COLUMBIA, S.C. - If, as expected, Vought Aircraft Industries Inc. and Italy's Alenia Aeronautica invest more than $400 million in an aircraft parts plant in North Charleston, it would be the largest industrial investment since Gov. Mark Sanford took office almost two years ago.

State and company officials are expected to announce plans Wednesday for the plant to provide parts for Boeing's new 7E7 Dreamliner aircraft. The plant is expected to employ more than 600 workers.

The largest previous investment during Sanford's two-year term was when Walgreens announced in January that it would build a $150 million distribution center in Anderson. That facility will employ 450 people by 2007.

Last year, Wells Fargo announced it would invest $25 million and add 1,000 workers to its Fort Mill home mortgage operations. Sterilite announced it would hire 600 people for a $65 million Clinton plant to make plastic containers.

Pay at the aircraft parts plant is about $20 an hour for production jobs.

South Carolina's jobless rate is one of the highest in the nation. The rate was 6.5 percent in October, compared to the national rate of 5.5 percent.

However, the Charleston area, where the plant is expected to be located, has one of the state's lowest jobless rates, 4.5 percent in October.

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Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com/