Great Dane Trailers officially broke ground on the site of its new refrigerated trailer manufacturing plant in Statesboro, Ga., Thursday.

More than 200 attended the ceremony, including many local business representatives, state and local political leaders, and company executives.

The plant, which will encompass 450,000 square feet, including office and show room space, will have the capacity to produce more than 5,000 trailers annually and will employ more than 400 people. The show room space will allow customers a unique opportunity to preview their trailers during the manufacturing process.

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, Statesboro Mayor Joe Brannen and Bulloch County Commission Chairman Garrett Nevil hailed the cooperation among the state, local economic developers and Great Dane as key reasons for the success of selection process that resulted in choosing the 118-acre Statesboro site.

Company executives were particularly drawn to the location just northwest of Savannah because it remained close to where Great Dane was founded in 1900.

"Just as important in our selection of this site was the opportunity to continue Great Dane's legacy by keeping it close to the company's deep roots in Savannah," said Bill Crown, President and CEO of CC Industries and CEO of Great Dane Limited Partnership. "Today we honor the heritage of excellence for which Great Dane's trailers have become known, while breaking ground on a bright and innovative future for ourselves and the city of Statesboro."

Strategically located in the Southeast, the new reefer plant will feature the latest technology. Construction is expected to get under way later this year to bring the plant into production in 2012.