Eric Levin (left), Jetline President and a confessed South Carolina Gamecocks fan, receives a team jersey from South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford during the company's announcement ceremonies in Gaffney on Tuesday morning. (Ledger photo / TIM GULLA) The boyish-looking 40-year old Eric Levin began his remarks Tuesday with a string of four letter words. But these four-letter words made Gov. Mark Sanford and county and state dignitaries blush with excitement, not embarrassment.

“Jobs, jobs and jobs,” said the founder and president of Jetline LLC, commenting on the economic impact his company will have on Cherokee County.

Just how many jobs? The company plans to hire as many as 100 workers within the next three months. That number could double in six months and could soar to as many as 250 within a few years.

As many as 95 percent of the jobs will be filled by local workers.

Jetline is closing its Mount Vernon, N.Y., plant to relocate to the 145,000 square-foot Oxford plant on Hyatt Street. Levin said the plant will be operational in early November.

Levin said Orlando was the other finalist, but noted that Gaffney’s location and the cooperation he received from local officials swayed him Gaffney’s way.

More than 50 local and state politicians, businessmen, local leaders and media crammed into the meeting room at the Gaffney campus of Spartanburg Community College to hear the announcement.

Cherokee County Development Board Executive Director Jim Cook opened the news conference by calling this a “great day in Cherokee County and for Upstate Carolina.” Cook credited state and local economic officials for their efforts.

Levin then took center stage, entertaining the crowd with humor, his knowledge of college football and insights into the origins of his company.

He said his company began modestly in his New York City apartment in 1997. The breakthrough came when he had the idea to market a blue Slinky with a globe. That promotional item brought him publicity and cash. He sold more than one million of the unique Slinkys.

With most companies experiencing hardships during tough economic times, Levin called his company “recession proof.”

While competitors have been forced to lay off workers, Jetline continues to add to its payroll, he said.

Then lightening the mood at the news conference, the native New Yorker and unabashed New York Jets fan, declared his love for the South Carolina Gamecocks football team.

“I’m coming out on the record, Go Gamecocks!”

Levin later explained that he is surrounded by Tennessee fans at work and picked the Gamecocks because of the school’s proximity to Gaffney.

He was then presented a replica of (USC quarterback) Stephen Garcia’s jersey by Sanford and, being careful not to offend the orange-andwhite loyalists in the crowd, State Sen. Harvey Peeler (R-Gaffney) gave Levin a Clemson Tiger football jersey.

The embattled but upbeat Sanford, who received a standing ovation, built on the football theme by describing Tuesday’s announcement as a team effort by local and state development officials.

Sanford said Levin’s ability to be innovative is a reminder that “building a better mouse trap” will make you successful in any economic environment.

Peeler called Tuesday’s announcement a godsend to a community “desperately needing to hear some good news.”