A vacant industrial building in Montezuma now has a new owner that plans to bring business to the town.
According to the Macon County Development Authority, UPT Group, Inc., a Chinese company, bought the site at 730 Travelers Rest Road.
Development Authority Director Gerald Beckum says the property is known locally as the Southern Frozen Foods Plant, but it's been vacant since 2013.
According to a press release, the company plans to renovate the nearly 20-acre site into a recycling factory that will transform plastic into 'small bead-like particles.'
The release also says water used in the recycling process will be reused, having little effect on the city's sewage system.
Howanda Felton has lived in Montezuma her whole life and is excited the site will be active again.
"I think that's a good thing, because some of us need a second job, because there ain't hardly no jobs around here, so I think that's a good thing," Felton said.
Beckum says the plant is expected to open in early 2019 and will employ 50 to 100 people, and possibly more as they grow.