LINCOLNTON, Ga. - An Augusta-based medical billing company said Friday it plans to bring 300 jobs to Lincoln County in the next three years.

Medac Inc. officials plan to invest $2 million to develop a 20,000-square-foot data processing facility in the 100-acre Lincoln County Industrial Park off state Highway 43. The office will handle data entry, accounts receivable, office management and other services for the company, which provides billing services for anesthesiologists.

The company currently outsources those back-office duties to a foreign company.

Standing in front of the Lincoln County High School marching band, Medac Inc. President John Memar said when he began the company with his late brother, Kam, in 1992, people though it was a long shot.

"I would never have dreamt the governor of Georgia would have met with us," he said to the crowd of more than 100 residents and county and state officials, including Gov. Sonny Perdue.

The company is still in the planning stages for the facility, which will take about four months to build. Medac official Robert Fraser said the company plans to open the building by April 1 and spend the first three months training employees.

Wendy Bibb, a senior regional project manager for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said the company will open the facility with 100 employees.

Medac provides billing, managed care contracting and other management services for anesthesiology practices in more than 20 states. It also has offices in Savannah and Decatur. It employs 250-400 people in Augusta.

Mr. Perdue acknowledged the significance of the event - the largest single job announcement in the county's history - saying that the company would be able to rely on the area's hardworking residents.

"You've got a governor who knows that 300 jobs in Lincoln County is a big deal," he said.

Mr. Memar said he was impressed with the how the county welcomed him with open arms.

Mr. Fraser said the company chose Lincoln County because of its work force potential, land availability and potential for growth.

Ms. Bibb said Medac is eligible for job tax credits and assistance in job training through QuickStart at Augusta Technical College. She said the county will donate up to 10 acres of land in the industrial park for the Medac center.

Walker Norman, the chairman of the Lincoln County Commission, said bringing Medac to the area will mean good things.

"I think Lincoln County's brightest days lie ahead of us," he said. "Lincoln County is on the threshold of change."

Reach Laura Youngs at (706) 823-3227 or laura.youngs@augustachronicle.com.