Roughly three months after announcing an expansion in Colorado Springs, Swire Coca-Cola has broken ground on its new manufacturing facility in the city.

The company’s 620,000-square-foot facility will be built in the Peak Innovation Park, near the Colorado Springs Airport. In 2023, the company opened a 145,000-square-foot distribution facility that employs 170 people near the airport.

The newest manufacturing facility, which is expected to cost $475 million, is estimated to create another 170 jobs, according to company officials. Swire Coca-Cola employs approximately 1,300 people in Colorado across seven sites.

“The real magic of Swire Coca-Cola has always been its people,” said Swire Coca-Cola President and CEO Andrea Kendell. “This project means new jobs, new training opportunities and new partnerships.”

Originally, it intended to build the facility near Denver International Airport before pivoting to the Colorado Springs Airport in July, citing “unforeseen delays and ongoing timeline instability,” according to published reports.

Gov. Jared Polis attended the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday and said he was excited to see more companies choosing to grow in the state. Specifically, Polis highlighted the “great business environment and amazing quality of life.”

Swire’s new plant will produce more than 230 drinks across more than 60 brands, according to a news release from the Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corporation. The company is pursuing LEED Gold certification, focusing on energy and water-use efficiency, which the company said demonstrates its “commitment to sustainability.”

“By moving forward with this project, Swire Coca-Cola, USA has demonstrated a clear, long-term commitment to our community,” Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade said. “This investment will bring a state-of-the-art bottling facility, quality jobs that support families, and pathways for the next generation to live, work and thrive, while fueling continued momentum across our city.”