The long-awaited groundbreaking for EFACEC could be getting closer.

The Portuguese manufacturer of electrical components may be ready to start work as early as next month, Effingham Industrial Development Authority CEO John Henry said. State and local officials signed a memorandum of understanding with the firm in November, with EFACEC planning on making a site at the Effingham Industrial Park its U.S. headquarters.

EFACEC has hired an engineering firm, Henry said, and those engineers are working on the necessary permits.

“They are moving steadily forward with that,” he said. “We could see ground turned as early as July.”

EFACEC has planned on a design/build firm to open the facility, which is expected to employ more than 600 people once it’s fully staffed. Construction could start in January or February and the first phase of employment is expected to include about 200 workers.

The memorandum of understanding also needs to be changed, since a wholly-owned subsidiary of EFACEC — EFACEC Power Transformers — will be operating the Rincon site.

“This company did not exist when we did the memorandum of understanding,” IDA attorney Marvin Fentress said. “The company was formed solely for owning and running this facility.”

But the details of the memorandum of understanding won’t have to be renegotiated, Henry said.