J. Knipper and Company Inc., a supplier of end-to-end samples management services to the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, will invest $20.56 million to establish a 300,000-square-foot pharmaceutical warehouse and distribution center at 1250 Patrol Road at River Ridge Commerce Center in Charlestown, Indiana.

The fulfillment center, which plans to create 56 jobs by 2021, will allow the company to reach more than 75 percent of the U.S. population with two-day ground service, extending Knipper’s daily shipping window and reducing transit times for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device customers.

The new state-of-the-art facility, which will open next May, will be equipped to manage prescription, controlled substance and cold chain products to meet the company’s high volume Direct to Practitioner fulfillment business.

“Our East Coast facilities continue to provide the high quality and exceptional service that our customers have come to expect. But this new Midwest expansion provides unique opportunities to go beyond current expectations, providing even greater specialization in DTP and broader flexibility in logistics,” said Jim Knipper, Owner/CEO of Knipper.

“Experiencing continued year after year growth, and on the heels of many recent acquisitions, further expansion of our distribution capacity is a natural step. Expanding westward however is a very strategic decision. One that we have very carefully planned, and that we are confident will provide the greatest added value to our customers,” he added.

As an incentive, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered J. Knipper and Company up to $385,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $40,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. In addition, One Southern Indiana will assist the company in securing additional incentives through the River Ridge Commerce Center’s Urban Enterprise Zone.

“We are proud to have Knipper joining Indiana’s growing life sciences industry which accounts for nearly one-third of the state’s total exports,” said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. “Companies that specialize in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical devices and equipment contribute $59 billion to the overall Hoosier economy each year, and that impact continues to climb as firms like Knipper choose Indiana for growth and new jobs.”

Charlestown Mayor Bob Hall said, “The addition of a distribution center with the latest technology in the River Ridge Commerce Center and the employment and training that will be provided is an incredible investment. We look forward to working with the leaders of J. Knipper and Company in a partnership that will continue to grow the economy of our city and the region.”