Italian ceramic floor tile manufacturer Ceramica Del Conca announced Wednesday a plan to build the company's first U.S. facility in Loudon County.

The announcement, made jointly with the Loudon County Economic Development Agency, says the 320,000-square-foot facility will be located on a 30-acre site at the Sugarlimb Industrial Park in Loudon.

Manufacturing, research, sales and administration functions will all be run from the facility.

Del Conca says up to 178 workers will be employed in Loudon with average hourly wages of $17, plus benefits.