Up to 500 New Jobs Coming to Newberry County

Newberry County, SC (WLTX) - Caterpillar has announced plans to expand their operations in Newberry County, a move which is expected to create up to 500 new jobs.The decision was announced Tuesday by the company.The company opened the Newberry generator set facility back in 2006 as part of their Electric Power Division. Now, they want to add to the products they create at the facility, and because of the increased production, they'll need more workers. Currently, the plant builds smaller power generators , but the new ones which would be built would  be for retail operations, homes, and farms. "The expansion of our Newberry operation is part of the Electric Power Division's strategic global manufacturing plan for better serving our customers," said Joseph Mulay, Newberry facility manager for Caterpillar in a written statement.  "South Carolina has been an excellent fit for our company, and we are pleased to be increasing operations at our Newberry facility.  We appreciate the continued support we have received from the state Department of Commerce and local officials in Newberry County."   "As we work to compete in today's global economy, our state's commitment to lowering taxes, reducing regulatory burdens and maintaining a pro-business environment is critical," said Governor Mark Sanford in a release. "Today's announcement to create 500 new jobs is indeed a sign that we are moving in the right direction, and we remain committed to further enhancing the state's business environment to allow our existing businesses, like Caterpillar, to be more competitive during these challenging economic times." The company plans to begin hiring for the new positions in the coming months. Individuals interested in job opportunities are encouraged to visit the Caterpillar website.      />