Celgard, a supplier of microporous separators used in lithium ion batteries, began construction yesterday on a manufacturing plant in Concord, North Carolina's International Business Park. The 150,000-square-foot facility will create more than 200 jobs.

Celgard is investing $100 million in the expansion. It received a $49 million matching grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative, part of the Recovery Act. The state of North Carolina and local economic development organizations also supported the project.

The company expects the new facility to be operational by 2012. Earlier this year, Celgard prepared for the project by expanding its Charlotte SouthPoint facility.