There’s been visible progress at the Bharat Forge site to the east of U.S. 1 near the Colon community.

Courtney Holcomb, Bharat Forge’s local human resources manager, sent us these pictures and a few details, including that construction at the site is on schedule, and that while there’s no official opening date, that situation is fluid. She also said that the company expects to ramp up hiring – which has been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic – in the first quarter of 2021.

“Equipment is currently in route via ocean from Europe,” she said. “Some of the equipment has actually already been delivered to U.S. ports and will be in route to Sanford soon for installation.”

The Bharat Forge deal was announced in September of 2019 at a press conference at the Governor’s Mansion in Raleigh. The company, which is based in India, will produce auto parts and employ 460 people. The company’s expected tax base investment in Lee County is $170 million.