CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — The governor, state and local dignitaries, and hundreds of others will descend on Chester County next week, when Giti Tire cuts the ribbon on its gigantic new plant near I-77. The plant represents a half billion-dollar investment in the county, which has struggled since the collapse of the textile industry. Giti is an answer to many prayers.
However, days before the hoopla and the celebration, people who are hurting lined up outside the employment office in Chester. Many of them were just laid off. Their only thought is a steady paycheck.
“I got a wife at home to care for. I need to make sure she has what she needs,” said Rodney Hughes. He was laid off last week from another Chester plant after 38 years.
“I think this will be a good opportunity,” he said.
More than three and a half years later, after a huge announcement, Giti Tire is now hiring in Chester County. The Singapore-based tire maker is promising to fill 1,700 positions over 10 years at its first U.S. plant.
Frankie Phillips, just laid off from a job in Rock Hill, hopes to fill one of those positions. She doesn't care what she gets.
“Right now, at the moment, whatever they have available I’m willing to give it a try,” she said.
For the first time, Giti had tents set up outside the SC Works office, where people were taking information from job seekers. A line started to wrap around the building.
One Giti manager told Channel 9 they wanted to hire sooner, but there were delays in getting machinery in place. The plant was originally expected to open six months ago. Now, they can put people to work.
“There’s no sense in hiring people when the machinery is not in. They’d just be standing around. We’re starting to get the equipment in,” said Lee Weglarz.
Tonya Lindsey lost her job last month when SCANA pulled out of the massive nuclear project in Jenkinsville. Some 5,000 jobs were lost in a single day, including hers. The timing of Giti’s hiring couldn’t be better.
“It’s making better jobs, better housing, better development. Everything’s gonna be better,” Lindsey said.
Rashard Barber has been working temp jobs. He’s 27, and believes he can find a permanent home, and a career, at Giti.
“It’s the stability, the security, and the longevity,” he said.
Weglarz is from Kentucky, and was hired in February as a product manager. He said the plant is already producing about 500 tires a day, with about 140 employees working. He expects production to ramp up quickly before the end of the year.
The grand opening for Giti Tire is October 4. Giti managers said they will keep on hiring, and will announce more events like the one held Monday.