Gov. Nathan Deal has announced that professional services firm Ernst & Young is planning to open an information technology center in metro Atlanta.

Deal Wednesday announced the company is investing $8.5 million in the new facility — which will be housed in an Alpharetta corporate development. Ernst & Young spokeswoman Katherine Ratchford says the company plans to move into the building in mid-July.

Deal says the Atlanta-based company will create 400 technology jobs through new hires and relocations. The information technology center will employ project managers, business analysts, software architects and developers, system analysts, executives, managers and support employees.

Deal says the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the City of Alpharetta, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Development Authority of Fulton County partnered to facilitate the expansion.

Tags: ernst & young, Alpharetta, IT center, 400 jobs