A manufacturer currently based in north Forsyth broke ground on its new plant in Dawson County earlier this month.

MESH Engineering purchased 16-acres near Ga. 400 with plan to build and relocate to a new 40,000 square foot design and manufacturing facility at 268 Successful Way.

"MESH is a very high tech manufacturing company so it brings a lot of skilled jobs and adds to the manufacturing capabilities that we already have here in Dawson County," said Charlie Auvermann, Development Authority of Dawson County director.

"Manufacturing is the core of economic development."

Founded in 1999, MESH Engineering provides a diverse array of customized design and engineering solutions to its manufacturing customers, which range from small businesses to large corporations.

"The new building will give us 33 percent more space than our current operation," founder and president Mitch Larson said in a statement. "We're excited about a number of features in the building that will allow us to build equipment up to 200 feet long.

"This is significant because there are only a couple of companies in the entire country that can build equipment of that size."

The larger building will also include an improved vision systems lab and an apprenticeship training room.

Auvermann said the current location off Keith Bridge Road in Cumming is landlocked and offers no room for expansion.

"They came to the development authority looking for options. This site gives him the ability to expand down the road," he said. "We're very excited, of course, that MESH selected Dawson County."

MESH currently employees nearly 60 workers that would transfer. The Dawsonville plant is expected to add 16 new jobs over the next five years.

They expect to have the entire operation at the new location by November.