ATLANTA—Alcon is ramping up its presence and manufacturing capabilities in Johns Creek, a northern suburb of Atlanta, according to an announcement late last week by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. The Novartis division plans to invest $97 million in the Johns Creek community as it initiates the next phase of a multiyear project to expand production capacity for Dailies Total1 contact lenses, according to the announcement.

“Since beginning our growth project four years ago, Alcon has invested nearly $600 million, created several hundred new jobs, expanded the size of our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility by more than 70,000 square feet and added new production lines that leverage cutting-edge technology,” Shay Foley, general manager of Alcon Johns Creek manufacturing and technology operations, said in the announcement.

The next phase of Alcon’s investment reflects increased demand for the Dailies brand contact lenses, as well as “strong partnerships we have built with the Johns Creek community, Fulton County and Georgia officials,” Foley added.

Alcon’s latest expansion is expected to create a number of high-tech manufacturing positions in the next several years, according to the governor’s announcement. In 2015, Deal announced that Alcon had created 550 jobs and invested $500 million in the Johns Creek community since 2013.