distribution network," said Eagle Materials President and CEO Steve Rowley.
      In June, D3 Technologies announced it would locate an engineering design center in Greenville at the Global Trade Center located off I-85. The San Diego-based firm, which will employ 25 at the outset and up to 100 in five years, provides design engineering, technical analysis, FAA certification and design industrial tooling for the aerospace industry.
      "The Greenville regional headquarters location was selected for several reasons, including its close proximity to GSP International Airport and the Global Trade Center site's proximity to Interstate 85, which provides marketing exposure," said Daniel O'Connor, director of southeastern operations for D3 Technologies.
      Besides being known in industrial development circles as a site selection consultant capital, Greenville is also home to some 40 Fortune 500 companies. During the same week in June, Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International's Innertech subsidiary announced it would invest $8 million in an interior trim facility in nearby Spartanburg County that will employ 70. The company planned to select an existing building and ramp up production by the end of the year.
      The I-85 corridor was also key to the May announcement by rubber and metal expansion joint and hose maker Unaflex to locate in a 117,500-sq.-ft. (10,916-sq.-m.) facility in Anderson County that was formerly occupied by Schmid Laboratories. The plant's initial 30 jobs are projected to grow to near 150 in three years, supported by an overall investment of $7 million. While the company will maintain its HQ and some operations at its home in Pompano Beach, Fla., it will be relocating some activities from there to the Palmetto State.