Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that Greiner Bio-One North America Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of medical sampling devices and laboratory analysis technology, will create 51 jobs and invest $25 million in Union County over the next three years. The project was made possible in part by a $100,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“This is Greiner Bio-One’s second expansion since it opened in Monroe a decade ago,” said Gov. Perdue. “That success reinforces North Carolina’s international stature as a top location for biotech and pharmaceutical companies – a reputation that we have worked hard to earn.”
Austria-based Greiner Bio-One International AG is a world leader in the field of biotechnology, diagnostics, pharmaceutical, medicine and in vitro diagnostics. It employs more than 1,200 workers in Europe, Asia, South America and the U.S.
Wholly owned subsidiary Greiner Bio-One North America currently employs 230 people with 187 of them working in Monroe. While individual salaries for the 51 new jobs will vary by job function, the overall average wage will be approximately $28,000 a year plus benefits.
“Greiner Bio-One North America Inc. is very excited about the opportunities associated with the expansion of the Monroe, N.C. facility,” said Rick McInnis, company vice president of finance. “The decision in 2000 to locate the U.S. production facility in Monroe has been reinforced by the support received from local and state agencies, as well as the caliber of team members added over the years.”
The City of Monroe and Union County both recently approved local incentives for the project. McInnis said the addition of the state One North Carolina Fund grant today enabled the company to make its final decision to move forward. “This was the final piece of the puzzle in the decision making process,” he said.
The One North Carolina Fund provides financial assistance to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment targets to qualify for grant payments. These grants also require local matches.
Other partners who helped make this project possible include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, City of Monroe, Union County, Monroe Economic Development and the Union County Partnership for Progress.
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
For more information about Greiner Bio-One North America, including job opportunities, visit www.greinerbioone.com.