Carthuplas will locate at Meadowcreek site

Cherokee County Council voted Monday to offer a video disc packaging manufacturer an incentive package to locate in the Meadowcreek Industrial Park.

According to the inducement resolution, Carthuplas would be taxed at a 6 percent fee-in-lieu if its investment reached $20 million. If the investment grew to $25 million, the Maine-based company would qualify for a special source revenue bond for infrastructure upgrades.

Manufacturing plants are typically taxed at 10.5 percent of their assessed value.

The company also asked council to include the plant in a multi-county industrial park, which allows Carthuplas to receive a $1,000 tax credit for each employee.

Gary Morris, an attorney representing the company, told council members Carthuplas plans to employ 50 workers at the former Phoenix Finishing manufacturing facility.

About two hours after county council approved its resolution, Gaffney City Council expressed its verbal support for the incentive package. Both councils need to approve ordinances and hold a public hearing before the incentive package takes effect.

The Phoenix Finishing plant has been vacant since Universal Molding filed for bankruptcy late last year and closed its operations here. The company sold its equipment at an auction Feb. 28.

Universal Molding, which employed about 30 workers, made compact discs and digital video disc cases.