AFS Corporate Member Mueller Water Products (Atlanta) announced plans to build a new, state-of-the-art foundry in Decatur, Illinois.

In a release, the company said the foundry "will be one of the largest state-of-the-art, finished goods brass foundries in the world" and "will increase production capacity to meet current and future demands of Mueller customers and the industry."

"Mueller is committed to continuing to build and strengthen our American manufacturing footprint," said Scott Hall, President and CEO of Mueller. "Mueller has been in Decatur since the very beginning, and we are proud of the products that are built by our employees there. The new Decatur foundry is part of a multi-year project that will modernize our facility and provide operational efficiencies that will directly benefit our customers, employees and the local community. We look forward to continued work with the EDC and the city of Decatur."

Up to 250 employees will work at the facility. Construction of the new facility is expected to begin this fall.

"We applaud Mueller for making this investment in the Decatur community," Decatur mayor Julie Moore Wolfe said. "This is another great example of growing our economy through our established business base, and we are thankful that Mueller chose Decatur for this new foundry."