Caterpillar Inc. said Friday in a statement that it will construct a factory near Athens, Ga., that will build small track-type tractors and mini hydraulic excavators.
The $200 million plant will employ about 1,400 people, Caterpillar said.
In November, Caterpillar announced plans to shift production from Japan and open a new manufacturing facility in North America to produce small tractors and excavators. The company said its goal was to move production of the equipment closer to its customers in North America and Europe.
Arkansas was not in the running for the plant, although Gov. Mike Beebe indicated earlier this month that the state wanted to land another Caterpillar factory.
Caterpillar runs a motor grader manufacturing plant in North Little Rock that employs around 550 people.
Information for this article was contributed The Associated Press and Bloomberg News.