1. Wang, Deputy General Manager, Keer America
2. Keith Tunnell, President, Lancaster County Economic Development Corp.
3. Larry McCullough, Chairman, Lancaster County Council
4. Steve Gedney, Chariman, Lancaster County Economic Development Board
5. Greg Austin, SVP Sales and Business Services, Comporium
6. Roddy Broadnax, Director of Marketing, Spirit Communications
7. Douglas Lundell, SVP Asst. to Chairman/CEO, Comporium

Keer America Corp.’s Wally Wang, deputy general manager for the Chinese owned textile company, said that his business is “delighted” with the decision to locate its manufacturing facility in Lancaster County.”Lancaster enjoys a lot of advantages,” Wang said. “There is a very good textile foundation here — the labor pool is very suitable for our company. The people here have a strong work ethic; and, of course, the fact that this is a non-union state was a factor.”The company has announced plans to ultimately employ around 500 people to work in the 230,000-square-foot cotton yarn spinning facility on a 140-acre site in the panhandle area of Lancaster County. There will also be a 10,000-square-foot administration building constructed on the site. Wang will be in charge of the operation once production begins after construction, and he recruits 163 workers and managerial staff.

Wang was on hand today at the Lancaster County Administration Building during a “giant” check presentation to signal the $229,000 that will help fund infrastructure projects. Comporium was able to use a S.C. tax code to redirect utility taxes due to the state to support a qualifying local economic development project. As reported recently, Comporium worked out the funding with affiliates Spirit Communications and Home Telephone Co., which are based in Columbia and Moncks Corner, respectively.

“We had already earmarked tax credits from our communications business in Lancaster and York counties, but we thought that if Spirit and Home Tel. hadn’t committed their funds, yet, we could come up with something for this very worthy project,” said Comporium’s Greg Austin, senior vice president of sales and business services. “Spirit’s entities came up with 78 percent, and Home pitched in the remainder. This is a team effort and very much appreciated, because it helps us locally and even across the state.”

Keith Tunnell, president of Lancaster County Economic Development Corp., said the tax credits funds were meaningful and would impact more than just Keer America.

“The commitment of these grant dollars for the Keer project will enable the County to match an Economic Development Authority grant of more than $18 million that will improve water, sewer, and road infrastructure for not only this project but additional projects and expansions along Old Bailes Road and SC 160,” said Tunnell.

“The Lancaster County Economic Development Corporation appreciates this support of the Keer project and the backing by Comporium, Spirit Communications and Home Telephone Co. of Lancaster County’s economic development efforts.”

About Comporium
Comporium makes life easier for its residential and commercial customers to access a broad range of communications services, including local telephone, long distance, cable TV, Internet, security, and media services. Please visit www.comporium.com for more information.