Manufacturer plans $45M Georgia factory, hiring 205 workers

WINDER, Ga. (AP) — A manufacturer of plumbing fixtures and outdoor furniture will open a factory and warehouse northeast of Atlanta, investing $45 million and hiring 205 people.

Spring Mountain Center announced Friday that it would begin construction near Winder later this year.

The company is affiliated with a Chinese company, said Barrow County Economic Development Director Lisa Maloof. It makes faucets, shower heads, toilets, outdoor grill cabinets and outdoor furniture, according to its website.

Spring Mountain CEO Jie Xiang said the company wants to create a domestic supply chain and get closer to American consumers to better understand their needs. The company supplies U.S. brands including Kohler and Hansgrohe.

Maloof said workers will make more than $20 an hour, on average.

The 275,000 square-foot (25,000 square-meter) facility will be the first occupant in an industrial park Barrow County developed.

Spring Mountain will qualify for a state income tax credit allowing it to deduct $1,250 per job from its Georgia income taxes for five years, worth up to $1.28 million.

Maloof said the county will also abate property taxes, but said commissioners haven't yet acted. The state will help pay to train workers. Spring Mountain will also qualify for tax breaks that could save sales taxes on machinery.