Belgian drugmaker UCB has announced plans to invest $2 billion in a new plant in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, as the company looks to expand its U.S. footprint.

The Atlanta plant would be UCB's first U.S. pharmaceutical biologics manufacturing facility, according to a release from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's office. The facility would also operate as the "anchor tenant" for a planned 2,000 acre science and learning campus run by local scientific research nonprofit Rowen Foundation.

“UCB’s announcement is a significant milestone for our life sciences industry, representing one of the largest investments in state history, and establishing both the Rowen facility and Georgia as a true hub of innovation in this field," said Governor Kemp. 

The project is expected to create approximately 500 jobs in advanced manufacturing and support roles once the facility is operational. The design and construction process is scheduled to run for up to seven years, with Gwinnett County providing an additional $174 million in property tax breaks, fee waivers and infrastructure improvements. 

UCB had announced an initiative last summer to grow its presence in the U.S. The drugmaker also already has 2,000 employees in the country, and a U.S. headquarters located in Smyrna, Tennessee. The company is known for developing antihistamines such as Zyrtec and Xyzal, in addition to Bimzelx, which is used to treat certain autoimmune disorders.