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Union County approves incentives and park agreement as Eaton proposes $340 million Jonesville plant
Summary
Union County Council unanimously adopted an inducement resolution and FILOT incentives tied to Eaton Corporation's proposed Jonesville site, which the company says will focus on transformers and power-delivery equipment. The county also approved a multi-county industrial park with Spartanburg County.
Union County Council on Feb. 11 unanimously approved a series of measures to support Eaton Corporation's planned investment in Jonesville, including an inducement agreement (Resolution 2025-01), a FILOT ordinance specific to Eaton (3rd reading), and an ordinance creating a Joint Multi-County Industrial Business Park with Spartanburg County.
Eaton representatives told council the Jonesville site will join the company's electrical sector and focus on power distribution, delivery and reliability. Mike Yelton, President of Electrical Sector Americas, said, "This will be Eaton's single largest investment, at 340 million dollars in investment." He and other Eaton speakers emphasized the facility will refurbish a large existing building and serve national demand amid a shortage of transformers.
Why it matters: County documents circulated with the meeting list Project Panama (the Eaton site) at a $340 million capital investment and 700 jobs, figures the county included in its Supervisor's report distributed to council. County leaders and Eaton officials framed the investment as a long-term manufacturing and employment presence for the Jonesville area.
What council voted on: Chairman Phillip Russell introduced Resolution 2025-01 authorizing an inducement agreement with Project Panama; Councilman John Flood moved to dispense with committee referral and accept the resolution, Vice Chair David Sinclair seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Council later approved the FILOT ordinance for Eaton by unanimous vote and also adopted an ordinance to create the multi-county industrial park with Spartanburg County, also by unanimous vote.
Eaton presentation highlights: Nick D'Angelo, Eaton's director of public affairs, thanked the county and regional partners for assistance in site selection. Chris Hess, local public affairs vice president, described cooperative work with the county's economic-development team. Mike Yelton said the plant will address rising transformer demand; Angie McMillen, president of Eaton Energy Services and Solutions, described the Jonesville site as a potential showcase for future investments.
Local context and next steps: Chairman Russell thanked state and local economic development partners and local utilities for supporting the project. Council did not attach additional conditions during the meeting; the ordinances approved authorize the county to deliver the inducement and FILOT packages as presented. County staff and Eaton representatives did not provide further schedule details in the public discussion; the Supervisor's written report circulated with the meeting packet lists Project Panama as a major project for the county.
