275 new jobs to Wilson County as pet healthcare company announces plans for manufacturing plant

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

New plant to create 400 new jobs in Wilson County

Gov. Roy Cooper announces 400 new jobs coming to Wilson County with creation of new SCHOTT Pharma manufacturing facility.

WILSON, N.C. (WTVD) -- A pet healthcare company announced it would build a new manufacturing plant in Wilson County.

IDEXX Laboratories plans to invest $147 million and create 275 jobs.

The company is headquartered in Westbrook, Maine. It makes products designed to improve the health and well-being of pets, people and livestock.

The future plant in Wilson County will produce veterinary diagnostic products.

"Our region is seeing great momentum in economic development, and we're excited to welcome these new jobs to Wilson County," said N.C. Senator Buck Newton. "IDEXX's decision to locate operations in our region shows people around the world that we're the perfect location for tomorrow's global industries."

Wages for the new jobs in Wilson County will vary depending on the position, but IDEXX said the average salary will be $65,873, which is more than $13,000 more than the average salary in Wilson County.

County leaders are planning to vote on an incentive package for IDEXX on Monday, August 5. Wilson County Commissioners are proposing an economic incentive of $2,360,075 paid over eight years, with the City of Wilson providing a matching monetary incentive over the same timeframe. As part of the incentive package, IDEXX would invest no less than $145,000,000 in its manufacturing facility.

It's the second company in months to announce plans to invest in Wilson County and create jobs. In March, SCHOTT Pharma USA announced it would be investing $371 to the region and build a production facility that would create 400 jobs.

SCHOTT Pharma creates storage and delivery systems for the pharmaceutical industry. The German company already has six manufacturing facilities and a corporate headquarters in the United States, according to information provided by the company.