Boeing officials were in Dillon County Friday, February 26, as part of their two-day visit to the Pee Dee region last week.
The Dillon County visit culminated with a community presentation at the Dillon District Four auditorium.
The community presentation began with Dillon District Four Superintendent Ray Rogers. Rogers said that we were “hungry for industry and things to help the community.” Rogers said the kids were going to need jobs, and anything they could do to make that happen, they wanted to do.
Rogers said we have a good group of young people and people with experience in other areas. He said we should be given a chance to see what we can do. He said there were lots of positive things happening in Dillon County. He also praised the work of Rep. Jackie Hayes to bring things to the community.
Cheryl Lewis, Regional Workforce Advisor the S.C. Department of Commerce, said their intention was to help students in the area understand the careers and opportunities out there and make sure they are doing what they need to do to be able to fill these jobs.
Mamie Legette, Pee Dee Council of Governments Workforce System Coordinator, said there is a misconception about manufacturing. She said manufacturing is thought by some to be dirty, but advanced manufacturing is not that way. Legette said there are highly skilled positions in every community. She said manufacturing jobs are only second in pay to utilities. She said they need to work on preparing skilled workers to meet the needs. Legette said that opportunities are available, but the workforce must be prepared for those opportunities.
Tonny McNeil, Dillon County Economic Development Director, said Boeing has the ability to change lives overnight by creating opportunities.
Dillon County Administrator Clay Young said Dillon County had been very successful the last couple of years in attracting economic development, and he thinks the county is moving in the right direction.
Mark Elam, Boeing South Carolina National Strategy and Engagement Government Operations, said during their visit they learned about the area, the technological advances that have been made, and the educational system. A video was then played about Boeing.
During the video, it was stated that Boeing was a global company in a global economy in a business that can make the world a better place. Boeing is celebrating its 100th anniversary having been founded in 1916 in Washington state. They build more than commercial airlines; they build jets, helicopters, satellites, etc. They are the leading producer of military and commercial aircraft.
Elam said they need to figure out how to transform the educational system, which is currently based on a 1950 agricultural society, to get students trained for the workforce that we need. He said they are working with the General Assembly on this.
Elam said while Boeing may not be located in the Pee Dee area, more of their suppliers will be locating here.
Elam said Boeing is the world’s leading aerospace company. They have customers in 150 countries and had $96.1 billion in total revenue in 2015.
Boeing has 332 suppliers with $279 million in expenditures in 2015 in South Carolina alone. There are 169,000 Boeing employees in the United States and more than 65 countries, but most of them in the United States.
The product in South Carolina is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It is a more efficient airplane and more comfortable for passengers. The airplane is lighter, made of composite fiber. It saves 20 percent fuel over traditional airlines. They are more durable, have negligible corrosion and fatigue, require reduced scheduled maintenance, and opens new design possibilities. The airplane materials consist of 50 percent composites, 20 percent aluminum, 15 percent titanium, 10 percent steel, and five percent other. The Aft fuselage of every 787 is made in Charleston.
There are currently more than 1,100 airplanes on order. A plane ordered today will not be ready until 2021.
Boeing South Carolina recently finished its 100th airplane built at the North Charleston site. It was noted also that Boeing South Carolina is one of three sites in the world to deliver the twin aisle commercial airplanes.
The Boeing South Carolina operation includes an Interiors Responsibility Center South Carolina, Aft Body Composite Fabrication, Aft and Midbody Assembly and Integration, and Final Assembly and Delivery. It also includes an IT Center of Excellence, Engineering Design Center, Propulsion South Carolina, and the Boeing Research and Technology Center.
Elam said Boeing looks forward to a long and successful future in South Carolina and said they will continue to grow.
Tommy Preston, Jr., Boeing South Carolina National Strategy and Engagement Government Operations, spoke about Boeing in the community.
Boeing has donated more than $25 million to South Carolina non-profits since 2009. 6,921 Boeing South Carolina teammates have volunteered in more than 2013 community projects since 2011. Their five focus areas are education, arts and culture, health and human services, civic, and environment.
Preston said some of the projects they have given back to in the Pee Dee Area include Project Lead the Way, where they work with the University of South Carolina to train teachers to help students go to STEM careers. Some Dillon County Schools participate; Nurse Family Partnership to help new mothers; and Teach for America. He said they have taken a holistic look at South Carolina and work with the community to provide support.
Boeing has the Dream Learners Tour Program geared to middle and high school students. Since September 2012, more than 30,000 students have seen what it is like to work in an aerospace company through this program.
They also offer the Dream Learners Speakers Bureau. More than 65,000 K-12 students have benefitted from this program. He said part of their outreach to South Carolina is to share the Boeing story and tell about their jobs.
Preston encouraged those who are in the Charleston area t visit their “Above and Beyond” exhibit at the Gaillard Center in Charleston through March 13th. It is free.
Preston also spoke about careers at Boeing and said every job at Boeing South Carolina and beyond can be found on their website. He said people can sign up for job alerts based on their preferences. He said Boeing is committed to hiring people from South Carolina and said this will not be their last visit to Dillon County.
A question and answer session was then held.
