A startup firm that makes fuel-efficient recreational vehicles plans to locate its manufacturing operation in Marion, state officials announced Tuesday night, creating as many as 300 jobs by 2013.

Earthbound RV LLC will purchase equipment and renovate an existing facility to accommodate its headquarters and assembly operations. The company was founded a year ago in Middlebury, near the national epicenter of RV production.

“It became very clear to us that living and working in Marion was the right direction for Earthbound RV, and we look forward to a great relationship with the local community,” Chief Operating Officer Bill Hughes said in a prepared statement. “We greatly appreciate the trust and confidence that has been placed upon us."

Earthbound's towable travel trailers can weigh up to 1,500 pounds less than convention RVs and are made using recyclable materials. 

"As expected, the RV industry is reinventing itself and starting to bounce back," Gov. Mitch Daniels said in a statement.  "We couldn't be happier to see the revolution happen here in Indiana.”

The company has seven models in development and plans to begin production in March. Company leaders expect to begin hiring production employees in the next 30 days, adding 60 workers this year.

Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Earthbound up to $900,000 in performance-based tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. The city of Marion will provide additional incentives.