Johnson & Johnson, the New Jersey-based global healthcare company, announced today that it is looking to build a $1 billion next generation cell therapy manufacturing facility in the Spring House section of Lower Gwynedd Township.
The company said the plant will open at a 154-acre property at 1201 Sumneytown Pike in 2031 and will support more than 500 skilled biomanufacturing jobs when fully operational, as well as more than 4,000 construction jobs during site development, according to the announcement.
The Sumneytown Pike site has an existing 157,000 sf building but is otherwise undeveloped. It was sold by Gwynedd Mercy University for $31.5 million in 2022 to Beacon Capital Partners, according to The Philadelphia Business Journal.
“Our region is home to world-class healthcare, science and research — and the opening of Johnson & Johnson’s cell therapy manufacturing facility in Lower Gwynedd expands its long tradition of leadership in Pennsylvania,” Representative Madeleine Dean of Glenside said. “J&J’s new site will promote job growth, foster innovation, and, most importantly, bring life-saving medicine to people around the country. I look forward to their continued success.”
Cell therapy refers to the introduction of a specific cell type or types in a person to treat or prevent a disease. The Shapiro Administration said it has committed $41 million in tax credits, grants and workforce training funds to the project.
“Pennsylvania is a powerhouse for innovation and manufacturing in the life sciences,” said Governor Josh Shapiro of Abington Township. “Just a few years ago we weren’t even on the field – but today we’re competing and winning. We’ve done it by creating the first economic development plan for Pennsylvania in 2 decades, and following through on it by cutting red tape, making strategic investments in key industries like the life sciences, and strengthening our workforce. That’s why companies like Johnson & Johnson are choosing to double down on their investments here in our Commonwealth – because they know we’ve got the strategy, the workforce, and the speed they need to succeed.”
According to Shapiro’s office, Johnson & Johnson received a funding proposal from DCED for up to $12 million in tax credits through the Qualified Manufacturing Innovation and Reinvestment Deduction (QMIRD) program, up to $2 million in tax credits through the Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program, a $15 million grant through the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) program, and a $10 million Pennsylvania First grant.
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Rendering: Johnson & Johnson