Echostar

Assisting a Company to Find a Strategic Distribution Location,
Playing an Active Role in Community Economic Development

EchoStar Communiciations Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) needed a new satellite equipment refurbishment and repair center to more efficiently service customers on the East Coast.

Working with a team that included South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Spartanburg County Council Chairman Jeff Horton, Spartanburg County Council Vice Chairman David Britt, Spartanburg County Economic Development Corporation CEO Carter Smith and Department of Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor, Johnson Development Associates was instrumental in luring Echostar to Spartanburg County in May 2006.

The resulting $20 million investment and 1,300 jobs created represented the largest single creation of jobs in Spartanburg County since BMW announced it would build a plant there in 1992.

When EchoStar first disclosed it was considering several markets, including Spartanburg, in early 2006, Johnson Development Associates was prepared with a 316,000-square-foot facility located in the Fairforest Business Center near the intersection of I-85 and I-26. The location was ideal, and the fact JDA was prepared with a facility at that location enabled EchoStar to quickly take occupancy and begin operations. EchoStar also considered Greensboro, N.C., Savannah, Ga., and Atlanta before choosing Spartanburg.

“We had a good building in a great location,” Johnson Development Associates President and CEO Foster Chapman said. “It began as a speculative building and when this opportunity arrived, we were prepared.” 

www.echostar.com

About EchoStar Communications Corporation: Provides Dish Network satellite television systems to 12.2 million customers. Headquarters are in Englewood, Colo.