Swiss eye care company Alcon Inc. is investing $25 million to build a 74,000-square-foot expansion of its manufacturing site in Huntington. The expansion is expected to create more than 350 jobs over the next 12 years. Currently Alcon employs 729 workers to manufacture plastic lenses that replace natural lenses removed during cataract surgery and surgical delivery systems for cataract operations. The new plant is expected to be operational by 2011. The expansion will allow the West Virginia plant to remain the largest intraocular lens manufacturing facility in the world.

Gov. Joe Manchin met with Alcon managers last summer to show the state’s support for the expansion. The West Virginia Development Office and the Huntington Area Development Council worked with the company to facilitate the expansion. Asked why the company chose to expand in West Virginia, Alcon executives cited the support from agencies and local institutions, the highly skilled work force and available acreage in close proximity to its existing manufacturing plant.