One of Northwest Georgia’s largest economic development announcements in recent years is coming to neighboring Floyd County, where Pirelli plans to invest approximately $1.2 billion in a major expansion of its Rome manufacturing operation.

Pirelli’s Board of Directors formally approved the multi-year investment Tuesday. The project is expected to create around 1,000 new jobs and dramatically increase production at the Rome plant.

Pirelli has operated its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility in Rome since 2002 and currently employs 234 people in Georgia. The expansion will be carried out in two phases, beginning with the installation of the company’s latest robotic manufacturing equipment. A second phase will add a more traditional, fully automated manufacturing operation and account for much of the additional hiring.

The company says the investment will eventually increase annual production capacity at the Rome facility to approximately 6 million tires by 2033. The expanded plant will manufacture Pirelli’s premium tire products and incorporate newer technology, including the company’s Cyber Tyre system.

While the project begins in 2027, state officials say the bulk of the hiring is expected to begin in 2029, with the expanded facility expected to reach full operation in 2033.

The expansion is significant not only for Rome and Floyd County but for the broader Northwest Georgia labor market, potentially providing new employment opportunities for workers throughout surrounding counties, including Chattooga County.

Governor Brian Kemp announced the project Tuesday, saying discussions with Pirelli included meetings with company executives during a state economic development mission to Italy in 2024. The Georgia Department of Economic Development worked on the project with the Rome-Floyd Development Authority, Georgia Quick Start and Georgia Power.

Pirelli says the expansion is intended to increase U.S. production, strengthen its domestic supply chain and meet growing demand for technologically advanced tires manufactured in the United States.