Laurinburg, N.C. — A Florida company that makes fuel for pellet-burning stoves will open a manufacturing plant in Laurinburg, officials said Wednesday.

Nature’s Earth Products Inc. plans to invest more than $12 million in the plant over the next three years, creating 98 jobs. The plant will turn sawmill byproduct into pellets.

“We are very excited to be locating our new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in North Carolina,” Ken Simard, a company spokesman, said in a statement. “The assistance and cooperation by Gov. (Beverly) Perdue's office made our decision to locate in Laurinburg extremely easy. We’re confident our partnership with the state and Scotland County will enable us to meet or exceed our growth targets over the next three years.”

The 98 jobs will pay an average wage of $29,362, plus benefits, which officials said is higher than Scotland County's average wage of $28,704.

In addition to its Freedom Fuel pellets, Nature’s Earth Products produces Feline Pine, a natural-product cat litter and other environmentally-friendly products.

The company qualified for a $196,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund, provided they meet employment and investment targets, officials said.