Boeing has blown off North Carolina, again. South Carolina still has a chance.
CEO Jim McNerney told Wall Street analysts on an earnings conference call today that the company has narrowed its choices for a second 787 Dreamliner assembly plant to Charleston, S.C., and Everett, Wash. He expects to announce a decision in the next couple of weeks.
The N.C. Global TransPark in Kinston was cited as a competitor for the new plant in a report that Washington state officials used to lobby Boeing.
The Kinston park, about 90 miles southeast of Raleigh, also was in the running for a Boeing assembly plant earlier this decade, but lost to Washington.
It's not clear whether North Carolina was a legitimate contender this time, since state and local officials have kept quiet about any efforts to lure Boeing here, despite vocal lobbying in Washington state. But Gov. Bev Perdue and others repeatedly have said they want to expand this state's aerospace and aviation industries and attract new jobs.
Also today, Boeing reported a $1.56 billion third-quarter loss, one of the biggest in its history. The loss was partly because of delays in the 787 Dreamliner program.
Assistant Business Editor Alan M. Wolf joined the N&O in 1999 covering the business of health care. He became an editor in 2001, and helps oversee the paper's daily business coverage and Sunday Work&Money section. He lives in Clayton with his wife and two children. Reach him at 919-829-4572 or 
Comments
Global Transpark
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:50 — chfdcptWhy can't we use the GTP as the OLF for the Navy? After all, it sits there unused. At least if we let the Navy or Air Force use it for training, they would gladly pay for any improvements needed and the maintenance.
xenophobic NC
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 17:43 — sparkybroArthritis aside, they do it their way.
You're assuming the 787 will ever be built
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 17:40 — avg_joeBoeing has shown an amazing ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory for much of the past decade.
First, they completely ruined the 787 program through poorly-conceived outsourcing projects and needless bickering with their unions, in a way I only thought circus clowns were capable of.
Now, we've come to find out that the new 747 program is in jeopardy and is probably on the road to cancellation.
I suspect what today's management decides may ultimately prove to be irrelevant, but given the way things are going, a new management team may be on the way before too long.
A wonderful Decision
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 12:50 — ortho214johnThat is a move for a memory of something important.
orthopedic shoes
Not a total loss
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 12:47 — The_Nags_HeadThe Global Trans Park has succeed admirably in its primary goal - providing no-show jobs for Jim Hunt's cronies, not to mention the construction work siphoned off to party contributors.
Look at it this way: Hunt's been out of office for dog's years and the GTP is still funneling money into the pockets of the Branch Head Boys. That's pretty remarkable.
Great use of funds
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 12:23 — stevemichaelsSo once again the state funded transpark sits nearly empty without ever filling the promise it once had - but meanwhile the state continues to dump millions into this failed venture - at least build a prison on the grounds so it was not a total waste. I wonder who sits behind this hugh pork project?