This is a printer friendly version of an article from
www.goupstate.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose
Print.
Back
Article published Aug 22, 2003
Sanford hesitant to celebrate auto park
Amanda Ridley
Business
Writer
Gov. Mark Sanford and Secretary of Commerce Bob Faith
shared the same microphones Thursday, but not the same optimism about a proposed
automotive research park.The two were answering questions from the media and
sharing clip-on microphones after a two-hour meeting and tour with Helmut Leube,
president of BMW Manufacturing Corp. near Greer.Faith said an announcement on a
400-acre research project near I-85 in Greenville is "very, very close." The
International Center for Automotive Research, as it is being called, could
include a Clemson University graduate school, a wind tunnel, billions of dollars
in investment and thousands of new jobs."It's just a matter of finalizing
details," Faith said. "We hope to be done soon."People in the Upstate are going
to be really fired up."As Faith was bragging about the possibility of an
automotive design and engineering center in the Upstate, Sanford took the
microphones and the opportunity to downplay the excitement."It's (Faith's) job
to be optimistic in these things, and he's doing a phenomenal job, but I want to
emphasize the deal is not done," Sanford said.While Faith said an announcement
could come as early as October, Sanford said his concern about the use of
taxpayer dollars is the same as it was when he took office in January.Sanford
said his main concern throughout the project's planning was whether it would be
a "good deal for taxpayers of South Carolina."He did not say the project was in
danger of failing. He just said more work needed to be done.Sanford and Faith,
however, agreed on the quality of work being performed at the plant."We have a
world-class manufacturing facility here at BMW that really is the envy of the
state and Southeast," Sanford said.Leube said he was honored to guide Sanford on
his tour. It was the first time Sanford visited the plant since he became
governor."He was very interested in what we are doing here," Leube said.Visitors
from National Health Care Greenville also got a chance to shake hands with
Sanford during his tour."We found out this morning that (Sanford) would be here
and we were hoping to get a chance to see him," said Heidi Bowen of HCG."I know
the group was very honored to have him come over and greet them."Al Weinberg of
Greenville, who was joining his mother on the tour, said he was thrilled to meet
Sanford after crossing paths with him three times throughout the tour."It really
was a treat for the visitors to see him and this great place," he said.Amanda
Ridley can be reached at 562-7270.