Qiagen Inc., a biotech firm based in the Netherlands, will expand its North American headquarters in Germantown, Maryland, adding 117,000 square feet of new manufacturing space and office space to accommodate at least 90 new, fulltime jobs by 2015. The company expects to invest approximately $52 million in the project.
"It is wonderful to see QIAGEN's continuing commitment to growth in Montgomery County through this significant facility and workforce expansion," says Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. "Qiagen has been a leader in the county's biotech community for the past decade, and we look forward to their continued success and ongoing contributions to the global biotech industry from their expanded headquarters campus in Germantown."
Qiagen moved its U.S. headquarters to Montgomery County 10 years ago, when it broke ground at its current Germantown location in 2000 and opened the building in 2002. Qiagen has made significant investments in Maryland, with its 2007 acquisition of Gaithersburg-based Digene, its 2009 acquisition of Frederick-based SABiosciences and its recently announced 2010 license agreement with Johns Hopkins University focused on biomarkers for predicting and measuring the success of cancer treatments.
"We are experiencing rapid growth of our global business, and are pleased to expand our operations and employee base here in Maryland, a region that is an epicenter of bioscience and genomics research, discovery, manufacturing and commercialization," says Sean Augerson, Qiagen's Senior Director of North American Operations. "We appreciate that state and county leadership is focused on not only attracting new bioscience companies to the region, but also to fostering the growth of companies established in this region such as QIAGEN by enabling physical facilities expansions."
Groundbreaking for the expansion is anticipated in Fall 2010, with completion expected in 2012. The project will increase square footage at Qiagen's Germantown campus from 230,000 currently to 347,000 square feet.
"Qiagen's commitment to invest and expand in Maryland reaffirms the State's position as one of the world's leading locations for biotechnology innovation," said Governor O'Malley. "Building on our Bio 2020 initiative, Maryland continues to foster a supportive environment for innovative biotech companies like Qiagen to ensure that we are well positioned for tomorrow's economy. Maryland's biotechnology and life sciences companies develop cutting-edge therapies and diagnostics that have positive implications for individuals here at home and across the globe."
To assist with project costs, Montgomery County provided a $300,000 conditional grant from its Economic Development Fund, administered by DED, and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) provided a $700,000 conditional loan through the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund (MEDAAF). The company is also eligible for the State's job creation tax credit, as well as local property tax credits and workforce and training programs. QIAGEN currently employs 580 individuals in Montgomery County and nearly 700 employees state-wide. It plans to add 90 new jobs in the County over the next five years. Overall, the company currently employs 1,150 individuals in the U.S. and has 3,500 employees worldwide.
"Qiagen, Inc. is truly one of Montgomery County's crowning biotech success stories, and this major facility expansion and projected job growth illustrates both their leading role in the biotech community and the County's continuing prominence as a destination of choice for new and growing biotech companies," said Silverman. "Our Department and Montgomery County remain committed to helping existing companies, like Qiagen, grow, expand and succeed."
Source: Montgomery County Department of Economic Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins