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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Expanding at the Speed of Trust

With its supportive economic development policies, strong infrastructure, talented workforce, and commitment to sustainability, Ohio has become a hub for next-generation biotechnology as well as EVs and other advanced manufacturing.

Q2 2024
Amgen’s facility in New Albany, Ohio, uses next-generation biomanufacturing technologies.
Amgen’s facility in New Albany, Ohio, uses next-generation biomanufacturing technologies.
Editor's Note: This article was paid for and written by JobsOhio and approved by Area Development.


Amgen's recent expansion in Ohio has marked a significant milestone in the company's history due to the strategic selection of Ohio for its newest manufacturing facility and the specific attributes and achievements associated with this state-of-the-art site. The facility, located in New Albany just northeast of Columbus, is a significant commitment by Amgen, featuring an investment of $365 million and employing 400 people in high-skill roles. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance the company's capacity to produce innovative biologic medicines, specifically targeting a range of serious illnesses.

This Ohio facility stands out for implementing Amgen's next-generation biomanufacturing technologies, designed to be more environmentally friendly and efficient than traditional biological drug production methods. Using these advanced technologies means the facility is smaller and more flexible while reducing energy and water usage by 75% and 80%, respectively, compared to conventional manufacturing setups. This aligns with Amgen's commitment to sustainability and its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2027.

Amgen isn't alone with its focus on sustainability. As part of its goal of carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050, Honda has a vision to make battery-electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles represent 100% of its vehicle sales by 2040. Even as Honda accelerates preparation for EV production, the company plans to sustain current internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid-electric vehicle production to continue to meet anticipated strong customer demand. The sustained success of ICE and hybrid-electric vehicle sales will also support the required investment in the electrified future.

For LG Energy Solution and Honda, it was critical that they had a partner they could trust to help them find the right site with the utility capabilities they needed so they could meet their stated timelines. JobsOhio worked quickly to identify the site in Fayette County, Ohio, and with Honda and their joint-venture partner LG Energy Solution to build an economic development project that allowed the partnership to move at the speed they needed to meet Honda's bold 2050 vision. As a result, Honda and LG Energy Solution committed to a $3.5 billion investment to build Honda's first North American battery plant that will employ 3,500 Ohioans. As part of the plan, Honda is also adding 327 new jobs at its existing Ohio facilities and investing $700 million to retool those facilities for its electric future.

Ohio's talent pool, enriched by numerous universities and technical institutions, provides a steady stream of graduates trained in the high-demand fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, engineering, and technicians.

Ohio's talent pool, enriched by numerous universities and technical institutions, provides a steady stream of graduates trained in high-demand fields. Overall, Amgen and Honda's expansion into Ohio reflects the companies' innovative edge and commitment to patient care and new products and showcases the successful interplay between corporate foresight and state-level economic development strategies. These projects stand as a testament to the power of strategic site selection and the benefits of accessing a skilled and educated workforce, setting a benchmark for industry and economic collaboration.

Working together at the speed of trust, Amgen successfully opened its Ohio location in record time. "We brought this plant from groundbreaking to licensure in just under 26 months, making it the most rapid site development in our company's 45-year history," said Robert A. Bradway, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Amgen.

By selecting Ohio for its cutting-edge biologics manufacturing facility, Amgen tapped into a state that prides itself on its strong infrastructure, supportive economic policies, and exceptionally talented workforce. Amgen's presence also elevates Ohio's status as a biotech hub, which will likely attract other companies and create a multiplier effect on the local economy.

Honda's 40-year history in Ohio and the decision to start its move to electrification is a nod to the generations of Ohio workers who bolstered the company's success in the United States. At the same time, Honda's vision for carbon neutrality by 2050 is on the path to success as it builds the Honda and LG Energy Solution Battery plant today.

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