South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley paid tribute to the importance of manufacturing and infrastructure during a visit on Tuesday to Calder Brothers Corporation, an AEM member based in Taylors, South Carolina.
Before taking questions from Calder Brothers employees, Haley singled out the company’s leaders and its workforce for contributing to the success of manufacturing in the Palmetto State. Haley also had a chance to meet with the company’s leaders – Glen, David, Wayne and Cameron Calder – before touring the factory’s operations.
One of the biggest items for discussion, though, was the state’s struggle to approve reliable, sustained infrastructure funding. The state ended up passing a bill earlier this year that relied on bonding after Haley and state lawmakers reached an impasse over reforming management of transportation projects.
“I don’t need another tree bill,” she told employees, referencing beautification projects. “I need a pothole fixed. I need my interstates widened.”
The visit was Haley’s first to Calder Brothers, a producer of commercial asphalt paving equipment that manufactures products under the Mauldin brand. The company has long been involved with AEM, and is a multiple-times winner of the I Make America “Pillar of the Industry” award.
Before employees were treated to a group lunch, Haley posed for a photo in front of Mauldin equipment. She also received a special gift: A welded sculpture of a yellow jessamine, South Carolina’s state flower, which a longtime Calder Brothers employee crafted.
