DALTON, Ga. (AP) — A spokesman for Gov. Nathan Deal says a carpet manufacturing company will open two plants in northwest Georgia and create about 2,400 jobs.

Deal's spokesman Brian Robison confirmed Wednesday that Engineered Floors will build plants in Whitfield and Murray counties. The development, first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB-TV, is expected to be finalized Wednesday. Robinson says the governor plans to release more information later in the day.

The Dalton area — about 90 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta — is internationally known as a carpet manufacturing hub and lost tens of thousands of jobs when the housing market stalled.

Engineered Floors is based in Calhoun, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution (http://bit.ly/10sAIqE) reports the company's founder Bob Shaw is expected to invest about $450 million in the new plants.

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