Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, alongside pharmaceutical giant AbbVie, has announced a significant $195 million investment to enlarge the company's North Chicago manufacturing facility. The expansion is aimed to enhance AbbVie's production capabilities of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which are critical for drug development. In a statement acquired by Illinois.gov, Governor Pritzker expressed enthusiasm about the project, emphasizing how it underscores the excellence of Illinois’ workforce and its strategic positioning for businesses.
The plan is to not only create new jobs but also to persistently retain existing ones, solidifying Illinois’ standing within the advanced manufacturing and bioscience sectors. AbbVie Chairman and CEO Robert A. Michael communicated to Illinois.gov that the expansion is part of a broader initiative to "to expand production of API, drug product, peptides and medical devices in the U.S." to inspire medical innovations and potentially transformative treatments for patients. These ambitions align cleanly with the state’s economic growth plan laid out by Governor Pritzker and his administration, which sees advanced manufacturing as a key plank in fostering long-term economic vitality.
Residents can expect the buildup of the facility to kick-off this coming fall, marking another milestone for AbbVie in the state where it already employs over 11,000 individuals and has established its headquarters. The company's investment in Illinois is a significant component of its commitment to inject over $10 billion into U.S. capital projects over the next decade.
Underlying this development is Illinois' Economic Growth Plan, which aims to draw in and adequately support companies like AbbVie that invest in essential markers of progress such as innovation and workforce development. DCEO Director Kristin Richards touted AbbVie's decision to grow its operations locally as a win for the state's manufacturing leadership, stating, "We are proud to support businesses like AbbVie that are expanding their operations in Illinois and helping us lead the way in manufacturing." As per an Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) agreement with the state detailed on Illinois.gov, AbbVie is set to create a minimum of 50 new full-time jobs within three years. In recent history, EDGE program commitments have hit over $650 million in investments throughout Illinois.
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