Orangeburg’s Mars U.S. Pet Care, formerly Doane Pet Care, and construction company Martin Marietta Minerals Inc. are looking to invest a combined total of $17 million in Orangeburg County.

Orangeburg County Council gave first reading, by title only, to ordinances concerning fee agreements with Mars and Marietta Monday night.

Orangeburg County economic development officials, per the companies’ requests, are not releasing the specific nature or dollar investments of the expansions.

“These companies are keeping growth and capital investments tight to the vest,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said. “In order for us to do a fee in lieu it has to be a large capital investment, and a number of jobs committed to the county over a five-year window. I cannot share the level of commitments.”

Under the current incentive package, companies investing more than $5 million or more can qualify for fee-in-lieu of local property taxes. The incentive allows companies to pay reduced property taxes for up to 20 years.

“We are working with them on an expansion in Orangeburg County,” Robinson continued, in reference to Martin Marietta. “We are looking to help take the company to the next level.”

Robinson said the Martin Marietta expansion includes equipment and machinery.

Martin Marietta has a plant on the Orangeburg County and Berkeley County line and is a leading producer of construction aggregates, a leading producer of magnesia-based chemical products, and is developing structural composites products for use in a wide variety of industries.

Doane operates out of a 140,000-square-foot facility is located at the Orangeburg County Industrial Park off U.S. Highway 21.

The plant originally employed 30 when it opened 10 years ago and has since grown to 85 employees.

The Orangeburg Doane plant is the only one in South Carolina.

Doane’s primary market is Southeastern grocery stores and mass merchandise retailers such as Wal-Mart, Sams or BJs.

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