SPARTANBURG -- Spartanburg County Council unanimously agreed Monday to extend the fee-in-lieu agreement it has with BMW Manufacturing Co. for about two years, giving the company more time needed to complete projects it has underway or planned. The Council's agreement is subject to review by the county's attorneys. BMW's last fee-in-lieu agreement with the county was signed in December 2001, he said. Monday's action extends the period.

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SPARTANBURG -- A China-based gravure printing company announced it would locate a $10 million manufacturing facility and about 120 jobs in Spartanburg. American Yuncheng Plate Making Inc., a subsidiary of Shanxi Yuncheng Plate-Making Group Joint-Stock Co., will build a 30,000-square-foot plant on Ian Court just off Southport Road in Spartanburg. The plant will be the company's first North American facility. The plant is expected to open for business later this year.

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SPARTANBURG -- Ashley Allen, president and CEO of Milliken & Co., is set to retire this May, the Spartanburg-based company announced Thursday. Allen plans to retire after his 65th birthday. He has served in his current position since succeeding Roger Milliken in 2005. He previously served as the company's chief operating officer, as well as in other positions during his career.

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FLORENCE -- International Knife & Saw Inc. delivered some good economic news to Florence on Tuesday. UCT Coatings Inc. of Stuart, Fla., and IKS have entered into an agreement that has resulted in an expansion of IKS in Florence. The deal will mean the addition of about 15 employees in the next three months, but that could increase to 30 or 40 new hires over time, IKS President David Graham said.

Read more at The (Florence) Morning News...