A Japanese tractor and garden equipment company has opened a new $73 million manufacturing plant in north Georgia.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal Monday announced the grand opening of the new Kubota Corp. plant in Jefferson — about 20 miles northwest of Athens. Deal says the 522,000 square-foot plant has brought 200 jobs to the city. Officials say the plant will produce Kubota's 30 to 50-horesepower compact tractor models.

Officials say the Osaka-based company first began doing business in Georgia about 40 years ago and employs more than 1,700 people in the state.

Tags: expansion, plant expansion, kubota