NC Gov. Easley welcomes SeaCraft to NC

[ocuyler]

GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES BOAT MANUFACTURING FACILITY
TO LOCATE IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced that Mako Marine International Inc. and SeaCraft Boats, a division of Tracker Marine Group, has chosen Forest City as the site for a new boat manufacturing facility that will create more than 300 new jobs with competitive wage rates averaging $13 per hour.

"This project is great news for Rutherford County and Western North Carolina," Easley said. "The company will create quality jobs in a region that has seen challenging economic times. The company's decision to bring this facility to North Carolina shows that our investments in infrastructure and education are paying off."

Mako Marine International Inc. is the builder of salt-water sport fishing boats. Founded as separate companies in the late 1960s in south Florida, Mako is credited with the original development of the center-console fishing boat design, while SeaCraft is known for the unique variable-plane hull surface and builds salt-water sport fishing models from 20 to 32 feet in length.

Tracker Marine Group of Springfield, Mo. acquired SeaCraft boats in the late 1980s and Mako Marine International in 1996. The company employs nearly 2,000 associates and has more than 400 dealers worldwide.

"The location is a great fit for our company," said Ken Burroughs, president of Tracker Marine Group. "We are excited to be a member of the business community in Forest City and look forward to long-term relationships with the great people here."

The company will renovate a 338,000-square-foot former textile plant for its operations.

The N.C. Department of Commerce worked with the Rutherford County Economic Development Commission and the N.C. Marine Trade Association to recruit the company to Forest City.

[John R]

NorthWESTERN NC? Like 200 miles AWAY from the coast?

Coming soon - Seacraft 23 Pontooner & Mako Hydroplane...

Wow - figured they would go EAST, like near the salt... (no offense Otto [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] )