SCBIZ Daily Staff

COLUMBIA -- A new aviation maintenance facility is expected to bring 105 new jobs and about $9 million in investment to Lexington County.

West Star Aviation will build a maintenance and refurbishment facility at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, the S.C. Commerce Department announced Monday.

“Thanks to the team effort of state and local officials, Lexington County will benefit from this investment, now and in the future,” Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor said.

West Star operates four facilities across the country for commercial and general aviation planes. Columbia Metropolitan will be the company’s first Southeast location. Operations here are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2009.

A groundbreaking is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the airport.