Florence's GE will increase production, create jobs

FLORENCE — GE Healthcare will increase production capacity at its Florence plant, creating 20 to 25 new jobs in assembly production, the company announced Wednesday morning.

“GE Healthcare is pleased to offer new employment opportunities and growth for our local citizens,” Mike Eggleston, general manager of GE Healthcare, said. “We feel a great deal of our success is due to the highly skilled workforce and pro-business climate in Florence County.”

HOW TO APPLY

The application process for the new positions will begin at 9 a.m. Monday. To apply for a position at GE Healthcare, visit www.sctechjobs.com . Applications also are available at the Florence One-Stop Workforce Center on Evans Street in Florence and all other Employment Security Commission Workforce centers. Applications will not be accepted at the GE plant.

GE is a multinational American technology and services conglomerate incorporated in the state of New York. The company provides medical technologies and services in patient care in many areas from medical imaging and information technologies to diagnostics and drug discovery.

“GE Healthcare’s announcement is a significant way to start 2010,” Dr. Charles Gould, chairman of Florence County Economic Development Partnership, said. “GE has been an important economic asset to our community for decades, and this announcement underscores their commitment to quality, economic growth and faith in our workforce and community support.“

New employees will begin under the READYSC program at Florence-Darlington Technical College.

GE has 323,000 employees worldwide. In 2009, Forbes ranked GE as the world’s largest company.

“When I first helped recruit GE Healthcare to Florence, I knew it would be a great marriage,” state Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, said.

“GE Healthcare has long been a leading manufacturer of health-related products throughout the nation and world,” Leatherman said. “As the senator and a resident of Florence, I am proud of the impact GE Healthcare has had on Florence County. I look forward to working with this great corporate citizen in the future as they further boost their operations and create additional employment opportunities.”

Florence County Council Chairman K.G. “Rusty” Smith Jr. agreed and said he is pleased to see GE Healthcare bolster its investment in Florence County.

“This announcement marks the 37th anniversary of GE’s emergence as a global leader in the Pee Dee region,” Smith said. “On behalf of Florence County, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them and extend best wishes for continued success in the future.”

The GE expansion comes on the heels of another milestone in economic development in Florence County.

In November, Monster Inc. officially introduced its new customer service facility to Florence County.

Developed by Red Rock Developments and located in the Pee Dee Touchstone Energy Commerce City near the Interstate 95/S.C. 327 spur, the new 75,000-square-foot building employs 150 full-time employees and already is poised to accommodate more in the future. Monster announced in late June 2008 it planned to invest $28 million and create 750 jobs over five years through the center in Florence.

Maynard, Mass.-based Monster.com lets users post resumes and offers a database of jobs as well as career, money and education advice. The Web site’s database contains about 80 million resumes globally.