Taurus USA, a leading firearms manufacturer, broke ground at the site of its future North American headquarters Tuesday at Commodore Industrial Park.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, leaders and representatives from Taurus USA and local officials were present to commemorate the event and talk more about the project that was announced in April.

“We are pleased to have international companies like Taurus USA come to our state,” said Deal. “We think they will find here the kind of reception that you are noted for.”

Breaking ground with gold shovels were Bainbridge Mayor Edward Reynolds, Decatur County Board of Commissioners Chairman Pete Stephens, Taurus VP of Operations David McCallum, Gov. Deal, Taurus President and CEO David Blenker, CFO Kevin Riggot, Board Chair Jorio Dauster and Pat Wilson, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Site work began in April, around the time Taurus USA’s relocation to Bainbridge was announced at the Kirbo Center in front of a crowd of hundreds. The proposed building will be about 200,000-square-feet, with 180,000-square-feet for manufacturing space and 20,000-square-feet for administrative space. The manufacturing facility will meet Taurus USA’s current and growing demands in the North American market.

The company will bring 300 new jobs to Bainbridge by next year. The facility is planned to open next fall.

“This is a new beginning for Taurus,” said Blenker. “As you know, we are relocating from Florida to Bainbridge. Our corporate headquarters will provide around 300 jobs for year one, opening next fall, and we are super excited to be part of this wonderful community.”

Blenker said he was excited to have a community like Bainbridge behind such a massive project, and affirmed Taurus USA’s commitment to it as well.

Gov. Deal thanked Rick McCaskill, executive director of the Bainbridge-Decatur County Development Authority, and Development Authority Chairman Keith Lyle for the work they have done. He also thanked Bainbridge and Decatur County’s elected officials, as well as Senator Dean Burke, Representative Jay Powell and Representative Darlene Taylor.

“We are fortunate in Georgia to have a very good working relationship between our state economic development team and local community based economic development teams,” said Deal. “That’s what it takes, cooperation at every level to bring projects of this type to fruition.”