Ken Ruinard Independent-Mail Jodi Dalton, right center, senior real estate manager representing the Walgreen Co., talks to people who came to the Historic Anderson County Courthouse Wednesday to hear the announcement that a Walgreens distribution center would open in Anderson County. Dan Coughlin, middle, vice president of distribution for the company, joins Gov. Mark Sanford, far left, with county council members Bill Dees, back left, Larry Greer, back middle, and Fred Tolly, back right.

By Nicholas Charalambous
Independent-Mail
January 7, 2004

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford put the focus on the state’s "great hardworking folk" in a morning visit to Anderson to celebrate Walgreen Co.’s decision to build a $175 million distribution center and create 450 new jobs here in three years.

The governor called the "timely investment" of new jobs the primary reason to celebrate as many Upstate working families continue to suffer unemployment, particularly former textile workers who have borne the brunt of the recent economic downturn that spawned a spate of plant shutdowns.

He credited South Carolinians’ strong work ethic in providing a competitive advantage in luring the nation’s No. 1 drugstore chain.

"It’s a celebration of what the state has to offer — great hardworking folk who I think will do an excellent job for your company," he told Walgreens representatives.

More than 100 dignitaries, including local and state politicians, economic development officials and those involved in the Walgreens deal, crammed into the Anderson County Council chambers to hear the governor praise the "partnership" in landing the facility.

The governor was to have attended a burgers-and-ice cream reception at a Dairy Queen in Piercetown — a nod to his famously down-home tastes — but he was forced to leave early for a news conference in Columbia.

A small crowd of regulars had gathered at the lunch spot at the Anderson Travel Center close to where Walgreens will be locating in the Alliance Industrial Park near the intersection of Interstate 85 and S.C. 81.

Devita Owens, 24, a Southern Wesleyan University business student who works at the restaurant, was excited about the possibility of a management job when the center opens.

"The company’s reputation is important," she said. "It’s just the type of job I’m looking for."

The first-term governor did make time earlier in his hour-long visit to shake hands, share a few words and pose for snapshots with what seemed like an endless stream of visitors.

But on the eve of the unveiling of his proposed state budget, the governor also didn’t neglect the hard work of pushing his agenda.

In his 10-minutes of remarks, he said Walgreens was a "model example" of pursuing key industry clusters by focusing on the state’s core competencies, such as its highway network and mid-Atlantic location, which was the major conclusion of a recent economic research study commissioned by his administration.

The governor also saw the story of company founder Charles Walgreen — who started with one pharmacy more than 100 years ago — as an inspiration for the kind of entrepreneurialism he wanted to encourage in South Carolina through such things as lowering the income tax.

In an interview, the governor wouldn’t offer many advanced details of his budget, besides saying it would include a shortfall of $350 million — $150 million lower than other estimates have projected.

He said the spending blueprint would be the first real executive branch budget, not the "Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse" efforts of the past.

Bracing for criticism, he said he was expecting that "some parts would be embraced and parts won’t," but hoped it would be seen as a "thoughtful" attempt to set priorities.

"We’re plowing new ground," he said.

Nicholas Charalambous can be reached at (864) 260-1256 or by e-mail at charalambousnc@IndependentMail.com.

Copyright 2004, Anderson Independent Mail. All Rights Reserved.