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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Reckitt Plans Wilson, North Carolina, Production Operations

09/30/2024
Reckitt, a producer of health, hygiene and nutrition products, plans to establish operations in Wilson, North Carolina. The $145.59 million project is expected to create 289 jobs.

The investment will allow the company to expand its production capacity for the over-the-counter medicine Mucinex.

“With its prominence as a life science innovation hub, North Carolina is an ideal place for Reckitt to establish its U.S. regional manufacturing center,” said Kris Licht, CEO of Reckitt. “This strategic, onshoring investment will build resiliency and agility in our supply chain and further drive our mission to create a healthier world by increasing access to important medicines.”

The project, formally being granted to company subsidiary RB Health Manufacturing, will be supported, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant 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 $1.9 billion.

Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $4,606,000, 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.

“As a native of eastern North Carolina and a former life science executive, it’s been so exciting to see the growth of this industry in Wilson and North Carolina’s BioPharma Crescent region,” noted Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “Mucinex is a trusted household brand and I’m proud to welcome Reckitt to North Carolina as the company expands its capabilities in the United States.”

The project's projected return on investment of public dollars is 317 per cent, meaning for every dollar of potential cost, the state receives $4.17 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.

“Our highly skilled workforce, which includes the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast, and workforce development programs attract companies, such as Reckitt, who are looking for skill and innovation,” added Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC). “Wilson County’s life science ecosystem and existing resources are also major attractors and provide a strong foundation for life science manufacturing companies to grow. We are proud to be a part of Reckitt’s continued success.”

Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on the project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, N.C. Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions, the City of Wilson, Wilson County, and the Wilson Economic Development Council.

“Reckitt is a great fit for the region,” said Martie Jones, associate director of life sciences economic development for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. “Wilson is an excellent magnet for companies like Reckitt that need a job-ready workforce, established infrastructure and a welcoming community that understands their needs and speaks their unique language of pharmaceutical manufacturing.”

Reckitt Benckiser is a British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Slough, United Kingdom, and Hoofddorp, Netherlands. Reckitt’s brands include Airborne®, Biofreeze®, Finish®, Lysol®, Mucinex®, and more.

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