Company breaks ground for new facility

Lesco Restoration Company President Carolyn Edwards (center) officially breaks ground on the company's new facility alongside Cherokee County Development Board Executive Director Jim Cook (left) and Norman Norton of Roebuck Builders. Lesco Restoration Company officially broke ground on its 13,000-square foot facility Tuesday as the company prepared to begin construction at the intersection of Overbrook Drive and Midway Road.

"I have loved this property since I first laid eyes on it," Lesco President Carolyn Chapman said. "It was simply beautiful and I am happy we were able to acquire it for the purpose of expanding our company."

The company, which employs 190 people in 20 states, potentially expects to hire between 45 and 55 employees specializing in customer relations and information technology at the local site. The building is expected to be completed by March of next year.

Though construction has not yet started on the building, the company has already started conducting business in the county after acquiring a building on the property to serve as one of its stations that provide 24-hour help on maintenance issues nationwide for more than 4,000 major banks and retail outlets.

The company also has a separate commercial restoration and waterproofing division that Lesco has also considered bringing to Cherokee County, although no decision is expected in the near future.

According to Chapman, Gaffney was chosen from a long list of sites in the Southeast because of its availability of quality employees and its desirable business climate.

"Those factors made it an easy choice as the best site for our expansion," Chapman said.