(AP) -- COLUMBIA, S.C. - Bridgestone plans to expand its tire plant in Aiken County and add 122 jobs by 2013.
Governor Nikki Haley announced in a news release Wednesday the company will invest $135 million in a 266,000-square-foot expansion at its Graniteville plant.
Plant manager John Stewart says the 13-year-old plant currently employs 932 people directly and contracts with 200 more for warehouse, janitorial and maintenance services. The new jobs will include full-time and contract work.
Bridgestone expects to start construction later this year, and install equipment in the fall of 2012. The expansion should start operations in spring of 2013.
Stewart says the expansion has been in the works for years, and the demand for tires and the Bridgestone brand made the timing right. The Commerce Department says no state incentives were involved.
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