Nephron Set to Break Ground

The Lexington County Council is poised to finalize a deal today that paves the way for the county's next major economic development project.  

Council is expected to ratify a plan that would transfer property to Nephron Pharmaceuticals in the Saxe Gotha Industrial Park in Cayce and grant the Orlando-based medical manufacturer significant tax breaks.

In return, Nephron will invest more than $300 million and create more than 700 jobs at its planned facility, with an average salary of $65,000 per year. 

Bill and Lou Kennedy, owners of the company, will be on hand at the Council meeting. Both are graduates of the University of South Carolina, and CEO Lou Kennedy is a Lexington native.

Once approved, construction is expected to begin immediately, perhaps even as early as tomorrow morning, said County Council chairman Bill Banning, Sr.

— an announcement that prompted local leaders to gush.

"You're really talking about a real game-changer," Lexington Mayor Randy Halfacre told Patch last year following the announcement. "I think when you factor in Amazon, which is a warehouse … then you factor in this company in the same location that has more professional degreed workers such as pharmacists and scientists, you have a stratosphere for a lot of opportunity for a lot of people. It really is a game-changer; that [phrase] might be overused, but it really definitely is true.

"Locally," Halfacre added, "it may even be bigger than Amazon in a way. …"

Nephron's annoucement last year came under scrutiny, as many questioned the relationship that the company had with Gov. Nikki Haley.

According to records obtained by WIS-TV, Haley has used a plane owned by Lou Kennedy at least twice, to attend two fundraisers.

Haley was criticized for using accepting the plane usage while the company was negotiating an incentive plan for locating in the state.

The company also donated $3,500 to Haley's campaign, while Lou Kennedy donated more than $3,000 to the governor, according to The State.

Nephron produces generic respiratory medications, such as albuterol. With a capacity of over 100 million doses monthly, it serves patients worldwide. The company’s products are available to retail pharmacies, hospitals, home care companies, long-term care facilities, mail-order pharmacies, and various other customers. Nephron is headquartered in Orlando, and has distribution centers in Kentucky and Arizona.