Some early work has started on the new Mincey Marble site in the Gainesville Business Park off Calvary Church Road.

More activity could start in the next week or so, and the company is planning on a groundbreaking ceremony in April, spokesman John Vardeman said Wednesday.

The company “will be meeting with the contractor Friday to look at progress and a timetable,” he said.

The work shows Mincey following through on its January announcement to move operations away from its current base at 4321 Browns Bridge Road, as well as a plant off neighboring Hidden Hills Drive.

In making the move, Mincey also opted not to build a highly contested 100,750-square-foot plant that was approved in the fall by the Hall County Board of Commissioners after a long rezoning fight.

Construction and relocation are expected to be completed by early 2018.

Mincey is moving to a 79-acre site in the business park on New Harvest Road and next to Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center.

The company plans to build a building between 350,000 and 400,000 square feet, a move that “provides much greater flexibility for future expansion,” a press release states.

The building will cost between $15 million and $20 million.

Mincey now has 300 workers “and we’re anticipating adding 50 more,” the company has said.

Residents rejoiced after the Mincey’s relocation announcement.

“We look forward to preserving this residential-agricultural area (on Browns Bridge Road) in the future and working with the Hall County (Board of) commissioners in fulfilling what we see as their obligation to do that,” said Lewis Miller, one of the more vocal rezoning opponents.

“And we all wish Mincey Marble continued success in their new location.”