December 8,
2004
Reported by: Kristen Cosby
Plenty of work is coming to Aiken County. Today came
the official announcement that Global Containment Systems will
build a plant near New Ellenton. And coming with it will be
800 jobs.
This ties with Goodyear/Firestone for the largest
number of jobs to come to Aiken County in 20 years.
Everyone at today’s announcement says Christmas came
early in Aiken County with the announcement of 800 jobs coming
soon and changing lives.
“600 jobs, 350 jobs that’s abstract, but to the one
person without a job it’s not all that abstract,” said
Governor Mark Sanford.
Global Containment Systems, or GCS, will build a plant
near New Ellenton and construction will begin next month. Jobs
will filter in over five years. GCS looked for a location to
build their plant for four years.
“Certainly we are a nuclear friendly and a nuclear
knowledgeable community, so I think that helps when you
begin to look at the specifications required,” said Fred
Humes, Economic Development Partnership.
The Savannah River Site and it’s new mixed oxide fuel
facility were also draw for the company, as well as Aiken
Technical College to train a new crop of workers. Employees
will mainly build something called a glove box.
A glove box is a big container about the size of the
tent where the announcement was made. Substances like
penicillin that can’t be contaminated are put in them. Then
workers can put their hands in the box covered in gloves to do
their work.
GCS’ work expands far beyond SRS.
“We currently have contracts with almost every pharmacy
company in the country. We’d work for the Department of
Defense, we do work for the Department of Energy,” said Steven
Clark, GCS.
There is lots to be done, but there are lots of people
excited and ready to be part of the work force.
If you’re interested in working at GCS, it’s still a
little early to apply. But for more details about when you can
sign up, call Aiken’s Employment Secuirty Commission at
641-7640, or visit there website .