Originally published in Aiken Standard.
By: Rob Novit, Senior writer
WILLISTON — The mood at the Dixie Narco plant was festive Wednesday and for good reason.
Although an initial announcement was released months ago, the parent Crane Co., based in Connecticut, made it official: The firm will consolidate all of its vending operations in North America to the Williston plant.
The company will make a $20 million investment and add 1,000 jobs over the next five to seven years. Williston won out over a similar plant in St. Louis.
Crane’s president and CEO, Eric Fast, credited the personal contacts from Barnwell County and Williston officials and state officials, including Gov. Mark Sanford. The governor attended the ceremony Tuesday.
If Marty Martin was panicking a year ago, he certainly wasn’t going to show it.
Still, the executive director of the Barnwell County Economic Development Commission was concerned when Crane announced it was going to pursue the vending operations consolidation. Crane, a manufacturer of diverse products internationally, had bought Dixie Narco in 2007.
The consolidation plans came soon after three other plant closing announcements in Barnwell County, Martin said. Crane’s decision to remain in Williston and expand the operation is a huge boost, he said.
“We sold them on the workforce currently in the plant,” Martin said. “When Crane came here, we had two years with them, and they were able to understand the value of our workforce and their work ethic. I’m not saying St. Louis didn’t have that, too, but there were several factors. We went there in force and did our homework.”
Williston Mayor Tommy Rivers praised the support of Sanford, Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint. U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson and S.C. Education Superintendent Dr. Jim Rex. All of them made personal calls to Fast, setting the table for state officials and Barnwell County and Williston officials to visit Fast in Connecticut and make their pitch.
As a result of sagging economic conditions, Fast said his company had to make a difficult decision regarding the consolidation.
“What changed our minds (about Williston),” he said, “was the coordination among the team here. It was a multifaceted approach with the Barnwell people, the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, SCANA and the technical colleges. It was quite impressive … At the end of the day, the choice of South Carolina was a clear one. Our commitment should provide sustained economic growth.”
The announcement is worthy of profound celebration, said Sanford. In a real way, he said, the news at Dixie Narco is as important to this part of South Carolina as the Boeing announcement is for the Charleston area and the entire state.
“I appreciate (Fast’s) confidence in Barnwell and Williston,” said Sanford. “This kind of investment is a vote of confidence in the people of South Carolina.”
Crane’s decision came down to its executives appreciating the people they’re dealing with in the state, Martin said.
“They had to feel good about the sincerity of our folks and how we make good on our promises,” he said.
Tags: business