St. George welcomes new modular home builder

ST. GEORGE, S.C. – Signature Building Systems, a high-tech manufacturer of modular homes, will open a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in St. George. The company will bring 80 new jobs to this community in Dorchester County, and expects to invest approximately $1.25 million in the region.

“The community and its leaders worked very hard to convince us that the right workforce was available for our needs,” said Victor DePhillips, President of the company. “Officials here even hosted a job fair that attracted 300 qualified people, which gave us absolute assurances that we’d find the workers we need to succeed.”

Signature Building Systems manufactures new homes in a limitless range of styles. “We can deliver a project up to 95 percent complete, which gives builders the ability to increase their production and profit levels without expanding their labor needs or overhead,” said DePhillips.

Headquartered in Moosic, Penn., Signature Building Systems sees the new facility as offering a strategic location from which to service customers in the Carolinas, Georgia and other parts of the Southeast.

Today’s announcement was facilitated by the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, a public/private partnership tasked with attracting new business investment to Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.

George Tupper, Chairman of the Alliance, welcomed the arrival of the new company to the region. “The Southeast is a booming housing market, as people gravitate here for the climate and the culture. We’re pleased to see that the skilled trades people we have here in the region are being recognized and given an opportunity to help Signature Systems grow and prosper.”

Randy Scott, Dorchester County Council Chairman, welcomed the company, saying: “One of our County Council goals has been to expand economic development and create new jobs in all parts of the county. Our Councilmen and our economic development team have worked very hard to make this happen. I would like to salute the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Charleston Regional Development Alliance for the professional assistance they have provided to Dorchester County to bring this new investment to St. George.”

Willie Davis, Dorchester County Council Vice Chairman, noted: “I’m very happy to learn that this new project with its 80 jobs is coming to St. George. We’ve all worked for a long time to make this happen. The job fair we sponsored clearly showed that the work force they need is here. I can tell you it is a new day for our community.”

St. George Mayor, David Sojourner, also celebrated the news. “This is just what we have needed to give us a big boost,” he said. “Having this new plant located beside the St. George New Century Park will provide further proof that manufacturers can locate here with an assurance of being successful. I’m proud that the town and county have worked well together to bring a new industry here.”

In facilitating any announcement, such as today’s by Signature Systems, the Alliance works with a broad network of allies and partner organizations. A key player in the economic development activity here is the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

“Affordable, quality housing is an important economic factor in South Carolina,” said Commerce Secretary, Charles S. Way, Jr. “Signature Systems will add to the region’s diverse economic base while developing new talents in the area’s workforce. We welcome Signature Systems as a vital component of Team South Carolina.”

The Charleston Regional Development Alliance represents Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Its mission is to broaden and diversify business investment in this region, with a new emphasis on technology-intensive business sectors. Since its inception, the Alliance has worked with thousands of companies to help promote business investment and quality growth in the area. To learn more, go to www.charleston-for-business.com.