ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Officials at Caterpillar Inc. are seeking applicants for jobs at the company's new plant being constructed in northeast Georgia.

The openings represent the latest milestone in the company's development of a one-million-square-foot-facility the company is constructing in the Athens area. Workers will build tractors and excavators at the plant.

Company executives tell the Athens Banner-Herald (http://bit.ly/109s3in) that they intend to fill about 30 positions in coming weeks. They include fabricators, auditors, assemblers and others. Caterpillar Human Resource Manager Mike White says the pay scale for the positions ranges from $11 to $20 per hour.

Caterpillar has said the manufacturing facility is expected to directly employ 1,400 workers once it's fully operational.

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