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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Johnson & Johnson Plans Wilson, North Carolina, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Operations

10/08/2024
Global healthcare company Johnson & Johnson plans to establish operations in Wilson, North Carolina. The more than $2 billion project is expected to create 420 jobs.

The new pharmaceutical manufacturing campus for innovative biologics will be located in the Wilson Corporate Park.

“A strong, global supply chain is crucial, and we purposefully invest to ensure our transformational medicines reliably and efficiently reach patients around the world,” said Dapo Ajayi, Vice President, Innovative Medicine Supply Chain, Johnson & Johnson. “We are investing in capacity and new technologies to enhance our industry leading capabilities and ensure a resilient supply chain for the future. North Carolina is an important hub for biopharmaceutical manufacturing and talent, and we are pleased to join this thriving life sciences ecosystem and become part of the Wilson community.”

The project will be supported, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) awarded to Janssen Biotech, Inc. (a subsidiary of J&J), which was approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $2.3 billion, state officials estimate. Using a formula that takes into account $1 billion of the company’s investment as well as the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $13,666,000, spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets.

“North Carolina has one of the largest biologics manufacturing workforce in the nation,” noted N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “Economic and workforce development collaboration is critical to ensuring we have the foundation and business climate for innovators like Johnson & Johnson to succeed, and we are grateful for the partners that are helping us strengthen our life sciences reputation.”

The project’s projected return on investment of public dollars is 262 percent, meaning for every dollar of potential cost to the state, the state receives $3.62 in state revenue. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.

A performance-based grant of $1,500,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will also help facilitate J&J’s new operation in North Carolina. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and 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 matching participation from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.

“This center will further elevate the network of training infrastructure in the state to open additional pathways and ensure that life sciences companies in Wilson and surrounding counties have the skilled workers they need to thrive,” added Laura Rowley, Ph.D., vice president for life sciences economic development, North Carolina Biotechnology Center. “J&J is another great fit for this community that already understands what pharmaceutical manufacturers need for success.”

Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) on the project were the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, North Carolina Community College System, Wilson Community College, BioPharma Crescent, Wilson County, Wilson Economic Development Council, and the City of Wilson.

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