Lexington County Council gave unanimous, initial approval this week to a package of tax incentives for a mysterious manufacturing plant known only as Project Vision, a project developers say could bring 150 new jobs and a $10 million investment to the county.
Council considered the incentives during a meeting on October 27, according to the Lexington County Chronicle, which reported the vote. The newspaper identifies Project Vision as a manufacturing plant that will locate a facility in Lexington County, with the identity of the company itself kept confidential, as is standard practice for these early-stage economic development deals.
The full county council unanimously approved Resolution 26-06, which formally identifies Project Vision for tax purposes and makes its investment and related expenditures eligible for a fee-in-lieu arrangement, the Chronicle reports. Council member Charlene Wessinger moved to approve that resolution, with Michael Bishop seconding, per the same report.
How the Tax Break Works
Council also gave first reading by title only to Ordinance 26-17, which authorizes the fee-in-lieu-of-tax arrangement between Lexington County and Project Vision and approves a special source revenue credit along with other project matters, the Chronicle notes. Todd Cullum moved to approve the ordinance, Wessinger seconded, and the council approved it unanimously as well.
Under South Carolina law, specifically Title 12, Chapter 44 of the state code of laws, companies can negotiate fee payments in lieu of standard property taxes as a way to encourage investment in economic development projects, according to county council documents cited by the Chronicle. The South Carolina Department of Revenue describes this kind of fee, known as a FILOT, as an arrangement available to industries investing at least $2.5 million in the state.
A Shared Industrial Park With Calhoun County
Project Vision will not sit on its own. The project is slated for inclusion in an existing multi-county industrial and business park agreement that Lexington County shares with Calhoun County, the Chronicle reports. Council's finance committee also approved Resolution 26-05 on October 27, which concerns the joint development of that park and allows Calhoun County to add 39.69 acres of land to it. Beth Carrigg moved to approve that resolution, Wessinger seconded, and the committee passed it unanimously, according to the Chronicle.
The shared park in question, the Calhoun County I-26 Industrial Park, sits at Sonntag Drive and Sirens Lane in Gaston and already counts the Starbucks Roasting Plant and The Fitts Company among its tenants, according to Central South Carolina. The site's treatment system can handle up to 300,000 gallons of wastewater per day, the same listing notes.
That park has been active lately on its own. Calhoun County leaders recently approved plans for new development inside the industrial park, and WLTX reports that construction is expected to begin in November, with tree clearing starting within the following month. The outlet reports the first buildings there could be up and running by spring 2027, with the broader project expected to attract manufacturing companies, create jobs and bring new investment into Calhoun County.
Part of a Bigger Manufacturing Push
Project Vision joins a string of recent manufacturing announcements in Lexington County, where manufacturing ranks as the third-largest industry behind retail and healthcare, according to The State, which also reports the county's civilian labor force has grown by roughly 11 percent over the past decade. Other recent projects offer a sense of scale: The State reported that Project Ribbon, another manufacturing expansion also proposed for inclusion in the Calhoun County park agreement, involves an $80 million investment expected to create 136 jobs.```
Saxe Gotha Industrial Park has drawn several recent tenants, the Chronicle previously reported.
What Comes Next
Project Vision's incentive package still needs further action. Lexington County Council is set to hold its next meeting on November 4 at 4:30 p.m. at the Lexington County Administration Building on South Lake Drive, where the project's ordinance could see further readings. Darrell Hudson chairs the county council overseeing the process.
