Drugstore retail giant Walgreens will establish a micro-fulfillment center for high-value pharmaceuticals at the Atlee Station Logistics Center in Hanover County, Virginia. The $34.2 million project is expected to create 249 jobs.

The new state-of-the-art 65,686-square-foot facility will have automated machinery to maximize efficiency and allow for a flexible operating model, transforming patient and customer pharmacy delivery services and experience when placing online orders.

“Fulfillment centers like this one in Virginia are dedicated to fulfilling retail prescription orders and play an important role in our effort to create the pharmacy of the future, one that further enables our store pharmacy teams to spend more of their time providing front-line patient care,” said Lisa Badgley, Walgreens Senior Vice President of Operations. “The greater Richmond area was selected due to its favorable business climate, able workforce, and premier location.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Hanover County and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the project, for which Virginia competed with other states. Walgreens is eligible to receive benefits from the Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit for full-time jobs created. The VEDP’s Virginia Jobs Investment Program will provide funding to support employee recruitment and training activities.

“The pandemic has increased demand for providers like Walgreens to provide efficient services for a growing customer base, and its new, state-of-the-art facility in Hanover County will enhance the company’s supply chain,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “This great project is a win for Virginia’s logistics industry, and we are confident that Walgreens will thrive in the greater Richmond region.”

Virginia successfully competed with several other states for the project.

“Greater Richmond's strategic location continues to drive logistics projects to our region,” said Jennifer Wakefield, President and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership (GRP). “Congratulations to Hanover County, which gains another bioscience supply chain company that values reaching 45% of the U.S. population within a day's delivery.”