COLUMBIA, S.C. — At the Saxe Gotha Industrial Park in Lexington County, crews will soon begin work on a nearly $100 million project.

It all comes after the Lexington County Council gave the project their final approval Tuesday evening. 

The approval cleared the way for Florida-based Cardiff Products USA to move forward with plans to open a new manufacturing facility in the county.

The plant-based beverage maker, which has roots in Canada said the project will create 94 new jobs.

Cardiff agreed to invest $99.6 million in the plant over the next five years, including the purchase of land at Saxe Gotha,

Garrett Dragano, Director of Economic Development for Lexington County said Cardiff leaders are eager to get started.

“I know they’re wanting to move very quickly. (They’re) very eager to get started and get hiring. Hopefully we’ll see some groundwork and earthwork and things like that this year,” he said.

As part of the agreement, Lexington County agreed to payments of fees-in-lieu of taxes for the project. Cardiff will effectively lock-in their assessment ratio and millage rate. The county agreed to lock those rates in for the next 30 years.

Dragano said it’s the people of Lexington that helped attract this new business.

“We have very hard-working people in Lexington County. We have great schools, education and training programs. We’re really excited to work with this company. They’re going to be paying incredible wages that are going to be at or above the county average wage, and so we’re extremely excited about that,” Dragano explained.

Dragano said in order to maintain the tax agreement, Cardiff will be required to submit financial information to the South Carolina Department of Revenue on a regular basis, to prove they are making that nearly $100 million investment.

If the investment doesn’t happen, the company may risk losing their special tax arrangement or even have to pay some monies back.