Team of municipal and business leaders forming to respond to Michelin job losses

A team of community leaders is being assembled in Pictou County to respond to the fallout of job cuts at the Michelin tire plant.

Economic Development Minister Michel Samson says Sean Murray, the chief executive of Advocate Printing and Publishing, will lead the group of municipal and business leaders from the area.

Samson and two other provincial cabinet ministers met with local municipal and business leaders in Pictou to discuss Michelin’s plans to cut the workforce at its plant in Granton by 500 people.

Samson says existing government programs along with a low-interest loan program set up by Michelin to help local entrepreneurs will be available to assist businesses get started in the county.

The workforce at the plant is being cut in half, so 500 workers will remain.

Michelin is also spending $10 million to upgrade its rubber mixing operation in Granton.