Macon County officials expect to close a deal this week with a Chinese company that plans to build a plastic-recycling plant.
That's according to Gerald Beckum, executive director of the Macon County Development Authority.
He said the project would be located at the site of the former Allen's Canning plant, which closed in 2013.
Beckum said officials with the Chinese company are scheduled to visit town this week to close on the deal.
"It's pretty much a done deal except for signing the papers," he said.
The plant would initially employ 25 to 50 people and eventually 100 or more, he said.
Allen's Inc. owns an 18-acre parcel off Travelers Rest Road.
Bloomberg BusinessWeek last week reported that the project is part of a push by Chinese manufacturers to find cleaner, uncontaminated recycled materials.
Beckum says the plant will take plastic waste and turn it into tiny pellets that would be shipped to China.
"We're excited about this," he said. "We think it's good idea for Macon County."
He said the company and Macon County officials hope to announce more details on the project after closing on the project this week.
