FLORENCE,
S.C. (AP) — Florence Sen. Hugh
Leatherman says money offered to help convince a pharmaceutical company to keep
its plant open has been returned to the state.

The Morning News of Florence reported that Leatherman had
worked to get $500,000 in incentive money from the state Commerce Department to
convince Roche Carolina to keep its plant open.

The company had said in November it might close the Florence plant.

After the state response, the company has said it will keep
its Florence
plant open at least a few more years.

Leatherman said this week that the money has been returned
to the Commerce Department.

Roche’s plant in eastern Florence County
makes the essential ingredient for Tamiflu and an oral chemotheraphy drug.
Roche employs about 300 people in the area.