Area Development
Germany's ZF Group has chosen Laurens County, South Carolina for a $350 million manufacturing facility that will create 900 jobs, GoLaurens reports. The plant will be located in the Owings Industrial Park, with constructed scheduled to begin in January 2011.

ZF selected Laurens County for its business friendliness, million-gallon elevated water tank, and that the location is a certified ready site.

"The potential for this project is huge for the county," said Marvin Moss, Laurens County Development Corporation executive director. "It's going to be a huge opportunity to bring in other supporting companies."

ReadySC, the state's work force training program, will assist in the project.