Economic Development Center Dedicated;
Reliable Says Role College Played in Decision to Relocate was Significant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/28/2005
CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, 646-1506
(By Lisa Garrett)
PENDLETON --- When executives from the Reliable Automatic Sprinkler
Company began thinking about relocating their New York-based company,
they knew if the move was to be successful, they needed land to build
the facility and a productive workforce. They found both in South Carolina.
"South Carolina was the end of the line for us. We knew right
away it was special," said Bill Kirkpatrick, Reliable's vice president
for manufacturing, at the April 27 dedication ceremony for the Economic
Development Center, a 7,500-square-foot facility dedicated to training
projects for new and expanding industries through the Center for Accelerated
Technology Training program (CATT). The Center, constructed during the
fall of 2004, was funded by Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties, CATT
and the College.
Reliable, set to open in the new Pickens County Commerce Park this
summer, inspired the idea that ultimately made the center a reality
and is the first company to train in the building.
"Pickens County readily surfaced as our new home because of the
enthusiasm, passion and sincerity for our project," said Mr. Kirkpatrick.
"We sensed Dr. Booth developed a passion for the project, and this
new facility is evidence. The role the College and CATT played in our
decision to relocate to Pickens County is significant. I'm not sure
that we would have felt confident enough to develop a new workforce
of this size without them. Their confidence gave us our confidence to
proceed with this project. It’s been a great team effort, and it took
a team to accomplish one heck of a good job. Boy, are we rolling now."
The Center is versatile enough to handle training for a complex assembly
operation like Reliable Sprinkler, the upcoming distribution operations
training project with Walgreens and any other type of entry-level training
that is needed for other CATT projects in the area. It eliminates the
need for CATT to lease and upfit a training facility, which often is
costly to the State.
The 7,500-square-foot facility has a multi-purpose training room and
two classrooms currently being used by Reliable's first phase of training
for its valve division. State-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, including
laptop computers and simulators, equip the classroom. Around 40 individuals
will be hired to work in the department. Phase two will be training
for the sprinkler division was held in late May. The company will hire
300+ employees and will go though similar pre-employment training as
it did with the valve department.
The plant began valve production in mid-to-late May and sprinkler production
in June.
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Oconee