Sanford to pay visit to BMW

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Sanford and Commerce Secretary Bob Faith will meet with the Helmut Leube, president of BMW Manufacturing., and Carl Flesher, vice president of corporate communications, at 11:30. They will tour the plant about 12:30 p.m.

Richardson said she expects Leube will talk with the governor about BMW's history in South Carolina and some of its plans.

During the company's 10th anniversary celebration last year, BMW officials announced a 400-employee, $400 million expansion of the plant, which is the sole producer of the X5 sports activity vehicle and the Z4 roadster.

At the same time, BMW announced a $10 million gift to help fund professorships at a planned Clemson University graduate school of automotive engineering, to be located in Greenville County.

Clare Morris, spokeswoman for the state Commerce Department, said Tuesday that state officials, Clemson University, BMW and a Miami developer have reached an understanding on developing an automotive research park that is expected to house the graduate school program.