Construction on Freightliner facility begins

By SCOTT POWELL
Ledger Staff Writer

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R-Gaffney), Spartanburg Technical College President Dan Terhune, Freightliner Group senior vice president Jack Conlan, FCCC President Reid Bigland, and FCCC service director Dave Hoover break ground for a new Freightliner service center on the site of the Spartanburg Technical College branch campus.

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) marked its 10-year anniversary Friday in Gaffney by announcing 100 new jobs and breaking ground on a service and training center.

The new 12,000 square foot facility will have six service bays to accommodate more customers and minimize waiting periods. It is scheduled to open in January of 2006 in Spartanburg Technical College’s Cherokee County branch campus at Northgate Road off Highway 11.

Parking for 12 to 15 motor homes will be available for overnight customers. The service center will include water and sewer hookups and Internet access for travelers with laptops.

“This new facility underscores our leadership in the chassis business and our strong and still growing presence in the Gaffney and Spartanburg area,” FCCC President Reid Bigland said. “Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation has achieved great things over our first 10 years, but the best is yet to come.”

Since FCCC began operation in 1995 in Gaffney, the plant has grown from 200 to 900 employees.

The company will add 100 jobs at its Gaffney plant this year to support increased production of chassis for the motor home, delivery walk-in van, school bus and shuttle bus markets. The new employees will include 14 engineers, many coming from universities in South Carolina.

The Freightliner service and training center will be the first building on the 62-acre Spartanburg Technical College campus. A classroom building and an industrial and business training facility will be built later.

“We are pleased to join with Spartanburg Technical College in support of the vital plan to bring education and training to the residents of Cherokee County,” said Jack Conlan, who was recently promoted from FCCC President in Gaffney to senior vice president of customer support for the Freightliner Group.

S.C Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R-Gaffney) was instrumental in helping Spartanburg Technical College secure $2.5 million for the new branch campus in the past two state budgets.

Peeler noted 500 students from Cherokee County regularly drive 60 miles to attend classes at Spartanburg Technical College.

“This project will be a great economic benefit. It will provide for future economic growth with the location of new businesses near this local site to take advantage of the technical training available at Freightliner,” Peeler said. “There are future plans for walking trails and recreational facilities at Spartanburg Technical College. This will add to the beautification of the campus and improve the quality of life of Cherokee County residents.”