Company president/CEO promises more to come

An investment of more than $20.5 million dollars and 87 new jobs may be only the start for what the first tenants are going to bring to the Oconee Industry and Technology Park on SC 11.  Yesterday’s symbolic groundbreaking for a large building that will house two manufacturers took on an even greater celebratory tone when the company president/CEO said there will be two additional phases.  The companies are plastics maker Baxter Manufacturing and High-Tech Mold Carolina.  As explained by the president/CEO Robert Schulte, a Michigan resident, the companies will be a supplier to the BMW car making plant at Greer.  Schulte expressed glee that his companies are finding a home in Oconee.  He said, “It’s the right time to build in Oconee County” and he thanked a long list of individuals and government entities including Richard Blackwell of the Oconee Economic Alliance, the Oconee County Council, Walhalla Mayor Danny Edwards, and Tri-County Technical College which will train workers for the jobs.  Guest speaker State Senator Thomas Alexander brought a welcome from Oconee County and South Carolina and credited Oconee for developing the industrial park.  Turning toward Schulte, Alexander said, “Without this industrial park, you wouldn’t be here today.”  While the celebration unfolded, workers from Hogan Construction continued their work on the building.  Company officials are targeting November as their opening date.