Area Development
The Ohio Department of Development through its Job Ready Sites Program will provide Miami County and Tipp City, Ohio with a $1.6 million incentive grant to prepare a 60-acre property on County Road 25A to become the future home of the Abbott Laboratories Nutrition Manufacturing Plant. Economic development officials also approved a $600,000 Roadwork Development Grant to defray the cost of roadway improvements.

"This is a perfect example of the state's commitment to have sites across Ohio ready for business opportunities, which results in job growth," said Christiane Schmenk, Ohio Department of Development director. "Assisting companies in these early phases of development will have a direct impact on the economy of our state."

The Ohio Job Ready Sites Program bolsters Ohio's portfolio of commercial and industrial developable sites, and assists in business attraction and expansion efforts by focusing on investments and job creation opportunities in Ohio, economic development officials explained. Properties in the program are strategically chosen for their ability to provide optimal infrastructure capabilities and attract economic-shifting investment.

Abbott, in partnership with the city, will acquire the property and complete infrastructure improvements, including the installation of dual electric feeds, sanitary sewer, and a 1,600-foot access road.

The pharmaceutical manufacturer plans to invest $270 million to build a manufacturing complex where it will produce two of the company's fastest-growing adult brands, Ensure and Glucerna, for the North America market. The company expects the plant will become operational in late 2013. Abbott is expected to create 241 full-time jobs in the region.

"As the U.S. population continues to age, particularly baby boomers, this new plant will enable us to meet the fast-growing demand for our leading adult liquid nutrition products, Ensure and Glucerna," said John C. Landgraf, executive vice president, Global Nutrition, Abbott. "It will be a key addition to our global manufacturing network that will allow the company to gain important operational efficiencies."

"Abbott Nutrition's U.S. headquarters and other operations are in Columbus, and we look forward to expanding our presence in the state with this facility," said Landgraf. "We appreciate the collaborative efforts of Gov. John Kasich and Tipp City Manager Jon Crusey and their development teams."

The state-of-the-art plant will specialize in aseptic packaging technology. Aseptic packaging has many benefits including the ability to expand the use of new ingredients, shortened product development time and reduced energy use during manufacturing.