Cherokee County Council on Monday granted tax incentives to a new textile manufacturer and an existing industry.

Since neither company wanted to be identified, Cherokee County Development Board Executive Director Jim Cook provided sketchy details after updating council on the projects during a 60-minute executive session.

Cook said the existing industry plans to install additional equipment and wants to hire an additional 50 workers. The company sought a special source revenue credit to prevent its expansion from being assessed at the industrial tax rate of 10.5 percent.

The new textile manufacturer will locate in the vacant weaving area of the TNS/Wellstone plant off Highway 11 and create between 35 to 50 jobs.

The $4 to $6 million investment is eligible for an 8 percent fee-in-lieu.

Both projects are expected to be in operation by March.

(Larry Hilliard)