The ‘will they or won’t they’ saga over Michelin North America’s expansion plans at its Waterville, Nova Scotia, tire plant has apparently ended.
At least partially.
The Canadian Press yesterday reported that MNA is purchasing one-half of the land once occupied by the soon-to-be-shuttered Kings County Municipal Airport. The $1.8 million deal will give MNA “flexibility should it decide to expand its plant in Waterville,” the report said.
The acquisition will not become formal until the airport completely closes, which is slated to happened in September 2015. The airport was to close this fall, but the date was pushed back.
MNA has been publicly mum on any of its plans, but Kings County and provincial officials have been jumping through hoops since early 2012 to help accommodate the tiremaker’s supposed expansion plans. Even this past March, local media said the tiremaker was considering a $500 million expansion of its OTR and medium truck tire plant in Waterville. In August, the county “divested itself” from the airport. The official council motion read, “In order to position itself to take advantage of future opportunities with respect to the possible expansion of the Michelin plant, the Municipality of Kings is prepared to divest itself of the lands identified by Michelin as being necessary for the expansion.”
It was reported in July 2012 that MNA had planned an “important announcement” event at its Waterville tire plant for July 5, but canceled the event two days prior without comment.
