Haley, USC’s Pastides on hand for groundbreaking

CAYCE, S.C. (AP) — Gov. Nikki Haley is taking part in a ceremony to break ground on a pharmaceuticals plant in Lexington County.

Haley is joining University of South Carolina President Harris Pastides and Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp. CEO Lou Kennedy for the event set for Thursday.

The Orlando, Fla.,-based company said in October it planned to build a $313 million plant on a 60-acre site near online retailer Amazon.com’s new facility, bringing 700 jobs. Kennedy said the new facility would help the company expand its market share and develop a pipeline of products.

Nephron has a 250,000 square-foot facility in Orlando and distribution centers in Kentucky and Arizona.

Kennedy and her husband have pledged $30 million to the pharmacy program at the University of South Carolina, the second largest gift in the school’s history.