JONESVILLE — Fine Organics Americas, which makes natural bio-based specialty additives for a slew of products, plans to build a plant in Union County, investing up to $135 million and creating 60 jobs.
The plant will be constructed on 160 acres near 1907 Spartanburg Highway in Jonesville, about 10 miles southeast of Spartanburg city limits. Operations at the plant are expected to begin in 2027.
Union County Supervisor Phillip Russell told The Post and Courier the company considered several locations outside the county before opting to come to Jonesville.
"We worked hard with all of our partners to get them here," Russell said. "What we will see is phase one of this project, and they could end up building multiple facilities, and you could see triple the jobs that they have already announced."
On June 17, Union County Council approved final reading of an ordinance providing the company with tax breaks. Under the fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement, Fine Organics will be required to invest at least $68 million within five years. Once the land transfer process is completed, groundbreaking could happen within 120 days.
Fine Organics, founded in 1970 by Mumbai, India businessman Ramesh Shah, formed wholly owned subsidiary Fine Organics Americas LLC on May 12.
The company's additives are used in foods, plastics, inks, rubber, cosmetics and coatings. The additives are made from plant-based oils and oleochemicals, and are used in more than 70 countries.
Russell said he expects to make at least one or two other major economic development announcements for Union County in 2025.
"Overall, the economic development prospects in Union County are improving," he said. "We have had two big announcements in the past five months. I know we have another company taking a look at us right now, and there are two existing companies in the county we are talking to. We are working to bring growth to Union County because that is what our citizens want."
In February, Eaton Corp. announced plans for a $340 million transformer plant in Jonesville at a facility that once housed a Belk distribution center. The plant could create 700 jobs and start production in 2027.
Eaton will manufacture three-phase transformers at the 861,000-square-foot facility at 3805 Furman L. Fendley Highway.
However, Russell said even more jobs are needed in Union County. The county's latest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, higher than the state's unemployment rate of 4.2 percent.