‘Project Zebra’ could bring record $600 million investment to county

Jonathan Coleman

The Laurens County Council was expected to go into executive session at its regular meeting Tuesday night to discuss “Project Zebra” and vote on first reading of a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement on the industrial development project.

Laurens County Economic Development Corporation President Jonathan Coleman said if ultimately approved “Project Zebra” will be a historic investment for the county.

“It will be the largest single investment in the history of Laurens County,” Coleman said, adding that the executive session is to fill council members in on particulars in the contract for the FILOT agreement.

According to the FILOT agreement, the anticipated expansion of an existing industry in the county will come in at $600 million and create 400 new full-time jobs. The investment will include the acquisition of property, construction and installation of new buildings and improvements on existing facilities.

The $600 million investment more than doubles a $256.475 million investment announced by ZF Transmissions in March of 2022 and is more than ZF’s last two expansions, which totaled more than $456 million.

Coleman said he expects the identity of the investor behind “Project Zebra” to be announced following third and final reading of the FILOT agreement, but did not give a timetable as to when that would be.