A manufacturer of solar energy products has tapped Dublin as the site for its North American headquarters.  Germany-based MAGE SOLAR GMBH expects to create 350 jobs over five years and $30 million of investment for the Laurens County area.

Cal Wray with the Dublin-Laurens Development Authority says it’s big news for the region’s residents:

“I think you could describe it as euphoria.  They’re more excited than I think you could put into words.  It’s a great company...they have global reach, their parent company is global.  Very very strong company, that’s why we were so excited to have the ability to locate them in Dublin.” 

MAGE SOLAR makes various equipment and parts used in the solar energy industry.  

Wray says Dublin/Laurens officials have been competing with more than a dozen states nationwide since January for the company’s facility.  He says the headquarters should be operational by the end of the year. 

Below is a portion of a statement from Governor Sonny Perdue's office: 

“We are pleased to welcome MAGE SOLAR to Georgia as we celebrate another headquarters coming to our state. Mage gives us the opportunity to expand our leadership position and industry competitiveness in the renewable energy sector,” said Governor Perdue. “The growth of renewable energy is important to our state and nation, so I believe MAGE SOLAR will be successful for years to come in Dublin.”

The MAGE SOLAR Laurens County operation will also serve as a manufacturing facility for solar panels, making it the only manufacturer of its kind in Georgia. The facility will include a division for engineering and integration solutions for solar parks and building installations.  In addition to the manufacturing facility and headquarters, the company also plans to build an academy for solar education.

Tags: Georgia, economic development, jobs, Dublin, Laurens County, middle Georgia, solar energy, investment