By Jerry Bellune

JerryBellune@yahoo.com

For months, Lexington County officials have been quiet about JUUL vape maker operations.

Federal officials have widely criticized JUUL for products they describe as bad for health, particularly teen users.

2 companies, JUUL and Flex, occupy a building at 375 Metropolitan Drive near Columbia Metropolitan Airport, according to county spokesman Harrison Cahill.

According to online search engines, Flex is an international logistics and supply chain organization.

The space was formerly used as a warehouse and office space for the $9 billion nuclear reactor fiasco that forced the sale of SCANA and SC Electric & Gas and added $4 billion to Santee Cooper's debt.

According to Cahill, their 30-year Fee in Lieu of Taxes agreements will allow both companies to pay 6% instead of 10.5% in property fees with a locked millage rate of 527.203.

JUUL commited to create at least 10 full-time jobs and invest at least $102 million.

17 months ago, JUUL had promised a new assembly and packaging plant would boost the local economy by about $125 million and create 500 jobs.

JUUL receives Special Source Revenue Credit equal to 12% of the value of the annual payments instead of taxes due for property tax years 1 through 5  beginning with the first property tax year for which payment comes due.

Flex agreed to create 510 full-time jobs in addition to its current 230 full-time jobs and invest  at least $22 million in real property improvements and personal property.

Flex receives Special Source Revenue Credit equal to 10% of the value of the annual payments instead of taxes due for property tax years 1 through 10.