Hyundai Motor Co. announced last night it would locate a $1 billion plant near Montgomery.

Gov. Don Siegelman said he received word around 9 p.m. Monday night from the president of Hyundai informing him the motor company had decided to locate in Alabama.

"We have once again shown the world that Alabama is simply a great place to do business," Siegelman said in a press release. "Hyundai and Alabama have forged a business partnership that will benefit Alabama families for generations to come.

"One of the delights of being governor is having an opportunity to sell Alabama to world corporate executives who are looking for a place to call home.

Alabama’s greatest assets are our world class workers who produce world class products."

Alabama has been working on recruiting the South Korean company for months. The plant is expected to generate around 2,000 new jobs. Hyundai’s board of directors met early Tuesday morning (Monday night in Alabama) to make the decision between Glendale, Ky., and Montgomery.

”I’m ecstatic and just delighted we’ve got a new corporate resident. This will do tremendous good for our city,” Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright told the Associated Press. ”This is going to bring 2,000 jobs to our residents.”

The Alabama legislature passed a bill last month allowing for $118 million in incentives to help improve Alabama’s chances of landing the new plant. The package included up to $75 million to train workers.

The plant will be built on about 1,650 acres of rural pasture land at Hope Hull on Interstate 65 on the southern edge of Montgomery. The plant will become operational in 2005 and employ approximately 2,000 workers and manufacture about 300,000 cars a year.

"I am proud – proud for the people of Alabama," Siegelman said. "I will now continue my search for more quality jobs for the working families of Alabama. They deserve nothing less than opportunities such as the ones that Hyundai will bring to Alabama."