Novo Nordisk plans $4.1B investment to create new medicine manufacturing facility in Johnston County

CLAYTON, N.C. (WTVD) — A company that makes medicines for chronic diseases announced it will be investing $4.1 billion to build a new facility in Clayton.

“I’m personally super excited being from North Carolina and being able to head up a project of this size and this investment that will impact the community for many, many, many years to come,” Jay Kuykendall said.

Kuykendall is leading the expansion project for Novo Nordisk, the healthcare giant that already has three manufacturing facilities in the Triangle — one in Durham and two in Clayton.

The investment marks the largest single life science investment in North Carolina history. It tops the $1.8 billion investment announcement in 2016 from Novo Nordisk for one of its facilities in Clayton.

“Novo Nordisk’s decision to expand its manufacturing capability with a multi-billion-dollar investment is testament to North Carolina’s top-notch workforce and long history of being a leader in the life sciences and biopharmaceutical industries,” said Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. “This announcement is the largest life sciences investment in the state’s history, and we are proud that Novo Nordisk has confidence in the workforce, resources and partnerships North Carolina provides.”

The medical company already employs more than 2,500 North Carolinians. This new facility in Clayton will create another 1,000 jobs. Plus, the construction phase of the project will create an estimated 2,000 contractor jobs.

“It’s going to have so much indirect impact by the construction jobs that we create, the business contracts that we are able to get into, the small businesses in Clayton and Johnston County, that these new families will be able to support,” Kuykendall said.

The new facility will be 1.4 million square feet. It will be used to create and package medications for things like obesity and other chronic diseases. This new facility will be nearly four times as large as the original Clayton facility, which is located across the street.

Construction is already underway for the project. Novo Nordisk said it expects major phases of the construction to be completed between 2027 and 2029.

Kuykendall highlighted efforts to attract local talent, including partnerships with Johnston Community College.

“We had mentioned introducing the BioWork program into the high schools, so you can have somebody graduate from a Johnston County High School and then go to work in the biopharmaceutical industry ready to work with one of those good paying jobs,” Johnston County Board of Commissioners Chairman Butch Lawter said.

Monday morning, the Johnston County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a resolution for an economic development incentive grant, in which the county would reimburse a percentage of property taxes over the next dozen years dependent on investment and employment figures being met.

“They can be at home. They can be with their families. They can be coaching at our athletic associations. A lot of opportunities just beyond a great paying job. If it weren’t for the people of Johnston County and their work ethic, I don’t think it would be a success at all. Novo saw it,” said Lawter.

Novo Nordisk is now Europe’s most valuable company — a fact that politicians say could have a ripple effect on future deals with other companies.

“I’ll tell you what’s even more compelling is when you have the leadership of Novo Nordisk on the phone telling another business, is thinking about coming to North Carolina, how good of an experience they had after they made the decision, clearing the permits, working with local government, working with state government,” Sen. Thom Tillis said.

Clayton business community ‘really excited’

In downtown Clayton, the local business community feels buoyed once again by a major company making a major investment in the town.

“Seeing what they’re doing down the road, the investment level that they’re putting in is just amazing,” said Paul Auclair, owner of Deep River Brewing Company.

Auclair and his wife opened the brewery back in 2013 – a very different time for the once-sleepy Johnston County town. He said they even had some fears upon opening that they would have the foot traffic necessary to sustain the business long-term. But 11 years later – he says it’s a completely different story.

“It just makes all of our what we’ve been sweating it out over the past 11 years, we’re really excited to be part of that and be a member of the community,” Auclair said.

It’s investments like the one announced Monday that have helped change that narrative, as thousands more jobs will now flood into the third-fastest-growing town in the state.

“I just love being here, and it’s just getting started. The next five to 10 years, it’s going to blow everybody’s mind,” said Howard Manning, owner of Manning’s Restaurant.

Howard opened his restaurant 10 years ago and said Novo Nordisk’s decision only reinforced what he’s already come to know about his investment in the downtown core.

“There’s just so much potential for growth. And Clayton is just, it’s booming. I mean, it’s just that’s all there is to it,” Manning said.

Local officials, like Clayton’s Economic Development Director Patrick Pierce, call it another vote of confidence from a major company, and further proof that business growth is there to stay.

“They’ve made other investments globally, but to really do a huge investment like this of over $4 billion shows that, we’re a part of the future of what they’re trying to do and their success,” Pierce said.