Lockheed Martin Delivers First Block 70 F-16 Aircraft to Bulgaria

(Photo of F-16 Being Delivered to Bulgaria. Photo by David Dykes)

By David Dykes

Lockheed Martin on Jan. 31, 2025,  announced delivery of the first F-16 Block 70 jet to Bulgaria, marking a major step forward in the country's efforts to modernize its air force.

The delivery was celebrated at Lockheed Martin’s in Greenville, South Carolina, facility and attended by Bulgaria's Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov alongside American and Bulgarian leaders.

“This momentous occasion continues the strong partnership between Lockheed Martin, the United States, Bulgaria as well as our allies,” said Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics president.

“This is a historic event of key importance for the development of the Bulgarian Air Force,” Zapryanov said.

That development – and Bulgaria’s partnership with the United States - is vital in boosting security of the Black Sea region and NATO’s eastern front, he said.

F-16s are built by the Lockheed Martin team in Greenville, and Bulgaria has ordered 16 aircraft.

Company officials said Lockheed Martin has a backlog of 117 F-16 Block 70/72 jets to be produced in Greenville, with 23 already delivered for international partners.

The F-16 program supports more than 46,000 American jobs, making it a vital part of the country's industrial base, the officials said. 

Lockheed Martin's Greenville site is the home of the F-16 Fighting Falcon production line and provides nose-to-tail aircraft modification, maintenance, repair and overhaul services for both military and civil aircraft. 

The facility employs more than 1,800 people and generates more than $1.3 billion in annual economic impact in South Carolina.

Since opening its doors in Greenville in 1984, Lockheed Martin has provided sustainment services to thousands of aircraft, including the C-130, P-3, KC-10, and C-9.

DEW Executive Director William Floyd's December 2024 Employment Statement

“South Carolina ended 2024 strong by achieving the largest labor force in the state’s history, a record number of people working, and a record number of jobs,” said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Executive Director William Floyd.

He added, “More specifically, December’s labor force was 2,536,654, an increase of more than 66,000 individuals year-over-year, with the highest number of people working in the state at 2,417,169, and a year-over-year increase in payrolls of 54,000, or 2.3 percent.”

“This healthy pace of job growth along with continued gains in the state’s labor force caused a slight reduction in the unemployment rate from 4.8 percent in November to 4.7 percent in December,” Floyd continued.

And he said, “South Carolina experienced month-over-month employment gains in a variety of industries in December including Construction, Finance & Insurance, and Private Educational Services. It is encouraging that many state industries are increasing their hiring as the state’s population continues to grow.”

SC Human Trafficking Task Force Launches $6.5 million Grant Program to Help Child, Teen Victims 

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, chair of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force, announced the launch of a $6.5 million grant program.

The General Assembly appropriated the one-time funding to support efforts to develop and expand specialized residential services for children and adolescents who have been trafficked.

“South Carolina lacks adequate resources to support minor victims of both sex trafficking and labor trafficking,” Wilson said. “The $6.5 million grant program is the first step in ensuring that children receive the services they need to recover from their victimization.”

The Task Force posted a Request for Intent Application on its website as the first step in the grant process. Organizations that are interested in applying for funding will need to complete the application by 5 p.m. on Feb. 14th.

“We encourage non-profits and state agencies with the capacity to work with minor victims to apply for the funding,” said Task Force Director Kathryn Moorehead.

Moorehead added, “These children are incredibly vulnerable and need programs that can provide an array of services to treat trauma, substance use disorders, and physical injuries.”

For more information about the grant program, go to the State Task Force website at humantrafficking.scag.gov.

To report an incident or seek victim services, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.

The Hotline is confidential and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Carolinas AGC Announces 2025 CAGC Foundation Board

Carolinas AGC (CAGC) announced the 2025 Foundation Board of Directors.

The CAGC Foundation Board includes the following members:

Officers:
Chair: Chad Webb, J. M. Cope Construction
Chair Elect: Evan Sowell, Langston Construction Company
Immediate Past Chair: Edison Cassels, Edison Foard Construction
Treasurer: Ed Roper, NJR Construction
CAGC Chair: Ty Edmondson, T.A. Loving Company
Secretary: Dave Simpson, CAE, Carolinas AGC.

Trustees:
Emily Ellis (Young Leader Representative), CT Wilson Construction Company
Scott Fant, Reeves
Richard Latorre, Latorre Insurance
Melissa Cole, Palmetto Corp.
Elisabeth Kovacs, SC Manufacturers Alliance
Andrew Gardner, NC Community College System
Kristie Van Auken, KVA Consulting Co.
Karl McCottry, SCDOT
Kate Daniels, Daniels and Daniels Construction
Claudia Dodgen, Crowder Constructors Inc.
Lorena Patterson – NC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Staff:
Betsy Bailey, CAE, COO, CAGC Foundation, Inc.

CAGC is a construction trade association made up of small and large commercial contractors and construction-related firms that perform building, utility, and/or highway work in the Carolinas. 

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