A new bioplastics plant is now even closer to reality.
The Knox County Redevelopment Commission held a public hearing today concerning an Economic Development Agreement with AgroRenew.
The company founded by Brian Southern will soon start construction on an $83 million investment in the Knox County Industrial Park.
Groundbreaking is said to happen later this month with an announcement on an exact date for an official ceremony coming very soon.
The new complex will eventually employ around 300 people and will turn the waste from locally produced watermelon and pumpkins into biodegradable plastic.
Only a handful of people spoke at the hearing today and all of the comments were positive.
The agreement approved by the RDC and then later approved as first reading of an ordinance on the matter by the Knox County Council, is different from traditional incentives utilized by local government when a new business or industry locates in a community….
Founder, AgroRenew
Southern went on to say that it’s a win-win program for the community where the company doesn’t take tax dollars away but reuses them in a way that’s positive for the county and community.
Southern also announced that they’ve launched a brand new website where residents can keep up with all that’s happening with AgroRenew.
The new site has information and videos explaining how the company got started and how the plant will process the ag-waste into new usable and biodegradable material.