TAX-FREE WEEKEND: State shopping holiday begins today • Page 3A
The Sanford Herald FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
GOVERNOR COMES TO SANFORD FOR BIG EMPLOYMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
CAT’s in the bag
IMPACT: Caterpillar expansion means 325 jobs in Lee County
WHAT’S COMING Sanford’s Caterpillar plant, which already employs more than 400 people, will add about 325 additional jobs thanks to the Peoria, Ill.-based company’s decision to expand its output in Lee County.
THE JOBS Workers at the Sanford facility will be building compact, skid steer loaders for construction purposes. According to the company, the average salary of the 325 jobs will be about $38,000 a year. The company said hiring will begin in the final quarter of the current fiscal year.
WHY LEE COUNTY?
WESLEY BEESON/The Sanford Herald
North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue tries on a Caterpillar jacket handed to her by Caterpillar’s Sanford plant manager James Brophy after her speech Thursday announcing the expansion of the facility that will mean about 325 jobs in Lee County.
Another 100-plus jobs expected for construction By BILLY BALL bball@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — Construction giant Caterpillar’s much-coveted $31 million expansion — one promising to spawn hundreds of new jobs — is landing in Sanford. Gov. Bev Perdue and a throng of local and company leaders trumpeted the news at Caterpillar’s Industrial Park plant Thursday afternoon, relief for Lee County’s mounting job woes of recent years. Perdue said the company, which was lured by a handful of state and local incentives, is expecting to hire roughly 325 new workers and invest millions in technology and workspace for its Womack Road facility.
CCCC GRADS
News welcome as Lee County struggles with unemployment
Officials with Caterpillar and local government credited not only a $900,000 incentives package offered by the county — in addition to a potential $7 million package from the state — but also Lee County’s respected community college system, which will be involved in the training of the new employees. “They could have gone anywhere in the world and they chose this campus,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. Officials say Lee County was awarded the expansion despite “tough competition” from South Carolina.
By JONATHAN OWENS
ONLINE
owens@sanfordherald.com
See video of Gov. Bev Perdue’s visit to the Caterpillar facility in Sanford for Thursday’s expansion announcement. sanfordherald.com
“They could have gone anywhere in the world and they chose this campus,” Perdue said. “They chose this community.” The news came after months of competition between Lee County economic chiefs and leaders in the South Carolina city of Florence. Included in the jostling was $900,000 in upfront money Lee County officials sped to Caterpil-
See CAT, Page 7A
James Brophy introduces Gov. Perdue at a podium made from the hood of a Caterpillar machine signed by local employees.
CAT’S SUCCESS
SANFORD — Local officials applauded Caterpillar’s announcement Thursday of a $31 million investment in a new plant in Sanford because of its potential economic impact on the community. The expansion will likely add up to 325 jobs for the area’s workforce, which is still reeling from record highs in unemployment because of the recent recession. Lee County’s unemployment rate ranked among the highest in the state for much of the last two years, and was 12.3 percent in June, down from highs of more
See Impact, Page 7A
Demand for the small, agile skid steers is high across the world, the company says, leading Caterpillar to weigh additional investment in designing and building the devices. Caterpillar announced two weeks ago it was building a new plant in WinstonSalem, and just this week, it announced the opening of a new design center in South Dakota. In late July, the company’s second-quarter profit soared 91 percent. Caterpillar is the world’s largest maker of construction machinery.
UNITED WAY OF LEE COUNTY
Fifty years of giving celebrated downtown By ALEXA MILAN
COLLEGE’S SUMMER GRADS EARN THEIR DIPLOMAS Graduates like Binna Lee (pictured above) celebrated a milestone in their continued education Thursday as Central Carolina Community College held its 47th summer commencement exercises Full Story, Page 6A
Vol. 80, No. 184 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
amilan@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — Despite a 100-degree heat index and the threat of looming rain clouds, Lee County residents gathered at Depot Park on Thursday to celebrate the United Way of Lee County’s 50th anniversary. The anniversary celebration began with a reception leading into a Function at the Junction
HAPPENING TODAY Temple Theatre’s youth conservatory will present Disney’s “The Jungle Book!” at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Seating is general admission. Call the Temple box office at (919) 7744155 or go online to templeshows.com.
INSIDE Learn how your donations help the United Way and, in turn, how the United Way helps those in need in Lee County Page 8A
concert featuring beach musicoldies band RN5P. The event also kicked off the United Way’s annual fundraising campaign.
See Fifty, Page 8A
WESLEY BEESON/The Sanford Herald
Michele Bullard (center) with the United Way of Lee County and economic development director Bob Heuts join in “The Twist” during the United Way’s 50th anniversary celebration and kick-off Thursday.
High: 96 Low: 72
INDEX
More Weather, Page 12A
OBITUARIES
SCOTT MOONEYHAM
Sanford: Katherine Cameron; Allyn Coggins, 54; Sandy Hooper, 67; Lewis Riddle; Carolyn Stuart, 70; James Wicker Sr., 79 Broadway: Nellie Thomas, 78
North Carolina columnist looks at the problems facing state’s computer system
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 5B Classifieds ....................... 9B Comics, Crosswords.......... 6B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 5B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B