The Crown Group, a provider of coating services to the automotive, heavy truck and agriculture industries, today announced that it has opened a new plant in Greenville County, South Carolina. The $5.4 million investment is expected to generate 42 new jobs over the next five years, according to officials at the Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC), the county-chartered organization tasked with promoting and enhancing the economic growth of Greenville County.
“Given South Carolina’s success in these industries, we are very excited to expand our operations to Greenville,” said Frank Knoth, president of The Crown Group. “South Carolina has proven itself as a leader in advanced manufacturing, and we look forward to becoming a part of the state’s expansive network of manufacturers and suppliers. We anticipate great things from the people of South Carolina.”
The new plant will be the Crown Group’s seventh in the U.S. and the first in South Carolina. The facility will allow the company to work more closely with existing clients and to expand its footprint into the Southeast. The Greenville location will be located at 101 Milledge Rd., and began operations in June.
“The Crown Group’s $5.4 million investment and the creation of 42 new jobs in Greenville show once again why South Carolina now leads the southeast in manufacturing growth. The company’s investment bolsters the thriving automotive industry in the Upstate and is more proof that South Carolina is a great place to do business,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
Since January 2011, South Carolina has recruited more than $5.1 billion in capital investment and more than 8,500 jobs in the automotive-related sector.
“We welcome The Crown Group to the Palmetto State’s business community,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “The Crown Group joins a two-decade tradition of automotive success in South Carolina, and the jobs they bring with them will have an impact throughout the entire state.”
“We’re pleased that The Crown Group has chosen to expand into Greenville County, and to enjoy the advantages that this community offers their company,” said Dr. Bob Taylor, board member of the Greenville Area Development Corporation and chairman of Greenville County Council. “Their decision to expand operations to SCTAC is an important affirmation of this region’s focus on growing our automotive and aerospace clusters.”
Dr. Taylor also acknowledged “the important support roles played by Ready SC, Duke Energy, the Greenville Chamber, and county council member Lottie Gibson, in whose district the project falls, for their unrelenting efforts in making today’s announcement a reality.”
Qualified applicants should visit http://www.thecrowngrp.com/about/careers/ for information on employment opportunities with The Crown Group.
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits.
The Crown Group has grown and evolved from a company that was founded by Philip Baer (Baer Industries) in 1950. Today, The Crown Group continues to provide excellence in quality, service and delivery for multiple North American industrial markets. For more information about The Crown Group, please visit www.thecrowngrp.com.
The Greenville Area Development Corporation is a non-profit organization established by Greenville County Council to promote and enhance the economic growth and development of Greenville County. Since its founding in 2001, GADC efforts have resulted in the creation of more than 16,500 new jobs and more than $2.8 billion in capital investment in Greenville County, SC. To learn more, visit www.goGADC.com or call (864) 235-2008.
About S.C. Department of Commerce
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing businesses grow. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as Boeing, Bridgestone, Continental, Monster.com, Heinz, ZF Group, BMW and Google Inc. and also supports small and existing business, rural development initiatives and community development. Commerce partners with the S.C. Technical College System via readySC to support workforce training and recruiting, and with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce in partnership with the SC Works system, which provides worker training and employment opportunities within the state. South Carolina has been ranked first in attracting jobs through foreign investment by IBM-Plant Location International. The state won the Gold Shovel Award and the Project of Year Award from Area Development magazine in 2012. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.