ANDERSON, S.C. (From news reports) -- First Quality Tissue in Anderson is moving forward with an expansion project that will create 200 jobs for the area, bringing the company's projected community impact to more than $400 million in the coming decades.
Economic development director Burriss Nelson told Anderson County Council the average job pays more than $20 and the 30-year tax payment agreement comes to $2.56 million. The company manufactures a variety of paper products, including diapers, wipes, paper towels and one of 2020's most sought-after items -- toilet paper.
"Upon hearing this wonderful news about First Quality's latest expansion, I was reminded of the tremendous faith the company showed in our community when they first arrived back during the Great Recession" Anderson County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn said. "Now, as we work together as a county and a nation to move forward in the aftermath of the pandemic, I am gratified that their faith in our people and our workforce remains strong."
First Quality opened its doors in Anderson in 2010 and now has over 800 employees working at a facility with more than 2.9 million square feet.
The expansion allows for the installation of First Quality's next thru-air-dried (TAD) paper machine, according to a news release, which adds an estimated 70,000 tons of capacity to the facility. The TAD machine is expected to come online in the third quarter of 2022.
"First Quality remains committed to the ultra-premium category and we are focused, particularly during these challenging times, on providing our customers and consumers with the quality bath tissue and towel products they need and desire," First Quality senior operations director Kelly L. Wolff said. "Adding additional state of the art manufacturing capacity will enable First Quality to meet the growing demands of our customers in a timely and efficient manner. We want to express our sincerest appreciation to the entire Anderson County community, and especially the economic development team, for their continued support and partnership which has made this expansion possible."
First Quality announced its TAD plans in July 2020, noting two separate machines would be installed in two locations. Anderson was selected as the first site, and the second location is expected to come online in 2023, according to a First Quality's news release.
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