More than 100 new  jobs may come to the county if all goes well with a manufacturer's final inspections for the former John Deere facility off Iris Drive.

Glenn Sears, director of the Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council, said a manufacturing company had entered into an agreement with a due diligence clause for the 377,000 square foot property.

The process usually takes 45-60 days, said Sears. “They secure the property and bring in engineers to check out the structure and floor and roof… That's a good thing.”

The manufacturer could bring about 100 to 150 jobs. This would not be the first Georgia facility for the domestic manufacturer, which already employs about 200. Sears declined to give more details on the company at this time.

The site had been the former southeast headquarters for John Deere and had served as offices and a distribution center until 2010 when the company consolidated to its McDonough location. The manufacturer would need to retrofit the facility.

The company and county engineers are in talks with CSX about boring under the railroad tracks to bring sewer to the property, which is currently on septic tank.

CSX is also in talks about extending a rail spur for the 92-acre parcel of undeveloped land next to the John Deere property due to manufacturers interested in that property.

Two companies, a tile manufacturer and a metal fabrication manufacturer, are looking at that 92-acre property.

The metal fabricator, an auto parts manufacturer, could bring up to 300 jobs and the tile manufacturer could bring about 200 jobs.

There has also been some interest in the 42-acre Acuity property, which has 500,000 square feet of office and warehouse structure space. The property was put back on the market after the city of Conyers decided last year against using the facility for its business incubator initiative.

A biofuels company, which generates electricity from bioprocess and creates water by dehumidifying, had reportedly looked at the Acuity property.

“When you hear about the resurgence of manufacturing in the United States I’ll testify to that,” said Sears. “Since last fall, it’s just all manufacturing.”

Sears said they were working with the Development Authority about financial incentives.