Michelin plant in Waterville gets $73M expansion

More jobs and money are rolling to the Michelin tire manufacturing plant in Waterville, N.S.

The company announced a $73-million expansion on Thursday.

That will create 50 new jobs. It already employs about 1,300 people in Kings County.

The company is contributing close to $64 million and the Nova Scotia government is topping up the expansion with $8.9 million.

Michelin postponed plans for an announcement in Waterville last July and at the time it didn't explain why.

The company said it will begin hiring next year, with the expanded line in place by 2016.

The expansion could have a ripple effect on Michelin's other operations in Nova Scotia. More wire from Bridgewater and rubber from Granton will be needed to supply truck tire production in Waterville.

Last May, Premier Darrell Dexter announced a study looking at relocating the Waterville Municipal Airport to allow for an expansion at Michelin.

That study was expected to be complete by the end of October.

A spokeswoman for the government said it has a draft of the study but needs more time to review it and brief local councillors before releasing it.

The tire manufacturer employs about 3,500 people throughout the province.