S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley will attend a groundbreaking for Orchids Paper Products Co., which is establishing operations in Barnwell County.
The ceremony for the new plant, which manufactures high-quality, private-label consumer tissue products, will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Airport Industrial Park, at the end of Midfield Road off Joey Zorn Boulevard.
"We celebrate Orchids Paper Products Co. and its investment in one of our rural counties," Haley said in a press release on the S.C. Department of Commerce website. "The company's capital investment of more than $110 million means more than 130 jobs in Barnwell. It's another victory for our entire state, and we couldn't be more excited to watch them grow for a very long time."
Initial hiring for the Barnwell facility is expected to begin in August. Hiring for all production, maintenance and clerical positions will take place through S.C. Works. Additional advertisements for these positions will take place closer to August.
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved a $1.9 million Closing Fund grant to Barnwell County to assist with the costs of infrastructure improvements and site preparation as well as job development credits related to the project.
"We are excited over this good, solid industry coming to Barnwell," said Edward Lemon, mayor of the City of Barnwell. "Industries like these not only create good jobs, they provide the revenue that will fund many of our city and county services, so the impact on our community goes much beyond the initial investment announced."
Established in 1998 in Pryor, Oklahoma, Orchids produces bulk tissue paper from both recycled and virgin fibers and converts it into a full product line of consumer tissue products, primarily supplying private label goods in the value, premium and ultra-premium-tier paper markets.
Located at 285 Midfield Road in Barnwell, Orchids' new South Carolina operations initially will focus on converting existing product currently shipped from the company's other facilities.
Orchids' Barnwell County operations will allow the company to better serve its growing Southeastern customer base.
"The people of Barnwell welcome Orchids Paper Products to our community," said David Kenner, chairman of the Barnwell County Council. "Every job created provides a better future for not only an individual, but for a family. On behalf of Barnwell County Council, we will continue to foster a pro-business environment to encourage both new and existing companies to grow here, and we look forward to working with the newest member of our industrial community."