Medline Industries Incorporated, the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, will create 250 new jobs in Mebane, North Carolina, as it invests $65 million to build a new distribution center there.
The Mebane location will be a 1.2 million square-foot LEED certified distribution center. At full capacity, the company anticipates the distribution center will operate with more than 600 employees in the future.
“Distribution centers of this size are the right fit for North Carolina,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “Our workers and Orange County are ready to be a part of Medline’s success.”
Medline delivers medical devices and supplies to hospitals, independent physician practices, critical care units, surgical centers, home health care and EMS providers. The company had an early start making medical garments in Chicago in 1910 and added general medical supplies to its product line during World War II. With the fourth generation at the helm, Medline remains a family-owned business, and has grown to manufacture and distribute more than 550,000 products to more than 90 countries.
“As we expand our footprint to help reach more health care providers in the Southeast, Mebane is an ideal location for a distribution facility. The immediate proximity to major highways enables easy transport of supplies to health care providers,” says Bill Abington, executive vice president of global operations for Medline.
“North Carolina has the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “Medline’s decision situates them in the Research Triangle Region, the ecosystem of our state’s world-class health care and eight hours from any location on the East Coast.”
The North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. (EDPNC) led the state’s support for the company’s decision.
Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average for all new positions could reach up to $35,468. The current average annual wage in Orange County is $46,112.
A performance-based grant of $500,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate Medline’s expansion in Orange County. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require a matching grant from local governments.
In addition to N.C. Commerce and the EDPNC, other key partners in the project include the North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Duke Energy, Orange County Board of Commissioners and Manager’s Office, Orange County Economic Development Office and the City of Mebane.