Local

Despite $560M investment, some say company’s promise to SC has fallen short

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — In 2014, Giti Tire said its new plant would provide work for 1,700 people in arguably one of the biggest jobs announcements ever in South Carolina.

The company invested more than half-a-billion dollars into the plant.

But nearly a decade later, a local group says so far, their promise has fallen short. Instead of the 1,700 jobs promised, the group said only 589 people have been employed at the Chester County plant.

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Channel 9’s South Carolina reporter Tina Terry learned the Catawba Area Workers’ Rights Board is now pushing the county to hold the company accountable. The county manager told Terry he is not concerned because there are protections in place if the company fails to hold up its end of the deal.

A sign outside Giti Tire Tuesday said they are now hiring. But at a county council meeting Monday night, community activists complained the company hasn’t been hiring enough.

“Giti Tire, in 2014, was given tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks in exchange for 1,700 jobs,” said community activist Maggie James.

The Catawba Area Workers’ Rights Board said so far, the company has only hired 589 workers -- more than a thousand short of its promise. The group also said only 207 of those workers -- less than half -- are from Chester County.

“I want them to come forward,” James said. “They owe this county a great explanation as to what happened out here.”

In a statement Tuesday, Giti Tire defended itself saying in part, “More than 80% of our workers live in Chester County and the surrounding area.”

“Like other companies across the nation, the current labor market has presented challenges. However, we continue to hire and welcome qualified workers to explore the jobs that are available,” the statement reads.

The county manager said the company has until next year to either meet its agreement or refund the county a portion of its tax breaks. But some say county leaders should do more to ensure new companies create jobs throughout the term of their agreements.

“We want to make sure that those jobs that were promised to Chester County actually make it to Chester County,” said community leader William “Bump” Roddey. “We all know the reduction in taxes are being given throughout the agreement.”

The Chester County manager said he will look into the numbers presented Monday night and further investigate.

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