MIDDLEBURY — Jayco is moving ahead with a large expansion project in Middlebury that is expected to create over 300 new jobs.

Thor Industries Inc. made the announcement late Monday afternoon and says the expansion is due to the growing demand for Jayco’s travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers and motorhomes, according to a press release. Jayco is a subsidary of Thor Industries.

The expansion will add over 400,000 square feet of production space to its Middlebury campus. The new buildings include two manufacturing plants, one that will produce the Eagle brand of travel trailers and fifth wheels, and another that will produce Jayco’s line of luxury fifth wheels.

Jayco has already broken ground on a few of the buildings, with some near completion or recently completed. The Eagle travel trailer and fifth wheel plant will be fully operational by early February, adding approximately 200 jobs, while the second towable plant is expected to be completed and operational by mid-June.

A mill room facility has been operational since October 2016 and a lamination facility is expected to come online by the end of March. The added facilities will free space in the current production facilities for additional Jay Flight and light weight travel trailer production.

“The growth Jayco has experienced over the past few years pushed our current production facilities to maximum capacity, so the new buildings will help us not only meet current demand for our products, but give us the space we need to continue to grow,” said Matt Thompson, Jayco’s chief operating officer.

Jeff Tryka, Thor’s director of corporate development and investor relations, said he could not disclose the exact amount of the investment being made, but that Thor plans to spend $100 million in 2017 on infrastructure needs, including $26 million in the first quarter. Some of that will be spent in Michiana and at other plants in Ohio and Oregon.

To apply for one of Jayco’s new job openings, please visit www.Jayco.com/about/careers or stop by the main office at 903 S. Main St. in Middlebury to fill out an application.

Source: Elkhart Truth