CHARLESTON, S.C. -- In South Carolina, Boeing is on the fast track.

In late October, the company announced its choice of South Carolina over Washington as the site of its next 787 Dreamliner assembly plant.

The company will officially break ground on Friday, but the break-neck pace is already underway.

Boeing has touched down in south Carolina. Site preparation is in full tilt.

South Carolina Sen. Paul Campbell, R-Goose Creek, said the tough competition from Washington state made South Carolina work even harder for the bid.

"I'm not sure what they could have done better," he said.

Campbell said his state "threw everything at Boeing," including $450 million in state incentives.

"This isn't just one group. This is the whole state behind you, and I think that was important," he said.

With Friday's ground breaking comes the promise of 3,800 jobs and $750 million investment pledge from Boeing.

"I think it had a lot to do with union -- us not being union and voting our union out," said Boeing mechanic Chris Mercer.

Mercer told me he believes that's what lured Boeing from Washington's strong union shop.

"I'd been working with machinists and Boeing for six months quietly to brings sides together. We made tremendous progress. I thought we were within an inch or two of getting the agreement," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Employees at Boeing's 787 rear fuselage plant in Charleston believe their workforce sealed the deal.

"We believe we can do a very excellent job here," said Boeing engineer Li Chang.

"We're the best!" said Stan O'Brien, a Dreamlifter maintenance worker.

South Carolina's state and economic leaders had to convince Boeing that the company wouldn't lose anything by choosing Charleston as its choice.

"It was fun competition.but it's always more fun to win," said Campbell.

Campbell says this wasn't a rush job; they've been working on this for six years.