LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A Swiss helicopter company moving its operations to Lafayette will begin hiring people next year and building helicopters in 2021.

  

Kopter Group AG officials said Thursday that it will hire 10 people in 2020 as it transitions to Louisiana. The Advocate reports company spokeswoman Cecile Vion-Lanctuit says it will then hire 20 people in 2021, 14 in 2022 and 100 in 2025.

  

Kopter Group is moving into the 84,700-square-foot (7868.8-square-meter) facility that once housed Bell Helicopter. Workers will build the SH09 models through the Western Hemisphere. The company plans to make a $4.2 million capital investment in new equipment and building additions at the site. The plan is to produce 100 helicopters a year.

  

The jobs will have an average annual salary of $55,000, plus benefits.