Fresenius Kabi, a German global health care company that specializes in medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition, will expand its manufacturing operations in Wilson, North Carolina, creating 445 new jobs there over five years and investing more than $100 million.
The company, which currently employs more than 100 people in Wilson, will add a variety of positions including production specialists, engineers, scientists and managers.
“I’m proud that North Carolina is home to so many strong life sciences companies that make life-saving medicines,” Gov. Roy Cooper said. “This expansion is welcome news for Eastern North Carolina and our entire state and shows once again that manufacturing thrives in North Carolina today.”
Fresenius Kabi’s plans in North Carolina include expansion of its current pharmaceutical production facility in Wilson and the construction of a new manufacturing facility, also in Wilson. Both sites will be dedicated to manufacturing products used in hospitals and clinics throughout the United States and Canada. Fresenius Kabi has owned its Wilson site, which specializes in the production of ready-to-administer syringes, since January 2016.
“Our strategy is to produce in the U.S. and to invest in products and operations that meet important customer needs while helping make health care more accessible for patients. We’re pleased to continue this approach at our site in North Carolina,” said Steven R. Nowicki, senior vice president, global operations for Fresenius Kabi North America.
State Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland said: “Manufacturing represents 22 percent of our state’s economic output and we’re one of the country’s largest centers for biotechnology. We congratulate Fresenius Kabi for this decision, which helps North Carolina maintain its leadership in manufacturing and the life sciences.”
Fresenius Kabi’s expansion in Wilson County will be supported by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project will grow the state’s economy by an estimated $853 million.
Under the terms of the grant, the company agrees to create 445 jobs over five years. Using a formula that takes into account tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes reimbursing the company up to $7.2 million, spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets.
Because Fresenius Kabi chose to locate in Wilson County, classified by the state’s economic tier system as Tier 2, the JDIG agreement also calls for moving as much as $803,300 into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business. Even when new jobs are created in a Tier 2 county such as Wilson, the new tax revenue generated through JDIG grants helps more economically challenged communities anywhere in the state.
Fresenius Kabi recently broke ground on a $250 million expansion at its pharmaceutical manufacturing site in Melrose Park, Illinois. The company employs more than 3,000 people in the U.S., where its headquarters is in Lake Zurich, Illinois. Fresenius Kabi‘s global headquarters is in Bad Homburg, Germany.
Senior Business Recruitment Manager Garrett Wyckoff of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina supported this project in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the state General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Wilson County, the city of Wilson, and the Wilson Economic Development Council.