The Town has worked strategically for years to make Holly Springs a perfect fit for the life science and biomanufacturing industry.
On Thursday, those efforts paid off spectacularly as Gov. Roy Cooper came to Holly Springs to announce that FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies will build a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility here that will be the largest of its kind in North America and employ 725 people.
The $2 billion project will be the largest life sciences investment ever announced in North Carolina, putting Holly Springs and Wake County on the national map as a leading location for life sciences growth.
Martin Meeson, Chief Executive Officer of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, said the company looks forward to growing with Holly Springs for many years to come.
"We are delighted to be a part of the Holly Springs community as we partner together to bring life-impacting therapies to patients," he said at Holly Springs Cultural Center. "The commitment of the Town to support business growth while embedding environmental sustainability are aligned with our long-term goals."
Mayor Dick Sears said the town's partnership with the company reflects the Town's long-term commitment to bringing high-quality jobs to the community.
"We are thrilled to welcome a global leader like FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies to our community!" he said.
Construction will begin immediately in Oakview Innovation Business Campus. When it opens in 2025, the facility will develop, produce, package and ship medicines approved by the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory bodies throughout the U.S. and the world. The 725 high-quality jobs will include those for scientists, quality control workers and supply chain experts. The Holly Springs facility will be the largest end-to-end cell culture CDMO biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in North America.
The governor said that today's announcement "shows once again that North Carolina is a world-class location for the most innovative biotech companies in the industry."
Mayor Pro Tem Dan Berry said that over the past two decades, Town leaders have worked strategically, putting in the elements necessary to encourage companies with high-paying jobs to locate in Holly Springs.
"We identified the life science and biomanufacturing industry as a growth market and took the necessary steps to make the Town a perfect fit for this sector," he said. "This landmark announcement today is a result of these efforts and those of our partners."
The Town researched the needs of life sciences companies to create the highest ranked industrial site in Wake County through investments in water, sewer and road infrastructure. Holly Springs also has developed one of the most robust reclaimed water systems in the state, which saves businesses money while enabling them to incorporate environmentally-friendly practices into daily operations.
The project is expected to infuse $1.6 billion into the Holly Springs economy by the end of 2025, according to an economic impact report commissioned by the Town and Wake County. After the facility opens, the Town expects to receive an additional $422 million economic impact annually.