Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that Katy, Texas-based Academy Sports + Outdoors will expand its existing operation in Jeffersonville in Twiggs County, creating 250 new jobs. This project expands the sporting goods, outdoor and lifestyle retailer’s Jeffersonville distribution center by more than 500,000 square feet.

“Companies like Academy Sports + Outdoors that make up Georgia’s existing industry base help us best market Georgia as a great place for business through significant expansion projects like this one,” Deal said. “This expansion is a vote of confidence for our high-performing logistics infrastructure, our workforce and the other business assets that make Georgia competitive. I am glad to see Academy Sports + Outdoors grow right here in Georgia.”

Academy Sports + Outdoors expanded its distribution center operations to Twiggs County in 2007. The company employs 625 associates in its existing 1.1 million-square-foot facility. In 2011, Academy Sports + Outdoors added an e-commerce center at its Jeffersonville facility, which serves as the fulfillment center for its online retail business.

“We are extremely grateful to Governor Deal, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and all of our business partners in the Twiggs County area for their efforts in paving the way for our distribution center expansion project,” says Ken Attaway, Academy Sports + Outdoors’ Executive Vice President, Operations. “Our current associates and our facility in Jeffersonville are critical to our logistics infrastructure and our e-commerce fulfillment. We’re looking forward to expanding both our team and also our facilities as well as being an integral part of this community for many years to come.”

Construction to expand the company’s Jeffersonville distribution center is expected to be completed by June.

“On behalf of the Twiggs County Board of Commissioners and the community we welcome the news of Academy Sports + Outdoors’ expansion,” said Twiggs County Commission Chairman Ray Bennett. “Academy is an important part of this community, and we are very pleased the company’s growth will take place here.”

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) collaborated with the Development Authority of Twiggs County and the Twiggs County Commission to manage this expansion project. Jennifer Nelson, GDEcD director of Existing Industry & Regional Recruitment, led this project on behalf of the state.

“Georgia’s progressive business climate and advanced logistics network continue to produce significant results for economic development in our state,” said GDEcD Commissioner Chris Cummiskey. “This expansion project for Academy Sports + Outdoors is yet another great example of how our logistics assets uniquely position Georgia as a strategic place to do business for companies seeking to get their goods to market efficiently.”