(Myrtle Beach) Dec. 1, 2003 - AvCraft Aviation says it will relocate its aircraft completions facility from Tyler, Texas to Myrtle Beach. The move is expected to create at least 280 jobs along the Grand Strand over the next five years.

AvCraft Aviation has signed a ten-year facilities lease for a substantial portion of the former US Air Force hangar facilities at the Myrtle Beach International Airport.

AvCraft Chief Executive Ben Bartel says the company was courted by five different states for the move, but South Carolina was chosen for its pro-business environment, its desire to understand businesses' needs and its ability to make decisions quickly. He says the agreement only took seven weeks.

The Leesburg, Virginia-based company bought the Tyler operations in 1999. The completion operations provide interior finishes such as upholstery and cabinets for luxury jets.

Governor Mark Sanford was on hand for the announcement, “As we start to see signs of economic recovery at the national level it’s absolutely essential that we as a state are doing everything we can from a competitive standpoint to encourage more announcements like this one.”

Workers have started renovations on the future home of AvCraft Aviation. AvCraft plans to be in service in Myrtle Beach late in the first quarter of 2004.

Posted 6:10pm by Eva Pilgrim