The largest-ever Industrial Capital Investment in Laurens County came one step closer last evening. Laurens County Council gave unanimous approval on 1st reading to “Project Zebra” with a 7 to 0 vote in favor of Ordinance 945.
With final, 3rd reading approval, Ordinance 945 would authorize a “Fee-in-Lieu of Tax” agreement between Laurens County and the company now identified as “Project Zebra.” This project projects an investment of Six Hundred Million Dollars in Laurens County. It’s expected to create 400 new full-time jobs.
Also helping facilitate this big investment in Laurens County, the South Carolina Coordinating Council on Economic Development is expected to approve a grant of Fifteen Million Dollars to offset some of the company’s costs.
There was no identification of what company is “Project Zebra,” but the ordinance did suggest it is a company already operating in the county. One sentence in the ordinance states that that without the support of County Council providing the incentives, “The company would not otherwise expand its current facility in the County.”
A 2nd vote on the ordinance for “Project Zebra” should take place soon. However, the required 3rd reading can wait for several months.