Possible $1B manufacturing project could be biggest in Richland Co. history, council eyes incentives
Richland County Council is in early talks on a possible manufacturing deal that would be the biggest economic development project in the county’s history.
During a Tuesday meeting, the council gave a first approval to begin negotiations on an economic development deal that could bring a nearly $1 billion investment and more than 1,800 jobs to the county. Officials stress that the possible deal is in nascent stages.
The name of the company has not yet been disclosed, and the deal is being referred to as Project Golden Eagle in council agenda paperwork. The company is seeking tax incentives from the county, the details of which have not yet been announced. Any tax incentives would require three approvals from the council.
“Project Golden Eagle, an entity whose name cannot be publicly disclosed at this time, desires to invest capital in the county in order to establish a manufacturing facility in the county,” the agenda paperwork says. “The project is anticipated to result in an investment of approximately $970,000,000 in taxable real and personal property and the creation of approximately 1,839 new, full-time equivalent jobs.”
The deal would likely be the largest economic development project in the history of Richland County. By comparison, the massive Mark Anthony Brewing manufacturing facility on Shop Road, which opened earlier this year, was a $490 million investment that created more than 300 jobs.
Another big economic development deal in recent Richland County history was the opening of the China Jushi facility on Shop Road, which came with a $300 million investment and 400 jobs.
In a 2016 release touting that Jushi deal, the county noted the largest manufacturing investment in Richland County history was in 1984, with a $600 million investment for the facility now known as International Paper.
County Councilman Joe Walker III, a member of Council’s economic development committee, stressed negotiations are in their infancy, and said he was limited in what he could say about Project Golden Eagle.
“The county plays but a piece of a much larger puzzle that all has to come together to make any of these things work,” Walker said. “All I can speak to is where we are as a county, which is having advanced the proposal through first reading, with two more to go, and a public hearing.”
Councilman Paul Livingston, who chairs the council’s economic development committee, said he could not yet discuss the project, saying it was currently “in the best interest of the county” to keep the details of the prospective company confidential.
This story was originally published November 17, 2022 at 12:02 PM.
