Hart County is set to be one of the more pet-friendly Georgia counties after Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. announced it would invest $320 million into a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in Hartwell.

The massive investment will lead to the creation of some 240 new jobs in the area, and the facility will be the first new U.S. factory for the company in 20 years.  

Purina, a global leader in pet care, currently employs more than 8,000 individuals in the U.S. Leading Purina brands include Purina ONE, Dog Chow, Friskies, Tidy Cats and Pro Plan.

Purina plans to create as many as 240 jobs over the next five years at the new location. The company will invest $320 million at the site by the end of 2023 and expects to close on the property later this year, contingent on completion of due diligence and satisfaction of closing conditions. Distribution center operations are expected to begin in 2018, with production to follow in 2019.

Joey Dorsey, chairman of the Hart County Board of Commissioners, said “We see the company’s decision in selecting Hart County as reinforcement of our long-term vision and actions in supporting industry, agriculture, tourism, and the community’s continuing emphasis on workforce development.”

There’s no timeline available for when the jobs will be posted, but check the official company jobs board here and keep coming back to Georgia At Work as we’ll update readers on any new information.