Dollar General Plans to Open New Distribution Center in Union County, South
Carolina
Facility expected to create more than 600 new jobs
GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a move to further
enhance the Company's distribution network, Dollar General Corporation
announced today that it has selected Union County, South Carolina as the site of
its newest distribution center, the Company's eighth. The Company plans to build
a 1.1 million square-foot facility on a 177-acre site,pending final
documentation and all required governmental approvals.
Located approximately 15 miles south of Spartanburg near Jonesville on South
Carolina Highway 9, the facility is expected to employ more than 600 people when
it reaches full capacity. Additionally, Dollar General's third-party
transportation provider has indicated that it expects to employ approximately
125 people.
"The support and enthusiasm of the local, county and state organizations
involved in this project as well as the strong labor force contributed greatly
to our decision to come to Union County, South Carolina. This state is poised
for tremendous growth, and we are excited to contribute through the construction
of this state-of-the-art facility," said Distribution Vice President Jeff Sims,
in making the announcement. "With the opening of this new distribution center in
2005, we will greatly enhance our ability to better serve our customers." The total cost for the DC and transportation shop, including equipment and
fixtures, is expected to exceed $70 million. Construction is expected to begin
in the second quarter of fiscal 2004, and the Company anticipates the facility
to be fully operational in the second quarter of fiscal 2005. McCallum Sweeney
Consulting of Greenville, S.C., assisted Dollar General in their site selection
for this facility.
In addition to the distribution center in Union County, the Company announced in
November 2003 its intentions to add another distribution center in 2006. Announced in November 2003 and January 2004, construction is currently underway
at the Company's South Boston, Virginia and Ardmore, Oklahoma distribution
centers, respectively. The expansion of these facilities to a dual sortation
system is expected to significantly increase operating capacity.
"If you're looking at unemployment in South Carolina our rural areas have been
particularly hard hit," said Governor Mark Sanford. "In Union you're at 11
percent unemployment, which is the seventh highest rate in the entirestate. Anytime you can inject the number of jobs Dollar General is bringing into that
equation it's obviously a positive thing, but there's a bigger picture out there
that this administration is focused on long-term as it relates to our state's
rural economic development efforts. Whether it's Union or Walterboro or
Charleston or Greenville, we're never going to see the kind of job growth we're
capable of having unless we work to improve our underlying business climate. For
us, that clearly starts with income tax relief." "Let there be no doubt about why Dollar General chose Union County for this
project," said Commerce Secretary Bob Faith. "County officials were 100 percent
committed to this project from day one, and it showed in the effort they made to
win Dollar General's business. Add to this the fact that our workers are second
to none, and it's clear that South Carolina has what it takes to attract the
best companies in the world." About Dollar General Dollar General is a Fortune 500(R) discount retailer with 6,700 neighborhood
stores in 27 states as of January 30, 2004. Dollar General stores offer
convenience and value to customers, by offering consumable basics, items that
are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty
aids and cleaning supplies, as well as a selection of basic apparel, housewares
and seasonal items at everyday low prices. The typical Dollar General store has
6,750 square feet of selling space and is located within five miles of its
target customers.
This press release contains forward-looking information, including information
regarding the expected construction schedule for the Union County, South
Carolina Distribution Center, the employment needs anticipated to be generated
thereby, the date the distribution center is expected to be operational, and the
expected cost of construction. The words "intends," "anticipates," "scheduled,"
"expected," "plan," and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking
statements. TheCompany believes the assumptions underlying these
forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, any of the assumptions could
be inaccurate, and, therefore, actual results may differ materially from those
projected by, or implied in, the forward-looking statements. A number of
factors may result in actual results differing from such forward-looking
information, including, but not limited to transportation delays or
interruptions, inclement weather, interruptions in the contractor's or any
subcontractor's business, the ability to hire and train qualified employees, and
other factors that could delay the construction schedule, such as shortages of
materials, unforeseen construction scheduling, engineering, environmental or
geological problems, or unanticipated cost increases.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company
disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after
the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. DATASOURCE: Dollar General Corporation CONTACT: Investors, Emma Jo Kauffman, +1-615-855-5525, or Media, Andrea Ewin Turner, +1-615-855-5209, both of Dollar General Corporation Web site: http://www.dollargeneral.com/
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