NEW N. CHARLESTON PLANT TO CREATE 12,000 JOBS, LARGEST ANNOUNCEMENT IN STATE HISTORY

The world’s largest aircraft manufacturer is coming to South Carolina. And they’re bringing 12,000 jobs with them.

Word leaked late Wednesday afternoon that Boeing had chosen to locate its massive 787 Dreamliner assembly plant in North Charleston.

The company opted not to expand its Everett, Wash. facilities — where the first Dreamliner production line is located — for the operation after South Carolina lawmakers offered unprecedented financial incentives Tuesday.

Gov. Mark Sanford called the Boeing move “the largest announcement in South Carolina history.”

Sanford said it “represents not only enormously good news for our state’s economy, but also a telling dividend from our state’s continued efforts to better our business climate. For us, that means lowering taxes, easing regulatory burdens in our state’s tort and workers’ compensation systems, and keeping South Carolina a right-to-work state.”

Other South Carolina leaders quickly weighed in.

“We are proud to be part of the Boeing team. We intend to be a good partner and greatly look forward to having an expanded Boeing footprint in South Carolina,” said U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. “Today’s announcement is proof positive that South Carolina is a great place to do business.”

Attorney General Henry McMaster said, “I applaud the leadership of the General Assembly for working together to get positive things done for South Carolina. This is a big step in the right direction to put us back on the Path to Prosperity.”

State Sen. David Thomas, who confirmed the deal had been made, noted that “this will become a major shift into South Carolina for economic development the likes of which we haven’t seen since BMW.”

And State House Speaker Bobby Harrell said the announcement “declares to the global business community that South Carolina is back in the game and open for business. I would like to thank Boeing and its board members for putting their trust and their investment in our state.”

The package that lured Boeing to South Carolina, which was passed during the special session Wednesday, included low-interest construction bonds and a sales tax exemption on fuel used in test flights.

In order to qualify for the incentives, the company must invest at least $750 million in the state over the next seven years.

In addition to the incentives, Boeing chose North Charleston because that plant recently disbanded its union. Boeing is in the midst of stalled labor talks with the union at its Washington facility.

Construction at the North Charleston facility, which Boeing bought from Vought Aircraft Industries for $580 million in July, could begin as soon as next month, sources said. The plant is expected to be be fully operational by July 2011.

This move marks the first time since 2006 that Boeing will assemble a commercial airplane outside of Washington.