A yarn manufacturer in Rabun County in far north Georgia will invest $85 million in an expansion that will create 210 jobs, the governor’s office announced.

Parkdale Mills is converting a 750,000-square-foot plant in Rabun Gap to produce a polyester-cotton blended yarn for performance wear sold in sports stores. The plant now produces 100 percent cotton T-shirts.

Hiring is already under way, and the expansion is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Parkdale Mills is the nation’s largest manufacturer of spun yarn. The plant is a former Hanes Brands facility in Rabun Gap that Parkdale purchased in 2009.

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