North Charleston, SC - Work has officially started on building Boeing's $750 million aircraft assembly plant in South Carolina -- the largest industrial investment in state history.

The company last month chose North Charleston over Everett, Wash., for the assembly plant, but Boeing's commercial airplane division president Jim Albaugh says the new plant should still more jobs to Washington, too.

The North Charleston plant is expected to create 3,800 jobs within seven years and construction will mean another 2,000 jobs.

History made in the Lowcountry as Boeing breaks ground on a new plant. A show of pride today as Boeing ushers in a new ear in South Carolina. It’s a move being called transformational in here in North Charleston. But the pressure is on and leaders say South Carolina and its workforce is ready to perform.

A break from tradition as Boeing breaks ground with the heavy machinery. Hundreds of workers stood, listening to every word as state and local leaders discuss the monumental decision.

“We won a great achievement that will be felt for years to come in this community and state,” said Sen. Glenn McConnell.

Boeing made the commitment, and the company is investing millions. After all the talk of incentives and competition with the Pacific Northwest, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey (web | news | bio) says the local workforce helped seal the deal.

“Now it’s our job to handle the warranty, we made promises, now we must handle the warranty,” said Summey.

The company’s 610,000-square-foot aircraft assembly plant is scheduled to open in 2011. The following year, the facility is expected to build three Dreamliners a month. House Speaker says Bobby Harrell says more Boeing business is likely to land here.

“I don’t think there is any question, I think ultimately we will be able to negotiate with Boeing and convince them more planes need to be built here,” said Harrell.

But first, these men and women must prove they can handle the task at hand, building the 787 Dreamliner, the flagship of Boeing's future.

“This is the first step in delivering jets to our customers, but also a first step in developing a world class aerospace capability in South Carolina,” said Boeing Commercial Airplane CEO Jim Albaugh.

A future that looks bright in the Lowcountry. Boeing leaders say success will be determined by a strong and local workforce. They say this is a community they plan to be part of for decades to come. 

Boeing received an incentive package from South Carolina of up to $170 million.

"This groundbreaking sets into motion what we believe will be revolutionary and indeed generational changes to our state's economy," said Gov. Mark Sanford. "Not only for the thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions in investment - in fact, the largest announcement in South Carolina history - but also for the way Boeing's expansion will spur on an already growing aerospace hub in our state, this is extremely good news. Yet it's also a challenge: a challenge to not rest on our laurels and instead redouble efforts to improve our state's business climate; a challenge to use this momentum to push through tough economic headwinds; and a challenge to capitalize on this renewed cooperation between political leadership in Columbia and hard-working citizens across the state to make South Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family."

Attorney General Henry McMaster says,”Today’s Boeing groundbreaking is cause for celebration and a critical step toward putting South Carolina back on the Path to Prosperity. It's a wonderful example of what we can accomplish when state leaders work together to recruit, nurture and support businesses both large and small. I'm certain that this is just the beginning of many great things to come for our blessed state.”

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