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News: 'Cheetah' may roll out of Person plant this fall

BY WILLIAM F. WEST : The Herald-Sun
[e-mail]
Aug 7, 2007 : 10:57 pm ET

http://www.heraldsun.com/person/12-871345.cfm?

ROXBORO -- Force Protection plans to roll the first of its new light-armored "Cheetah" vehicles off the assembly line in northern Person County "probably later in the fall," a corporate spokesman says.

The spokesman, Tommy Pruitt, said no specific date has been set, but the plant is being outfitted for production.

"We're expecting to be able to build about 2,000 of them next year," he said.

"That's a lot," Roxboro Mayor Steve Joyner said.

Joyner cited the future source of pride in the community to be able to assemble vehicles that will save lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"That is just a noble cause -- a noble commercial cause as well," he added.

Gov. Mike Easley announced July 12 that Force Protection would assemble the Cheetah, the corporation's newest vehicle, at the former Collins & Aikman automotive supplier building along Halifax Road.

Force Protection, a South Carolina corporation, makes vehicles for the armed forces that are designed to withstand blasts from land mines and improvised explosive devices.

The Person County facility is expected to bring 270 jobs over next four years.

The four-wheel-drive Cheetah will be equipped with offensive and defensive weapons. According to the manufacturer, the vehicle comes with either a 275- or 300-horsepower engine, is capable of a 75 mph cruising speed, with bursts up to 89 mph, and is designed for reconnaissance, forward command and control and urban operations.

Joyner hopes the Force Protection facility will encourage other business and industrial investors to consider Roxboro and Person County.

"I think this is the first thing that is going to jump start our new whole economic development approach that we're taking," he said.

He was referring to work by him and his fellow Person County leaders earlier this spring to improve business and tourism growth efforts by reducing duplication, closing service gaps and putting agencies under a single umbrella.

County Commissioner Larry Bowes said that residents are excited about the Force Protection plant and that he has driven by and monitored progress at the site.

There is much cleaning, straightening up "and getting ready to go," Bowes said.

"I know that it has really been a hustle-bustle thing going on there now," he said. "They're really rolling."

He said the president of Force Protection wrote a letter that was published over the weekend in Roxboro's newspaper expressing appreciation to the citizens of the county.

He also said the president stated the corporation's intention "to live up to their obligation to be a first-class plant -- and that they look for a great future here in Person County."

And one of the leaders of Force Protection will give a public presentation at 8 a.m. Sept. 26.

Dan Busher, an executive vice president, is expected to provide details at a Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the Golden Corral steak house, 40 Weeks Drive, Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Marcia O'Neil said.