PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Commerce Corp on Tuesday approved approximately $8.2 million in incentives with the possibility for up to $9.4 million in incentives for Immunex Rhode Island Corp., a subsidiary of Amgen Inc., for the construction of an approximately $165 million “next-generation” biomanufacturing facility in West Greenwich.
The plant will be built on the current Amgen Rhode Island 75-acre campus and is expected to create approximately 150 additional manufacturing positions, according to the company. It also said there is potential to scale the number of jobs created to 300.
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The Commerce RI board of directors approved $2.2 million in Rebuild Rhode Island tax credits with potential for another $1.2 million if the company meets established performance metrics. The board also approved an approximate $600,000 per year for 10 years in Qualified Job Tax Credits (an estimated $6 million). The Qualified Job credits are only paid out after jobs are created and employees have paid income tax for a full year. The company also will be eligible for a sales tax rebate on construction materials.
“We are excited that Amgen Rhode Island was chosen as the location to build the new biomanufacturing plant,” said Tia Bush, vice president of operations at Amgen Rhode Island, in a statement. “It is a testament to our skilled, dedicated workforce and Amgen’s continued presence in Rhode Island, which will enable ongoing collaborations with local academic institutions and the broader Rhode Island community.”
The facility and added jobs are estimated to add $3.7 million new net revenue to the state over 12 years by Appleseed Inc., a third-party economic analysis firm.
“Amgen is a global company with options,” said R.I. Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor in a statement. “Rhode Island competed to be the location for the company’s ‘next generation’ biomanufacturing facility, and we were successful because of our skilled talent, ideal location and potent incentives.”
According to the company, its decision to build in the United States was related to the U.S. federal tax reform, which it said provided company incentives to invest in innovation and advanced technologies. It also noted that part of its decision to build out its campus in Rhode Island was “based on the historical success of the Amgen West Greenwich manufacturing facility.”
The company has a similar next-generation manufacturing facility in Singapore. The plant will have a “highly flexible, modular design,” which the company said allows it to increase production capabilities at greater speed.
The company said it currently has 625 full-time employees at the West Greenwich campus.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
