Shakespeare Composite Structures has announced the opening of a composite manufacturing facility at the site of the former Carsonite facility in Varnville, creating 30 jobs in Hampton County.According to General Manager Bill Griffin, the plant will open in mid to late August, manufacturing fiberglass composite light poles and bases.

We will be running one shift with approximately thirty employees, said Griffin.The Hampton County operation is being launched to carve a successful path through lean economic times and position our company for continued success in the future.The workforce in Hampton County was both productive and loyal to Carsonite over the years, and Shakespeare Composites Structures is pleased to be able to create these new jobs in a challenging national economy.

Shakespeares announcement is great news for the people of Hampton County, said Hampton County Council Chairman Hugh Gray.The county council stands ready to work with Shakespeare Composite Structures and assist in any way that we can to ensure their success in Hampton County.

The demands placed on manufacturing operations to survive in todays economy present both new challenges and opportunities, said Sandy Fowler, Hampton Countys Economic Development Director.We welcome Shakespeare Composite Structures into our thriving industrial community, but we also understand that the new economy is more competitive than ever.We believe that our local workforce will be an asset in this globally competitive world of manufacturing, and we will work closely with the Shakespeare team to create the most profitable business environment for their operation.

Hampton County Economic Development Commission Chairman and SouthernCarolina Alliance Board Member DeThane Johnson pledged the support of the county and regional communities.

Every job created affects a family residing in the region, said Mrs. Johnson.In a rural area like ours, thirty jobs can have a tremendous impact on improving our local economy.We value Shakespeares investment in our workforce, and we look forward to working with them for years to come.

According to Hampton County Administrator Sabrena Graham, the company could not have chosen a better time to launch the operation in Hampton County, Changes in funding at the state and federal levels have put extra demands on local budgets to meet the needs of our citizens.The most efficient way to bring prosperity to our citizens and grow our local economy is through job creation.I think our county has demonstrated a unified effort to recruit new industry and assist the existing industrial community, and we look forward to working with Shakespeare Composite Structures to make their start up and subsequent operations successful.

SouthernCarolina Alliance Chairman Johnny Williamson added, Shakespeare Composites can count on support at the regional level as well.Economic development and education are the key to prosperity in our region, and were glad to have the Shakespeare team joining our regional community.

Since the 1960's, Shakespeare Composite Structures has pioneered fiberglass reinforced composite pole technologies with design innovations and patented techniques that have revolutionized the entire lighting standard industry. A world leader in fiberglass reinforced composites design, engineering, and manufacturing, Shakespeare Composite Structures is the originator of the composite light pole.For more information on the company, visit their website at : www.skp-cs.com.