Two thousand jobs are coming to Jackson County, but the community will benefit from more than just jobs.

SK innovation, a Korean developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles, will invest $1.67 billion into the two-phase plan to create a manufacturing plant in Jackson County.

John Scott, the director of economic development for Jackson County, said the project also benefits the area.

“During the construction process, that’s also going to bring a lot of people in that are going to be working on the site and constructing the building, so the hotels are going to stay full, the restaurants are going to stay full,” Scott said.

The plant will be located on Steve Reynolds Industrial Parkway at the Commerce 85 North Business Park.

The plant will be constructed in two phases. SK Innovation will be breaking ground on the project in early 2019.

Scott told Grady Newsource that SK Innovation considered locations across the southeastern United States, including other places in Georgia.

“They took a look at Jackson County, and we had some great sites that were already developed and ready to go, and they were perfectly suited for them,” Scott said.

Tax breaks also helped SK Innovation choose Jackson County.

“We provided a tax abatement where we reduced the amount of taxes that we’re owed, and we use the tax revenue that this project is generating to fund the cost of purchasing the land for this project. So all future revenues that we get we’re using to pay the debt service on purchasing the land,” Scott said.

Although construction starts in early 2019, the highest number of employees will be hired in 2021.

“We’re very excited to welcome them to Jackson County and look forward to working with them now and well forward into the future,” Scott said.

Janie Bohlmann is a senior studying journalism.