New jobs come to Aiken

AIKEN, S.C. - Aiken County is expecting 250 new jobs.

A diesel engine manufacturing plant, MTU Detroit Diesel, announced its move to Graniteville Friday.

These new jobs will really help out Aiken's economy, according to Aiken's One Stop Career Center's Tina Barfield.

"It's been quite a while since we've had a major company move into the area, so we're very excited about this," Barfield said.

"When a company moves to the area, it also affects other businesses that supply to that company so it's going to be a very big economic boom for our area," Barfield said.

On a daily basis the Aiken One Stop Career Center located at 1571 Richland Avenue sees 300 people, according to the center's statistics. That's 9,000 a month. During the month of February the center assisted 322 people by helping them find jobs.

Eighty-seven-year-old William Sholin came to the career center Thursday looking for a job.

"I like to work because I have a work ethic that doesn't want to quit," Sholin said.

This is the first time since Sholin served in WWII that he hasn't had a job.

"Lost my job, February 18th of 2009, I've been looking ever since," Sholin said.

He's hoping to get one of MTU's manufacturing positions.

"I have a good mechanical ability. I was an aviation mechanic in the air force," Sholin said.

The 87-year-old says he'll do anything, he just wants to get back to work.

"My dad used to say, when you rest you rust, I don't like to rust," Sholin said.

MTU spokeswoman Jennifer Riley say's they'll start hiring people in the next four months.

She says the company won't hire 250 people right away. The entire process will take four years; however the first round of hiring will be the largest.

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