Big news for Wilson County as Governor Roy Cooper has just announced a massive investment by healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson. In a move that will boost the local economy and create an influx of jobs, J&J is setting down roots with a new pharmaceutical manufacturing campus, as reported by the Department of Commerce. The hefty investment tips the scales at over $2 billion and is expected to generate 420 positions in an area eager for high-skilled employment.
According to Governor Cooper, this investment bolsters North Carolina’s reputation as a sought-after destination for life sciences companies. The promise of 420 jobs comes with an average wage that stands head and shoulders above the county's average, pegged at $108,823 as opposed to Wilson's $52,619, a testament to the potential uplift to the region's standard of living. Dapo Ajayi, Vice President of Innovative Medicine Supply Chain at Johnson & Johnson, emphasized the importance of a strong, global supply chain, and in a statement obtained by the Department of Commerce, mentioned the company's commitment to an assured supply of their transformative medicines worldwide.
Lending a hand to J&J's project is a lucrative economic development incentive package, which includes a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG). “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,” says the Department of Commerce. The JDIG agreement approves potential reimbursement to J&J of up to $13,666,000, contingent upon the company achieving its job creation and investment targets. Such grants are not without their strings; only after meeting performance benchmarks can these funds be released.
On the heels of this development, local government officials are rallying behind the promise of economic growth and burgeoning industry. There's a palpable excitement, reflected in the comments of N.C. Senator Buck Newton, who told the Department of Commerce that the state's investment in a biologics training center has positioned Wilson as an ideal location for J&J's new venture.
