ROCHELLE – The local economy received a boost Thursday with the grand opening of global rail car manufacturer Nippon Sharyo’s $35 million plant in Rochelle.

More than 500 people including Gov. Pat Quinn, the ambassador of Japan to the U.S. and federal officials attended an opening ceremony of a plant that is expected to create 300 jobs in the area and produce state-of-the-art passenger cars for Metra.

The Japan-based company’s newest plant is the culmination of aggressive courting from state officials who offered millions of dollars in incentives to secure the plant. In 2010, the state offered more than $5 million in grants, training funds and other incentives as well as millions of dollars in tax breaks.