The Georgetown Economic Development Corp. board approved a $320,000 agreement July 15 with Radiation Detection Company. The company is relocating its operations from Gilroy, Calif.

The money will be used to pay for land on which RDC plans to build a 15,000-square-foot building near the Texas Life-sciences Collaboration Center, which is located at 111 W. Cooperative Way, Ste. 200, Georgetown Economic Development Director Mark Thomas said.

"We could have a lot of construction in that area in pretty short order," Thomas said.

The performance agreement will be considered by the City Council on July 23.

RDC president Barrie Laing said he is looking forward to relocating his business, which manufactures radiation detection equipment mostly for medical customers.

"We believe we will have about 28 of our current employees that will move with us," Laing said. "We understand our employees have been talking to real estate professionals here. Some are going to build homes, others going to buy homes already here."

According to the performance agreement, RDC must create 50 full- and part-time jobs locally by the end of 2016 with average hourly wages greater than $12.

Laing said between 50 and 60 full- and part-time positions would be created.

The company plans to break ground on the buildings in October, and Laing said he hopes to begin operations in April or May 2014.

Laing said he wanted to relocate to Texas because of the state's economy and business-friendly attitude.

"We started [looking to relocate] four years ago. With the changes in California's regulations and taxation, it was motivation to come here," he said. "Some of the reasons were less tangible. Everyone we met here was very friendly."

Laing said he also hopes to continue RDC's tradition of giving back to local nonprofits when he begins doing business in Georgetown.