Plant manager: Cosmetics facility still in renovation phase

The plant manager for Beauty Health and Science Innovations said Thursday the facility is still in the renovation phase.

Drew Martin, contacted Thursday at the plant just south of Clovis' industrial park, said the company would be in a better position in two weeks to speculate on when the plant would open.

Chase Gentry, executive director of Clovis Industrial Development Corp., said in November when he announced BHSI had selected Clovis for its manufacturing site that it hoped to open in April.

The company said it hoped to create up to 350 jobs.

The company receives $2 million in loan forgiveness from city economic development funds for meeting certain criteria, and an additional $1 million should it employ 300 people for a 12-month period during the first three years.

BHSI purchased the former Froz Fruit plant late last year. It did trial runs of cosmetics — mainly shampoos and conditioners — in late March.

"Right this second, we are doing trial runs on our equipment as we speak," Martin said in March. "Everything's going good."

At that time, there were about 10 temporary employees at the plant.