SOUTH POINT, Ohio -- A company is proposing opening a chemical plant at The Point industrial park in South Point, a project that could provide 15 to 16 jobs initially and a total of 25 down the road.

Sanat C. Parikh, owner of the Southern Hills motel in the South Point area, and Hasmuk Patel, a chemical and industrial engineer, attended a Lawrence County Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday morning to discuss the project.

The two are proposing to build a chemical plant to produce aluminum chlorohydrate, a product used in water treatment and anti-perspirants.

"We're always interested in working with anyone trying to create jobs in Lawrence County," said Bill Dingus, executive director of the Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce. "We've just had one preliminary meeting. We're in the preliminary discussion stage."

The plant, if built, could produce 45,000 pounds of aluminum chlorohydrate, Patel said. Similar plants are located in India, in Cincinnati, New York, New Jersey and Phoenix, he said.

It would need 20,000 gallons of South Point water per day, he said. The project also would require above-ground storage of some 20,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid, he said.

"The market is there" for the product, Patel said. The plant would produce no gaseous emissions, he said.

"We're supportive of anything that brings jobs," County Commissioner Les Boggs said.

Commissioner Jason Stephens said he has three priorities for any plant locating in the county.

"You need to pay your taxes, follow Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and keep the community informed," he said. "We've had a problem in the past with a company in South Point."

National Video