Johnson & Johnson opening health tech center at 1 Ship St., to hire 75

Johnson & Johnson plans to open a new health technology center at 1 Ship St. downtown.
Johnson & Johnson plans to open a new health technology center at 1 Ship St. downtown.

(Updated 11:28 a.m.)
PROVIDENCE – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo was high-spirited, as was the crowd of some 100 leaders from Rhode Island’s business, health care and academic sectors this morning, when she announced that Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s most well-known and largest health care companies, will site a health technology center here.

The facility will temporarily be housed at 1 Ship St., in the Innovation and Design District, with 9,000 square feet of space, and will initially employ 75 people.
The company said the center will specialize in optimizing information technology and data analytics to create software applications that will serve to improve health outcomes.
The positions will specialize in advance information technology, according to a news release from the governor’s office. Johnson & Johnson will work with local colleges and universities to fill the positions, with assistance from R.I. Commerce Corp.

Applause greeted Raimondo’s announcement that Johnson & Johnson wants to start hiring people as of Jan. 1.

Johnson & Johnson “chose Rhode Island for our people,” said Raimondo, who credited Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed with the work done by General Assembly in 2015 to create an economic toolbox, and noted the momentum that developed thereafter in 2016.

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“The momentum is undeniable,” said Raimondo, citing recent news of 2,500 new jobs – the Wexford Science & Technology Innovation District, with more than 1,000 construction jobs and more than 1,000 permanent jobs, and Virgin Pulse’s expansion to add 300 new jobs here.

“Johnson & Johnson’s health technology center is a place of product and technology innovation, and will improve and expand on the customer experience,” said Raimondo. “We believe in Rhode Island … [Johnson & Johnson] chose wisely … there’s no better place to grow a business.”

Steve Wrenn, global senior vice president- chief applications officer for Johnson & Johnson, clearly knows Providence. In his comments, which included references to Capital Grill, Mills Tavern and WaterFire, among other popular Providence venues, Wrenn said, “Providence is a hidden gem to a lot of people.” Citing the world class talent among students attending Rhode Island’s colleges and universities, he hopes to collaborate with local colleges’ and universities’ presidents over the holidays, given how eager Johnson & Johnson is to start hiring.

“A growing economy helps all sectors [in Rhode Island],” U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed said. “We’re creating an environment for international companies looking at Providence and saying ‘yes.’”

The existing building at 1 Ship St. identified by Johnson & Johnson will become a part of the Wexford campus, according to state officials.
The property was purchased in July by Wexford One Ship LLC for $3.475 million, according to city records. The Wexford development team last week secured a pledge of $1 million from the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission to renovate the facilities, as part of a larger incentive package to develop the first phase of its mixed-use innovation district.
Wexford, in a partnership with CV Properties LLC, recently announced plans to move forward on the first phase, outlining a $158 million plan for Parcel 22 of the I-195 district. A second parcel in the I-195 lands will be developed in later phases, according to the quasi-state commission.

A press release announcing the news indicated that the company will seek incentives under the Qualified Jobs Incentive Act and the First Wave Closing Fund. Other speakers included U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin, R.I. Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor, Paiva Weed and Mayor Jorge O. Elorza.

Staff writer Mary MacDonald contributed to this report.

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