Rob Douglas

Tuesday, construction crews were laying the groundwork to build out an already bustling manufacturing facility at the Chemainus Industrial Park; It’s home to Ron Anderson & Sons, which builds pre-fabricated walls and floors for new homes, and co-owner and COO Matt Kiley says business is booming. …The company that now employs 65 people, and is investing $8-million to put up more fabrication buildings on the old mill site. …It comes as the shuttered site of Western Forest Products’ Chemainus sawmill is also being brought to life for manufacturing. Japanese company Shinohara Nexus Group plans to occupy buildings on a portion of the site and employ up to 70 workers, building value-added components for up to 600 homes per year. …North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas says the new jobs are building optimism in North Cowichan. …Several investors have also shown interest in developing the now-empty Crofton mill site, though no deal has been finalized.